20 Years Ago, The NFL Ruined Football Gaming...

[@infinitytone2503]

I hope El Psycho Diablo watch this😭

[@MarstonManhunter]

PLEASE NEVER STOP making these videos. ESPN NFL 2K5 is the most important sports game of my lifetime, and these videos keep the good name of this game alive.

[@2KMichael]

Madden is free this weekend and i still feel like i got ripped off.

[@omarilambert4282]

Bro Ong i downloaded that shit played like 3 games h2h and uninstalled that shit same damn game

[@Thatgamingdiary]

wait fr?

[@Swxftylol]

free is free bruh

[@Thatgamingdiary]

@ how can I get it for free

[@shawklan27]

I forgot, and yet I missed nothing.

[@Clown_Shingles]

You speaking facts. EA should be banned from the exclusive rights to the NFL license

[@shawklan27]

Just like how Sony should sell the rights of Motorstorm to someone who gives a damn about it

[@DarkSideCaster]

The game still sells, and as long as both EA and the NFL sees that, it does not matter what anyone else says. Money talks.

[@ST0NE_206]

BRING BACK NFL2K 🗣️🔥

[@ILikeHotDoggies]

Yes

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

BRING BACK COMPETITION!

[@WcHDICE]

I think 2K will ruined NFL like they did to 2K NBA *cough *cough loot boxes & microtransactions

[@quentinwilliams5942]

We gotta be careful what we ask for​@@WcHDICE

[@eliasmathew797]

#berngbacknfl2k

[@thepolarphantasm2319]

Special shout-out to a legend whose name got caught up in all this long ago, hall of Fame coach of the Oakland Raiders John Madden

[@simiwade7773]

It feels like 30 years than 20 years NGL

[@someperson2287]

It feels like a different lifetime ago.

[@Underhownd]

You have a stronger will than I do. I honestly don't think I'll ever see a competitive NFL (or at this rate, ANY sports league) title again to challenge the industry norm. The innocence of our video game childhood is gone forever and in its place are soulless corporations more concerned with profit margins than gameplay innovation.

[@michaelahurt]

Saying they don't innovate is just ... Look there are lots of things to complain about without making stuff up. Gameplay innovation is not lacking whatsoever. NCAA and Madden just completely redefined how pass blocking and setting up protections work. And EA has continued to refine the ball placement system for passing NBA 2K plays _completely_ different from four years ago including a brand new shooting mechanic and variable shot timing What _is_ lacking is depth and enjoyable offline modes. You can dislike the gameplay but saying they aren't innovating is factually inaccurate

[@STREAMSONLY-vt6gx]

​@michaelahurt they barely do ANY innovation dude. They just re hash old stuff and sell it to you as 'new' and rename it. How do you not see it?

[@BrendanPappas]

I’ve been saying the same thing for years and it still rings true: the only way to kill off the exclusive license is for people to stop buying Madden. Enough people need to band together and boycott buying it in order to tank sales. Hopefully that actually happens one day. Would love to one day get an impressively realistic NFL game with the technology advances we’ve gotten in recent years. Not incredibly hopeful though, ngl.

[@keiffermaynard3384]

The problem is that whales will spend hundreds, thousands, hundreds of thousand alone. The people that won’t pay 60 bucks for a Madden game out of exhaustion with EA certainly weren’t buying nearly the same amount in micro-transactions, so it won’t make a significant difference in the long run. Sure, a massive spike in lost sales would look bad, but they can cook the books and point out they just didn’t lose as much money overall etc. We need to not just not buy, but leave a black mark on EA unless and until things change. If EA looks bad to a big number of gamers big whoop. If it’s so bad it becomes an embarrassment to the NFL? Well then there’s a chance.

[@BrendanPappas]

@ well, the bad critical reviews have certainly done nothing. So let’s hope there’s another way.

