EA Sports College Football 25 releases deluxe cover, countdown clock for full reveal
The release of EA Sports College Football 25 is quickly approaching.
The video game has annually been released in July, and the expectation remains the same for its return after more than a decade. On Friday morning, the company uploaded its deluxe cover and an in-game screenshot for the game on the PlayStation store.
The cover featured Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Colorado wide receiver/defensive back Travis Hunter, Michigan running back Donovan Edwards and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins.
The company also released a countdown timer for the game’s reveal, slated for May 16.
And for the first time, athletes’ name and likeness is included in the game. They’re being compensated for the work, too. As previously reported, all athletes who opt-in will eventually receive $600 plus a copy of the game, typically valued at $70.
An in-game screenshot of Notre Dame players coming out of the tunnel at Notre Dame Stadium was also released. It’s one of the first pictures that showcases the pageantry of college football in the game.
EA has also worked with the NIL marketplace Opendorse to ink marketing deals with some of the top players in college football. There’s been no update on the possibility of royalties to this point.
“OneTeam proudly announces our successful aggregation of rights for EA’s College Football game in the first week, with 10,000-plus players already opting in,” OneTeam’s director of college strategy and operations Aaron Solender previously told On3. “This establishes the world’s largest single sport licensing program, highlighting our capabilities to champion athletes’ rights on a massive scale. As reps for tens of thousands of college athletes, authenticity is our priority amid the excitement for the game’s return.
“Our collaboration with EA Sports allows us to expand rights across various sports, providing more opportunities for college athletes. As a former walk-on in EA’s 2014 title, I’m thrilled to see similar players getting a chance to participate in the game.”
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What to expect in EA Sports College Football 25?
The original EA college football video game franchise ran from 1998 until 2013. Moving from the Bill Walsh College Football moniker to NCAA Football, the annual game was eventually discontinued. Lawsuits emerged, most notably former UCLA basketball player Ed O’Bannon and 19 others’ decision to sue the NCAA, arguing the organization violated United States antitrust laws by not allowing athletes to make a share of the revenues generated from the use of their in broadcasts and video games.
The video game was last sold in 2013. At the time, EA Sports sold roughly 1.5 million copies. That number is expected to grow exponentially next summer, especially with college football fans waiting more than a decade for the franchise to return.
After months of anticipation, EA announced in February the game will be released in the summer of 2024. A full reveal of the upcoming video game will be unveiled in May. The official release date is expected in July, the same month previous games have been released.
In a teaser trailer released, EA showed development images of the gates at Beaver Stadium, the Gator head that Florida players touch when running onto the field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium and Notre Dame players touching the “Play Like A Champion” sign.
EA also announced the ESPN broadcast crew, which includes Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler, among others. The transfer portal, which has dominated the sport with its one-time transfer rule recently, will also be included. NIL will play a role, too. With conference realignment and an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff, the game will surely have a different feel than NCAA 14, the last time the game was released.