NFL extends exclusive license deal with EA Sports

by pastapadre
Posted February 12th, 2008 at 2:12 am

The Wall Street Journal has revealed that the NFL has extended the exclusive licensing agreement with EA Sports by three years. This means that NFL exclusivity belongs to EA through at least Madden 2013. The official announcement will be made later today.

At an EA briefing for analysts today, Mr. Moore plans announce the extension of a deal with the National Football League and the NFL Players Association through 2012 that will continue EA’s position as the exclusive maker of NFL videogames, including Madden. EA’s previous exclusive NFL deal was due to expire next year.

This doesn’t come as a huge surprise however until now there was a sense of uncertainty regarding what could happen with the license such as potentially going through another bidding process. The news is just breaking on this so I’ll have more as it becomes available. Be sure to check back frequently for the latest.

Update: Pastapadre.com had an exclusive interview with Peter Moore on the subject of the exclusivity extension. Click the following links for a quick preview and the recording of the call.

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ThaGreatBrain

Shoulda seen this comin’. I can’t believe people would be naive about this. APF sales were disappointing and signing the legends was not that smart money-wise. Hell, 2k had to cut their decent College Basketball franchise because of cost and upkeep. I don’t care if all the Madden haters form an army, it will be quelled by the still stellar sales of Madden. I can ask my football teammates, all they want is Madden. Yes, quality might suffer, but at least the competition is being creative.
ThaGreatBrain

Shoulda seen this comin’. I can’t believe people would be naive about this. APF sales were disappointing and signing the legends was not that smart money-wise. Hell, 2k had to cut their decent College Basketball franchise because of cost and upkeep. I don’t care if all the Madden haters form an army, it will be quelled by the still stellar sales of Madden. I can ask my football teammates, all they want is Madden. Yes, quality might suffer, but at least the competition is being creative.
KINGSMAN

Ea is a joke. They dont wabt comp because they know they will get destroyed(see 2k5 v.s madden 05) good job Ea!
KINGSMAN

Ea is a joke. They dont wabt comp because they know they will get destroyed(see 2k5 v.s madden 05) good job Ea!
http://pastaparade.com/ andy g

Very very sad. after years of nba live, i switch to 2k8
and it is the best ever. Now I want nfl 2k9, and CANT HAVE
IT?? it shows that ea knows 2k can beat them. Smart move,
but now i hate ea.
http://pastaparade.com andy g

Very very sad. after years of nba live, i switch to 2k8
and it is the best ever. Now I want nfl 2k9, and CANT HAVE
IT?? it shows that ea knows 2k can beat them. Smart move,
but now i hate ea.
BlaqueDragon

It’s true that Madden has been losing it’s charm in the past few years,(and I personally think that the fact that 2K was making a game with better playability, better graphics, and at a lower price was centrifugal to EA buying out the NFL liscence). I find that competition is the best way to improve, you don’t become the best by buying out your competition. Shame on EA for taking the easy way out.
BlaqueDragon

It’s true that Madden has been losing it’s charm in the past few years,(and I personally think that the fact that 2K was making a game with better playability, better graphics, and at a lower price was centrifugal to EA buying out the NFL liscence). I find that competition is the best way to improve, you don’t become the best by buying out your competition. Shame on EA for taking the easy way out.
Anonymous

[quote comment="12982"]5 more years of NFL2K5 for me![/quote]
Rather that than Madden any day.Even if it’s for the next five years.I’ll stick to my outdated roster.
LIT U UP

[quote comment="12982"]5 more years of NFL2K5 for me![/quote]
Rather that than Madden any day.Even if it’s for the next five years.I’ll stick to my outdated roster.
Dr. Truth

Madden is the worse NFL football game and the ONLY NFL football game which is why I only play 2k8. The physics on madden are trash. I hate it, and Hate EA with a passion. I hope they go bankrupt. Oh wait it wont happen. Too many zombies buying the name. IDIOTS ALL OF YOU MADDEN SUPPORTERS ARE BUYING THE SAME GAME YEAR AFTER YEAR YOU DUMB BASTARDS!!!
Dr. Truth