[@SDChargers93]

I don’t donate much but man the level of and consistency of your videos are top notch I still remember the super early days of Azure and SimFBCritic and the early early days of the 1st podcast with smitty and Gideon (I might be off with names but it was so damn long ago. Only one left from that “era” is Ryan Moody. But your keeping that torch alive when people were critical of EA when they made the jump to 360 , you have dissected and analyzed Madden to a T and what a top notch interview with Tripp Hawkins as well. Keep it up man. I’ve always wanted to do videos like you have same with Moody and Azure and SimFBallCritic. For a young dude you’re keeping the hope alive Madden will change one day. As how garbage gaming has become call of duty is in the SAME EXACT BOAT as Madden right now. How the community managers piss away the hardcore fans. As a suggestion go check out BlameTruth he makes videos just like yours and hasn’t given up in the fight to bring back the glory days. Keep it up bubba

[@BogLoud]

20 years from then and here we are, NFL gaming hitting Rock Bottom after Rock Bottom. Well, thank God emulators exist🙏

[@YoloJohnnyk]

Madden 03-08 On The PS2 Was Peak

[@DarkSideCaster]

Gaming in general from that timeframe was peak

[@xxwarpigspartan1138]

@@DarkSideCasteri always felt like once next gen came along in 2013 everything went downhill

[@BUPMY1]

Madden 2001-2004 for me. Madden 05(PS2) and 06(PS2)I didn't like. (Its 360 debut was terrible) I forgot how I truly felt about 07(PS2) and 08(PS2). Madden 09(PS2) I remember having some fun playing 6-8 players with family.

[@pinyinn]

It truly pains me that Madden is the only licensed nfl game, id love to have a game like espn nfl 2k5 with modern technology.

[@oklywright8886]

So sad that back as kids our imagination was wild “ dude imagine how amazing football video games will be 20 years from now!!” Well… we got our answer. Now I’m 30 years old & dont have the time to finish a full franchise in 3 days with my 4 best friends. We never got to experience a real, true to life nfl game.

[@RobsRetroGaming]

GREAT analysis! I just did a video playing 2K5 a few days ago, and is the GREATEST football game ever created!!!

[@MauriciO_M_Salazar]

Even if they brought back 2K, just look at what they’ve done with MyNBA in 2K25. Companies don’t care, and for now, they won’t care about offline gameplay simply because sports videogames is no longer for those of us who play franchise mode or offline.

[@michaelahurt]

Exactly I really wish they would either outsource it -- cut staff and let another studio build MyNBA for them -- or split the game. Make MyNBA, MyPlayer and MyTeam their own games At this point I think the entry cost to develop comparable gameplay is so prohibitive it's impossible for anyone to compete. Even EA couldn't build a functional game last time they tried

[@iiTsFaded_]

has it really been 20 years since EA took my favorite sport hostage :(

[@luxerhusku2609]

That's it! I'm gonna make a video compilation of SoftDrink mentioning EA signing an exclusive rights deal with the NFL to be the only company making simulation football video games. I lost count how many times he's said it, so I'm gonna have to watch rewatch all of his videos again! Time for a marathon! :D

[@SOFTDRINKTV]

Please do that lol

[@luxerhusku2609]

@@SOFTDRINKTV It's a way to celebrate 20 years of the NFL making the worst decision ever; as well as getting the word out!

[@dogmanandborisproductions]

Im subscribing to you just to see that lol

[@AJAJ-tg6uw]

Locked in SDTV, we here my boy!

[@MatthewHollie1987]

Blame Paul Tagliabue for giving EA Sports free license to lock up the exclusive rights to publish NFL video games. While we want competition, the NFL will continue to say, “Screw your pleas for competition, you will pay EA a boatload of money!” Oh boy.

