If you were hoping for a non-EA NFL football game in 2014, sorry. According to "well-placed sources," Electronic Arts and the National Football League have extended their sweetheart, exclusive, BFF relationship for another year, meaning Madden will (presumably) be the only official NFL game franchise until at least 2015.
The labor problems between the NFL's owners and players present a more immediate issue, however. A league-wide labor lockout is looming for next football season, and The Madden franchise without a football season is a huge unknown. Potentially, EA could be left with a football game that doesn't have player names and likenesses. Then you have to wonder whether there will even be a Madden 2012.
Judging from reports, the NFL isn't blind to EA's plight. The league has agreed to give EA a break, and significantly reduce the publisher's contractual obligations next season. This seems to me (another) indication that the league's owners expect a lack of football next season.
“For one of our core partners in a difficult environment, we say let’s look at this, and maybe it makes some sense to extend something out longer and give our partner some relief in the short term but gain something on the back end,” said Jacksonville Jaguars owner Wayne Weaver, chairman of the NFL’s business ventures committee.
- RATING: Madden NFL 2011 Review
A Madden-less (or reduced Madden) 2012 would likely be disastrous for EA. The company's yearly football offering is consistently among the top selling video games, so the hit EA's bottom line would take would be substantial.
The Bottom Line: Please, NFL and Players Union, get back to making football so EA can get back to making video games and I will have something to do on Sunday afternoons.
Source: Sports Business Daily
All of the best people are following Steve Johnson's twitter feed. Also, email me if you wanna.
Comments are Closed
Comments
Displaying 1–12 of 12
Bladeson
damn i was looking forward to Backbreakers new game to have pro teams. I dont buy Madden anymore, haven't since 2007. I've played the newer ones, including 11. I just feel i have no control of my players, its all stiff, no response to my controls.
frisbee seppuku
Ride that cash cow EA, ride! Lets be honest here, EA saw the challenge that 2k games brought to the table, and threw cash at the issue, to fix it. I will say this again as I say it every time Madden is brought up. EA should settle down for a year, charge 5/7 bucks for a Roster update and maybe a few new jersey's. Let's the rip the guts out of John Madden, remove the glass a gin, and start from scratch. Now I know EA it will be hard, you have that code to rewrite, but come on, how old is that code really?
Wozman23
John Madden already left the booth; we might as well get rid of the football portion of the game too.
Spidey817
So, in other words, NFL football games will continue to suck until at least 2015. Got it.
Seriously, Madden is utter trash. All you get from one year to the next is a roster update and some stupid addition that people don't use anyway. The AI is still retarded. I love playing football games, but I just can't justify spending $60 in this crap franchise anymore. Which is a real shame.
Zot_TheGorris
wtf, i dont understand how this isnt a monopoly. i want my 2K Sports FOOTBALL GAME!!!!
SportsfanXtreme
I just say this because we'll get better games out of it. Madden was better when it had competition, they didn't take good features out and expect you to buy a lesser game with new rosters like they do now. Also, EA, make another Head Coach or GM mode would be better.
SportsfanXtreme
DO NOT BUY MADDEN!! I know you want your NFL, but if you stop buying it, they will end this ridiculous monopoly they've got going. I'm SICK of this crap!!!!
TomHoang
I'm a fan of Madden, but I would have liked to see a PS3 exclusive NFL game developed by Sony like they do with the MLB the Show series.
BONERJAM
And my boycott continues. I haven't purchases a Madden game since Madden 08. I love me some football and I owned every Madden since the original but I got tired of paying $60 for a product that either lost good features or didn't change anything besides the rosters.
JustTheBeginning
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!! Worst news of the year!! Madden 16 will be the same game Madden 11 is now.
CALiiGeDDon
err I mean 2k12 but whatever...2k is better than madden
CALiiGeDDon
BOOOO...I wanted NFL 2k11....2k5 FTW!!
Displaying 1–12 of 12