Back in March, 2K and the NFL announced a partnership to develop a run of “non-simulation” football games, but there was a key piece missing from the puzzle.
The deal cleared the way for the publisherto put out an NFL-licensed game starting in 2021, something it hasn’t done since releasing the much-belovedESPN NFL 2K5back in the summer of 2004. However, at no point in the announcement was there mention of the NFL Players Association, a union agreement 2K would also need in order to feature the league’s players in its upcoming football titles.
On Thursday, that piece fell into place. 2K, the NFLPA, and the NFLPA’s group licensing representative, OneTeam Partners,announced a dealthat will allow the names, numbers, images, and likenesses of NFL players to appear in whatever projects 2K has in store.
“We’re thrilled to be working with the NFLPA and OneTeam to bring the biggest and best stars in football to the games we’re working on,” 2K President David Ismailer said in a statement. “We want to give fans experiences that are authentic, memorable and fun, and having a roster of real-life sports heroes through the Players Association and OneTeam is a huge part of delivering on that promise.”
Specific titles, developers, and released dates have yet to be announced, but 2K’s first NFL game is expected to be out next year and within parent company Take-Two’s 2022 fiscal year. Most likely, the game’s being set up to launch right around the start of the 2021 NFL season.
In a football game market nearly monopolized by EA’sMadden NFLfranchise, word that 2K was getting back to making NFL-licensed games again was encouraging news. Unfortunately, perhaps to the dismay of many fans, a true competitor toMaddenthese games won’t be, as the “non-simulation” label implies more arcade-like experiences (thinkNFL Blitz,NFL Street, or the football equivalent ofNBA 2K Playgrounds).
Speaking ofMadden, EA had its own licensing deal with the NFLextended through at least the 2025 seasonby the league’s owners back in May. The extension keepsMaddenas the lone series of simulation-based NFL games for the foreseeable future, and granted EA the ability to develop mobile and arcade-style games as well.
Still, whileMaddenwill remain video-game football’s headliner, 2K is at least making it so it isn’t the only show in town anymore.
“2K has a proven track record of high-profile and successful business relationships with other sports leagues, professional athletes and their collective fans,” Steve Scebelo, Interim President of NFL Players Inc. (the NFLPA’s licensing and marketing arm), said in a statement. “The label makes some of the best sports video games in the world, and we look forward to working with 2K, our players and OneTeam on future projects.”
