What's EA's Next Move if the NBA's Out of Reach?

[Steve_OS]

A few weeks back, 2K completed a licensing deal with the NBA reportedly worth over one...

Written By: Jeff Botkin

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[Junior Moe]

If EA is adamant about staying in the basketball market then I agree with going with the NCAA. EA could swap the NBA out with NCAA and continue what they have. They have something with online. The NBA side leaves a lot to be desired. However, with the NCAA, the players would be generic so there's not much really to update. The appeal of the collegiate schools could be enough to draw in interest. I know I'd preorder and buy just for that.



I never thought about baseball, either. MVP baseball could have the entire Xbox market and even a few burned out Show players. They would face a similar challenge to Live overtaking 2K with basketball, but they would have the entire Xbox (maybe even Switch) market to get their roots planted and grow. I honestly think that this would be the safer route.

[Charles Bliss]

I would love to see college hoops make a return, but I also would love too see Fight Night comeback as well!!

[ty5oke]

Selfishly, I wish they would tap the MVP market again to give some competition to the Show.

[LoadStar81]

Or, Plan C, they could beef up their staff for the NHL series.

[TjJunior]

That 15 year ESPN exclusive agreement expires next year. Just 86 a NBA and make a ESPN MLB game. Good luck competing with The Show, but baseball fits their games as a service "business" model more than the NBA and Xbox owners are sure to at least check it out. I love SMB, but I'd still love a traditional baseball franchise experience.

[cingelsby]

Is anything stopping EA from making college games with generic rosters. If college hoops came back and each roster just said PG, SG, SF, PF, C and did not list any name, weight height etc,. Could this work using all of the licensed NCAA teams?

[roswell0075]

Don't understand this article and the headline is misleading.



Nowhere does it say that 2K has EXCLUSIVITY. The whole PR just refers to the deal as a "partnership" and makes some spacious claim that the deal COULD BE worth $1.1b. All that means is that they have some revenue sharing model in place.


So unless I'm missing something there is no suggestion (other than from the author) that EA has been excluded in anyway shape or form from continuing the LIVE series.