EA Sports College Football 25, among the most highly anticipated sports video games of all time, has flooded the market as gamers who waited more than a decade for the franchise’s next instalment rush to play.
The game officially launched Friday, with EA Sports increasing its server capacity during early access to handle the crush.
“To say we’ve been blown away by the excitement, energy and anticipation around College Football 25 over the past few months would be an understatement,” EA Sports said in a blog post this week. “Just like you, our team has had July 19 circled for months as the culmination of so much work and dedication to build this game, and the chance to see it in players’ hands for the first time.”
EA Sports’ college football games used to be released annually, a cultural icon in American sports for much of the franchise’s existence. The company froze future editions in 2013 when athletes began questioning why they weren’t getting paid to be featured in the games.
With athlete compensation rights sorted out in court and now allowed by the NCAA, EA Sports announced in 2021 it would be reviving the franchise. The video-game developer offered Bowl Subdivision players a minimum of $600 and a copy of the game to have their likeness included in it. More than 11,000 players accepted offers.
EA Sports has said its goal for the game was “to feel like a love letter to college football and its fans.”
San Diego State and Colorado were among the schools hosting College Football 25 events this week. Across social platforms, athletes such as LeBron James, Tim Tebow and Michael Vick — even comedians Shane Gillis and Dan Soder — were live-streaming head-to-head matches in the game.
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, one of the cover athletes, said in May some of the best moments of his childhood involved playing EA Sports college football with his best friend.
“Just for it to be back, as well as to be on the cover of it, it’s an awesome feeling,” he said.
The game’s other standard-edition cover athletes are Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado two-way player Travis Hunter. The deluxe edition features the backs of numerous players in a stadium tunnel, including Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe, Georgia quarterback Carson Beck and Ohio State running back Quinshon Judkins.
EA Sports’ college football franchise dates to the 1990s. It grew in popularity in the early 2000s as gaming systems became more advanced, allowing for revolutionary game modes such as the popular Race for the Heisman create-a-player that was introduced in NCAA Football 06.
That edition also featured historic teams, including the 1992 Alabama squad that Clemson coach Dabo Swinney played on.
“Sleeping on me a little bit,” Swinney joked about the 70 overall rating for his player, “WR No. 88,” which did, however, have a 91 speed rating. “They must have my going down the Hill speed. I appreciate the love they gave me on that.”
Exciting news for college football fans as EA Sports has released their latest installment in the popular video game series, College Football 25. The game is now available for purchase and promises to deliver an immersive and realistic experience for players.
One of the most anticipated features of College Football 25 is the updated rosters, which include over 100 real-life college football teams. This means that players can now take control of their favorite teams and lead them to victory on the virtual gridiron. The game also features authentic stadiums, uniforms, and fight songs to further enhance the realism of the experience.
In addition to the updated rosters, College Football 25 also introduces new gameplay mechanics and modes to keep players engaged. The game includes a revamped Dynasty mode where players can take on the role of a coach and lead their team to glory over multiple seasons. There is also a new Road to Glory mode where players can create their own custom player and guide them through their college football career.
EA Sports has also made improvements to the graphics and presentation of College Football 25, with enhanced player models and animations that bring the game to life. The game also features commentary from real-life college football announcers to add to the authenticity of the experience.
Overall, College Football 25 is shaping up to be a must-have for any college football fan. With its updated rosters, new gameplay mechanics, and improved graphics, the game promises to provide hours of entertainment for players of all skill levels. So grab your controller and hit the virtual gridiron in College Football 25 today!