NCAA Football 14: College Sports Video Game Could be the Last of Its Kind

The NCAA said Wednesday they will not renew their contract with EA Sports which has been granting the gaming company the privilege to use its logo and name, according to PastaPadre.com.

The announcement reads:

“The NCAA has made the decision not to enter a new contract for the license of its name and logo for the EA Sports NCAA Football video game. The current contract expires in June 2014, but our timing is based on the need to provide EA notice for future planning. As a result, the NCAA Football 2014 video game will be the last to include the NCAA’s name and logo. We are confident in our legal position regarding the use of our trademarks in video games. But given the current business climate and costs of litigation, we determined participating in this game is not in the best interests of the NCAA.”

This could mean “NCAA Football 14” could be that last “NCAA____” game for a while.

Technically, there is a way for EA Sports to get around the discontinued contract. They can go through the CLC and form an agreement with each school. Of course, that may cost way more money than their current deal with the NCAA.

Going around the NCAA could also put EA Sports on the association’s bad side, which is not what they currently need.

The NCAA and EA Sports are in the midst of a player likeness lawsuit which could have ended the partnership regardless of a contract extension.

This might be a way for EA Sports to leave the college football world which has not presented many benefits. It could also be a way for the NCAA to distance itself from videogames with which the organization does not wish to currently associate itself.

“NCAA Football 14”—possibly the last college sports videogame for the foreseeable future—is in stores now.

Real Time Analytics