College football will return on video games consoles, with the initial version “EA Sports College Football” which will be available in the summer of 2024..
When the game is launched, it will have more than 10 years since the launch of “NCAA Football 2014,” which was released in advance in the season of 2013. There’s no guarantee however, there’s more certainty about what’s going to be included in the initial version to the sport.
EA vice general manager and president Daryl Holt spoke exclusively with ESPN about the state of affairs in the game. What we knowand what we don’t know:
So , Summer 2024 is a bit hazy. Any more details?
Really not. EA Sports likely wants to give its other games a bit of breathing room, too. Madden typically releases in August. FIFA — – which is changed in the name of “EA Sports FC” in the coming yearis released in late September and NHL in the middle of October.
In the past, when it was referred to as “NCAA Football” — but no more the title — the game would typically be played in mid-July.
Holt stated that they have alternatives and aren’t tied to the exact date at this time.
What’s the plan for the game?
It’s still a work-in-progress development, however it’s beginning to take shape. The game will feature Dynasty Mode and Road to Glory — which are the individual and team multi-season experience that players have experienced in previous versions to the sport.
More than 120 schools will participate participating, however not all FBS school has yet signed up. Holt declined to reveal the schools that have but haven’t signed up to play however Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick stated shortly upon an announcement about the return of the title that the school will not be participating unless its athletes gained from the game. Holt was confronted specifically regarding Notre Dame, declined to respond. He also refused to elaborate the procedure to allow those who aren’t part of the game to be considered.
The intention behind EA Sports, Holt said it is to allow authentic athletes from college to participate in the game too but the precise details are being worked out.
An EA source has told ESPN that the moment a player participates as part of the match, they will be paid.
“Things are constantly evolving and changing quickly in various ways,” Holt said. “So there are a variety of things that we’ve got for instance, in the colleges or college athletics that are and very clear. There are also other aspects that are a bit more ambiguity about the subject.
“So it’s likely to be one of the more I would guess, fuzzy from this perspective of what the most clear and best route is.”
Holt hasn’t ruled out the possibilities of FCS schools or HBCUs coming back as well, but he would not discuss it. FCS and HBCUs were part of the mix up to the mid-2000s to the time of Division I A as well as I-AA.
Of the schools that have signed up, EA has been gathering information on their sounds and experiences, their traditions as well as uniforms, stadiums and other features to be included. Holt stated that they’ve attended three college football games thus that time to experience the actual noise of the crowd and a little of what makes different stadiums and teams unique. There are several more games scheduled with at least a complete college football season until the launch.
“This is an experience in college that will last forever and we have high hopes are that we’ll continue to be true to the game,” Holt said. “Figure out how individuals can bring their passion for our sport the game, their passion for their teams into the game, and then play it. It’s going to remain a dynamic experience.
“Some items are ideas we’re constructing and we’re contemplating some things that I’m sure will continue to be coming out of the pipe.”
The goal of EA is to have everything available for every team playing and they’ve created new software to achieve their goals however until they truly dive into and begin to truly create the game, they’ll never be able to predict what challenges will come their way.
What do you think of the cover? Announcers?
There isn’t much to report there. However, it’s too early to select an athlete to cover. EA has said that they are currently making recordings using “recognizable commentators” but would not reveal names.
Holt did not reveal whether they’ll go with in the direction of”NBA2K,” the “NBA2K” series with different announce teams or Madden in which there is a single announcer for the entire game. The previous games had ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit and Lee Corso as announcers.
What are their locations in the development?
Holt stated that they’re past the pre-production and creative design phase and have begun production after having finished some prototypes and other things to take a look at. But it’s still early.
Imagine they’ve visited the store for groceries and bought most of what they need and are beginning to heat the oven to cook.
This game will be developed by a team in Maitland, Florida, and will be using an engine called the Frostbite Engine, the same engine that was used in “Madden.”
Do you think this means the product will be an “Madden” copy?
No. They are two distinct development teams who are working on both games. Teams have shared concepts and ideas, and even offered suggestions to one another, however there is actually competition between both.
They’re extremely focused on the fact that it is a particular college football game and not Madden -College Edition. College Edition.
“We would like to ensure that it’s distinctively the college game,” Holt said. “If you’re concerned that it could be an homage to ‘Madden’ or some other thing we’re not going to do that and is not how we’re taking this.
“I believe everyone will be thrilled when the game goes live.”
Holt asked if there was pressure based on criticisms about how Madden has dealt with its franchise model in the last half-century.
“When we got together and began, you know, with a blank sheet of whiteboard or paper, we started talking about what were we going to be focusing on? What’s going to be the focus of the game? Dynasty was, as it were first, the best of the line,” Holt said. “We are aware that we must meet the requirements of the core, and we recognize that we need to make real-world decisions in place for participation and replay capability and the aspect of having the sandbox that they’d like to develop a program, and manage it as well as the team.
“And create the foundations that will be the basis for a variety of the things we’ll accomplish. This boils down to an extremely important aspect of the game. It’s an crucial aspect on the field. It’s probably the second most important thing immediately following the gameplay itself.”
What’s the players in Dynasty Mode? College players? Coaches?
Much remains to be decided. Holt has stated that his plan and has stated that the goal is to get authentic college football players playing the game.
He wasn’t ruled out any other possibility, such as coaches, something the previous editions of “NCAA Football” didn’t have.
“Wish I could speak more in depth about this but there will be more to talk about in the future,”” Holt said. “Just one aspect when we discuss the options and the details will be revealed in the near future.”
In terms of connectivity with “Madden” is concerned — similar to the import of draft classes, which was a feature that was popular from older versions of the game Holt continued to be evasive about what they would or wouldn’t be able to do, but acknowledged that there’s the past of connection between the two games.
Are you aware of the Road to Glory will look like?
As with Dynasty, Holt was light on specifics, but Holt did mention several times that they are aware of all the obstacles along the road to becoming college athletes from recruiting to becoming an “campus famous” and possibly turning pro. Holt said they’re focusing on creating “a memorable experience.”
Is there a possibility of further Madden collaboration with these game and Face of the Franchise -It’s likely too early to say.
If asked if one of the aspects of the game’s gameplay would be forcing players to attend classes similar to the older games Holt laughed, and refused to comment.
“I will not comment, but I can’t deny that it could have been on a table or somewhere, and it could have been part of this game,”” Holt said. “But there’s more to be announced.”
What’s next?
Waiting, but more than likely. With over a year to be released the game could be a slow drip of information at the very least for a time.
There’s a lot of work to do when they try to reach a broad dimension and a large-scale in the sport.
“You need team diversity. You want wide-open college games, and the stories of Saturday to play to life,” Holt said. “And it’s these types of things that I believe can be interesting once you realize that you’re creating games, but they’re an experience that is interactive and an expression of someone’s enthusiasm and commitment.