[@RowdyJr]

Paul was too conservative to keep the saints in new orleans after the hurricane katrina devastation but the fact that he was too liberal to let EA keep the exclusive rights to NFL games is absurd 🙄

[@anthonygill4795]

I will never forget. How we used to always go to the stores whenever the new madden would drop just to only look at the covers because I count afford then whenever they would first come out... I will always love 2k for the fact the day I went to walmart to just admire the cover of madden.. next to it I see this football game with T.O on the cover and om like it's probably too expensive.. I looked at the price 20$!! I quickly grabbed the key holder in electronics questioned him over and over hey! "Is this a full real football game and not some demo or scam"? We examined it, and he said yes, it was the full price for the title. I was asking the maitence man any employee I could get. Bought the game pretty much floated home.. Put the game in my xbox it was one of the best experiences in my life . I was in college, and it was awesome..

[@AFLfan2004]

Your channel is the reason I have quit buying madden

[@TheFridge7285]

Just imagine if Ultimate Team never was an idea

[@DarkSideCaster]

At the end of the day, the microtransactions in Madden, or any modern game out there, is a choice of the consumer. Nobody is twisting the arm of consumers to spend real money on MUT cards.

[@TheFridge7285]

@DarkSideCaster but think of how many games leave cool stuff behind a pay wall ya know

[@michaelahurt]

​@@DarkSideCaster It's human nature It's the same reason athletes cheat irl. If you put people in a competitive environment and offer them an edge, some will take it. And then a few more and then a few more. Combine that gambling addictions ... It's nice to say it's the consumer's choice but that's complete horseshit. That's the same logic people like Harvey Weinstein or Purdue pharma used. "I didn't force anyone to do anything" Most people are controlled far more by their id than the rational & logical parts of the brain. We are irrational creatures. If a corporation wants to psychologically manipulate people -- well it's going to work on a lot of people.

[@JGMGamer07]

And then we got the worst Madden ever, Madden 06 on Xbox 360, that game didn't even have create a player and practice WTF???

[@HumanOptimization]

it was still mad fun tho and showed the greatest leap of graphical improvement we have ever seen.

[@EagleZtoTheGrave]

06 and 07 on PS2 were better, unreal.

[@wwe1222]

The moment/day when EA and the NFL decided that competition is a sin.

[@vikctorrkreedd6418]

These fools didn't know Madden turned into the evil empire after being bested? They hated so hard on the 2K.

[@michaelahurt]

That's overstating it. Madden 04 and 05 was the peak of the series. 2k was selling their game half off. That's a move of desperation not dominance. Very likely people would have gradually shifted over throughout the 2000s like they did with NBA 2k and Madden would have died in the 2010s like NBA Live

[@Michael-sb8jf]

​@@michaelahurt I don't know what would happen if 2k didn't do half off thing. But the NFL saw that as a black eye to their reputation and probably what got the ball moving to protect their image thus giving EA the sole rights

[@RowdyJr]

Fr madden fan boys are the most cringe ppl I have ever encountered. And what's even worse is that most of them are gen alpha kids that will grow up as adults one day and talk about brain rot convos on how great madden 15 to 25 in their own pov and how it's their own 'childhood nostalgia' when really it's garbage because they don't know any better 🤣🙄🤦🏾‍♂️ Unbelievable..

[@michaelahurt]

@Michael-sb8jf Oh that is 1000% what happened My point is the idea 2k bested Madden is something that only works ex post facto. Very very few people in 2005 were of the opinion that 2k best Madden in any way shape or form. It was Madden's apex

[@EagleZtoTheGrave]

​@@michaelahurtMake note of the fact a EA team member at the time said, and I quote, 2K made us s**t our pants. Yes 05 was great, but EA knew 2K was ready to eat them alive 😂

[@docchicken1342]

I was super pissed then as a HS junior and I'm even more pissed now. It's infuriating to me that people are too stupid to not just band together and not buy Madden forcing this to fail.

[@WhoSays12]

Can't get mad at kids. It is a kid's game

[@Bolts17]

I don't buy the games, but even if everyone stopped buying them, the ultimate team whales would probably still make EA enough money to be incentivized to still make them and "look" successful :/ I'm still hoping for the NFL to open their eyes and get rid of the exclusive license

[@mrsirbagel]

How is it not illegal? This is a 100% monopoly on NFL games. I don't understand why nobody have tried to do anything legally about this.

