2K is returning to the business of a licensed video game, having collaborated "for many years" with the NFL covering "many upcoming video games," the groups announced Tuesday.
But don't call it a retelling: The agreement is designed for "non-simulation football games," according to news releases from 2K, so it does not give the publisher the ability to update his leading NFL 2K franchise. The electronic Madden NFL series will always be the only football game in town – for now, at least.
The agreement between 2K and the NFL – the teams that did not disclose the financial terms – will produce "many video games that focus on fun, accessible and social experiences," 2K President David Ismailer said in a statement. That suggests the publisher will focus on making games such as arcade sports titles in the Saber Interactive & # 39; s vein NBA 2K 2 Playgrounds.
Various games are in "early development," says 2K, with plans to release them "starting in 2021." The publisher made it clear in a press release that the rollout is scheduled to begin sometime in the financial year of Take-Two Interactive & # 39; s 2022, meaning that the first Windows release is April 2021. (Take-Second is a 2K parent company.)
Asked about the platforms where the games were being built, the 2K representative said only that the publisher "will have more to share soon." There is also no word on development studios after football games. An in-house 2K gaming group, Novato, Visual Concepts based in California, made the NBA 2K series and took over the development of the WWE 2K franchise last year.
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/19780636/all_pro_football_2k8_payton_handoff_760.jpg)
It is noted that 2K's interaction with the NFL simply includes the names, logo, and associated elements of the league and its 32 teams – not the names, pictures, and similarities of any NFL players. The two rights sides are treated generally, and an NFL spokesman told Polygon that 2K would need to sign a license agreement with the NFL Players Association to use actual NFL players in its upcoming video games. A 2K spokesman said the company could not comment on whether such an agreement existed.
It looks awful that 2K can bother with making video game football without the rights of existing NFL players and real teams. But that's exactly what it has done more than a decade ago, after EA abducted exclusive rights to make NFL licensed titles in late 2004. All-Pro Football 2K8, its first and only football game after the 2004 popularity ESPN NFL 2K5, in 2007 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. In recent years, 2K has been expanding its place in the gaming market, inking publishing deals with titles such as HB Studios & # 39; Golf Club 2019 and the aforementioned NBA 2K 2 Playgrounds.
The best time for the NFL is to sign a licensing agreement with another game publisher. A new contract with 2K is possible only because of changes to the terms of the NFL and EA arrangement. That problem was previously covered either is a type of video game licensed by the league, which is why EA managed to make the 2012 arcade style title NFL Blitz (after getting some kind of product from Midfun Games Midfun). But an NFL spokesman told Polygon that EA's current contract with the league only had NFL licenses a hug ball video games on computers, consoles, and mobile devices.
In addition, the existing EA agreement is set to expire at the end of the 2021 NFL season (e.g., early 2022), according to an industry source with direct knowledge of the terms. And while EA may want to renew its contract again in Madden – whose annual franchise has been a staple of the EA Sports slate for more than three decades – the NFL may finally agree to open things up to some competition after more than 15 years of isolation . Especially if, by that point, 2K has shown the same kind of talent in football that it used to bring its basketball series to the game.
"Increasing the NFL's presence in the sports world has become a major focus for the Society as we look to grow the next generation of our fans," said Joe Ruggiero, senior vice president of consumer products in the NFL, "and renewing our partnership with the NFL 2K was a natural step in that effort."
Update: Electronic Arts has released the following statement after a partnership with the NFL and the recently announced 2K & # 39; s:
EA Sports is the exclusive publisher of NFL simulation games, and our partnership with the NFL and NFLPA remains unchanged. Our agreements have always allowed for the impartial development of non-mimic games on various platforms. Our commitment to NFL fans, spanning nearly 30 years, has never been stronger, and we have our biggest year yet. Madden NFL 20 is the most successful game ever in a franchise, and new modes like Superstar KO and our Madden NFL esports broadcast are growing a fan base. We will be building on that momentum with new and different experiences, across multiple platforms and new ways of playing, in the coming years.
