Prospects Especially Strong for NBA 2K14 Heading Into Next-Gen

The polls posted a few days ago to gauge how consumers are now approaching the upcoming next-gen sports games shows that each of them are in a completely unique place. NBA 2K14 looks to be the most anticipated even though nothing is known about it, FIFA 14 carries strong support for the transition, Madden NFL 25 has stumbled as of late, and NBA Live 14 remains a product yet to provide any reason for consumers to consider it. 

NBA 2K14
45% Expect to purchase on Xbox One or PS4
24% Deciding based on more details/gameplay videos to come
19% Buying a next-gen system but not 2K14

Despite showing the least of the four sports games, and not even getting into a general philosophy on next-gen, NBA 2K14 right now is in the best position of the group. The mystery about where this series is going may be of benefit for now but feature details and gameplay footage will need to be delivered eventually or it may start to cause some damage. Reputation is certainly factoring in here and having the smallest gap from current-gen to next-gen has made waiting the least painful. Most of the wait isn’t even taking place during the regular season.

FIFA 14
38% Buying a next-gen system but not FIFA
37% Expect to purchase on Xbox One or PS4
11% Deciding based on more details/gameplay videos to come

Minds are mostly made up on whether to purchase FIFA 14. That isn’t surprising considering the most footage of any of the four sports games by far has been from FIFA and hands-on impressions have been glowing in comparison to Madden.

Madden NFL 25
33% Expect to purchase on Xbox One or PS4
28% Buying a next-gen system but not Madden
23% Deciding based on more details/gameplay videos to come

Madden resides in the middle ground with a decent number expecting to buy it, a significant portion still on the fence, and a chunk that have already decided against it that has risen with recent disappointing videos and lackluster hands-on reports. That it falls in middle of the NFL season also hurts its appeal as the desire for an NFL game may slip further away for some in the coming weeks.

NBA Live 14
44% Buying a next-gen system but not Live
28% Deciding based on more details/gameplay videos to come
15% Expect to purchase on Xbox One or PS4

It’s not too late for Live – evidenced by the 28% that are still keeping it under consideration – but the best opening that EA Sports had they let pass. That suggests they may not have what they need to turn the tide of negative perception and now they’ll have to attempt to do so in the shadow of 2K14’s promotion.