Madden is the worse NFL football game and the ONLY NFL football game which is why I only play 2k8. The physics on madden are trash. I hate it, and Hate EA with a passion. I hope they go bankrupt. Oh wait it wont happen. Too many zombies buying the name. IDIOTS ALL OF YOU MADDEN SUPPORTERS ARE BUYING THE SAME GAME YEAR AFTER YEAR YOU DUMB BASTARDS!!!
spider dart

I could not agree more with Dr. Truth. Its all politics because of the money that is involved. 2k series is the best, hand down. But there are people out there who will buy just about anything. EA makes great games but when it comes to football. There competition was much much better (2k sports). How much longer will we have to wait for another ass kicking football game. Madden is overated just like the QB on the cover.
spider dart

I could not agree more with Dr. Truth. Its all politics because of the money that is involved. 2k series is the best, hand down. But there are people out there who will buy just about anything. EA makes great games but when it comes to football. There competition was much much better (2k sports). How much longer will we have to wait for another ass kicking football game. Madden is overated just like the QB on the cover.
Andrew

I love madden dont get me wrong and if 2k was able to make football games i wouldnt buy them but i think this liscense is killing the quality of madden games i remember back in like 2004 the gameplay was so great..now that they have no competition the gameplay is sliding and although the graphics are spectacular the gamplay and glitches in madden 09 arent that great
Andrew

I love madden dont get me wrong and if 2k was able to make football games i wouldnt buy them but i think this liscense is killing the quality of madden games i remember back in like 2004 the gameplay was so great..now that they have no competition the gameplay is sliding and although the graphics are spectacular the gamplay and glitches in madden 09 arent that great
Ninja Bob

Madden is a poor product–period. People still prefer to play an old game with rosters that you can't update because it's the superior product. Is there anyone still playing Madden 05? The fact that the NFL agreed to sign an exclusive deal with EA shows how much they really care about quality.

The league needs to be represented by the best product on the market when it comes to fans wanting to play a video game featuring NFL stars of the present and the past. That in a nutshell is good business, but we're talking about the NFL here. They wouldn't know good business if it kicked them in the face.

EA clearly can't hang with the 2K squad when it comes to basketball games and Madden got shown up as an inferior, over-hyped fraud of a football game, so they had no choice but to use the old Nintendo "exclusivity" trick to squash competition.

Madden..NBA Live..People who buy these games are being hoodwinked.
Ninja Bob

Madden is a poor product–period. People still prefer to play an old game with rosters that you can't update because it's the superior product. Is there anyone still playing Madden 05? The fact that the NFL agreed to sign an exclusive deal with EA shows how much they really care about quality.

The league needs to be represented by the best product on the market when it comes to fans wanting to play a video game featuring NFL stars of the present and the past. That in a nutshell is good business, but we're talking about the NFL here. They wouldn't know good business if it kicked them in the face.

EA clearly can't hang with the 2K squad when it comes to basketball games and Madden got shown up as an inferior, over-hyped fraud of a football game, so they had no choice but to use the old Nintendo "exclusivity" trick to squash competition.

Madden..NBA Live..People who buy these games are being hoodwinked.
macrosAV

the NFL is so fukin retarted. why would u give the license to EA,they dont deserve it. Give it to 2K, the only company that was able to capture the rel essance of what football should be. the hits, the atmosphere, the intensity, the passion, the sheer realism.Madden has had time with no competitors to put out a good game and they still havent. ESPN NFL 2K5 is still the best football game ever made. fuck ea, fuck madden, and yes im going to say it, fuck the nfl. 2k should just go all out with a fake leauge and crush them.
macrosAV

the NFL is so fukin retarted. why would u give the license to EA,they dont deserve it. Give it to 2K, the only company that was able to capture the rel essance of what football should be. the hits, the atmosphere, the intensity, the passion, the sheer realism.Madden has had time with no competitors to put out a good game and they still havent. ESPN NFL 2K5 is still the best football game ever made. fuck ea, fuck madden, and yes im going to say it, fuck the nfl. 2k should just go all out with a fake leauge and crush them.