One of the more exciting announcements in the industry came this morning when 2K Games and the NFL announced a new multi-year deal to develop new titles. Of course, many of us fondly remember the NFL 2K titles as that story has been covered at length. Sadly, there’s a catch with this new deal.
EA and the team behind Madden will continue to be the only studio that are legally allowed to develop simulation titles while 2K will develop “non-simulation football game experiences”.
“We’re thrilled to be back in business with the NFL in a partnership that will span multiple video games centered on fun, approachable and social experiences,” David Ismailer, president of 2K, said. “It’s exciting to bring together 2K’s expertise in creating award-winning sports games with the NFL’s renowned status as a world-class entertainment and sports organization.”
“Expanding the NFL’s presence in the world of gaming has become a focus for the League as we look to grow the next generation of our fanbase and reviving our partnership with 2K was a natural step in that effort,” said Joe Ruggiero, senior vp of consumer products at the NFL. “2K is a worldwide leader in sports video games, with a proven track record of creating best-in-class and award-winning games and we look forward to sharing more about the projects we are working on with them in the future.”
Our Take
While we’re excited at the prospect of NFL Blitz or Street type titles, it is a shame that there will continue to be a lack of proper competition in the NFL simulation space. When 2K was in its prime, both the 2K and Madden titles benefited from the competition.