[@Ben-p3b]

Its not llegal because madden is fine, bro really expects no games to have a single glitch, hes nitpicking

[@TieUpOne]

@@Ben-p3bbaiting

[@Michael-sb8jf]

Because in a capitalist system the rights owner has the final say in how they want their product produced. Take for example the Harry potter franchise. No other movie production company can make a HP movie other than WB

[@annalee2249]

Not the same at all​@@Michael-sb8jf

[@FBGDon2Gunz]

The NFL is also a company,therefore what they do with their branding is 100% up to them

[@smoove7932]

Thank you for continuing the fight! Unfortunately I feel EA and the NFL will strike another deal. I do wish Madden had not sold his image and likeness and kept EA accountable. John Madden football should be a true SIM and honor his legacy. Today's game doesn't even come close to what John Madden represents. Keep Fighting for John!

[@ThatRandomReviewer]

Played NFL 2K5 today. What a title. Such a crazy in depth game. The first person mode is crazy too

[@romeocornell69]

I can say 2k has faced some quality issues in the past few years, but ESPN football would have been A GREAT game for at least another decade if the NFL didn't make this deal!

[@MrJohansen]

Exclusivity deals of any kind are inherently anti-capitalist and its crazy that they haven't been banned in a country like America. Our entire country is built on a free market. Why is this allowed???

[@Michael-sb8jf]

But it's the NFL's right to control how they use their property. It sucks but they have rights too.

[@blakebaker7]

Happy exclusive license day

[@SportsPlug-cp1eq]

The 20 dollar price tag was the big mistake wasn't it. In hindsight 10.00 lower would have probably kept NFL2K alive.

[@JohnnyTong215]

I got my copy for a buck from GameStop a long time ago!!! It’s still my favorite 🏈 game alongside Tecmo Super Bowl!!!

[@jaredmarkham7300]

Honestly, I wouldn't even trust 2K to make a good madden game now. Just look how they destroyed the NBA license.

[@shadowandroid1823]

2k doesn't have exclusive rights on NBA games. EA chose to stop to making nba live games on their own.

[@AceSportsNStuff]

TBH, the worst thing 2k could mess up with an NFL game is like trade/draft logic. If 2k made an NFL game it would DEFINITELY be a great game.

[@jaredmarkham7300]

@@shadowandroid1823 It may not be an exclusive license. But he is kind of lit their NBA series. Go to the website, I'm gonna all it on madden.

[@michaelahurt]

​@@AceSportsNStuff Have better gameplay than Madden? Probably. Be a great _game_ though probably not. The last legitimately good 2k was 17. That was 8 years ago.

[@43turkkkless]

​@michaelahurt you gotta realize that the nfl game eil be built from the ground up

[@Bahns007]

The last Madden I bought was '09 for the PS2. After that, I moved to NCAA 10 and then NCAA 13 and largely stuck with NCAA 13 until a few years after the announcement of NCAA being discontinued before ultimately moving on to other games in different genres. About 5 years back, I looked into getting Madden since I haven't bought it since 09 and discovered SDTV and he opened my eyes to how trash Madden has become and still to this day I haven't bought Madden

[@Bolts17]

It's crazy how the PS2 and a few of the PS3 era maddens are still so far ahead of current Madden... I still play Madden 10 on the 360 and 08 on the PS2

[@TMK561]

2K should’ve brought back college hoops, and just have it linked to NBA 2K like how NCAA football has been linked to Madden as far as draft class imports, etc.

[@Dinozod_]

My strategy for getting back at EA is getting the game when it’s on sale, then using mods

[@zw7425]

We are in the dark ages of sports videos games right .. every sports game sucks

[@WhoSays12]

It's over, man. Let it go. Things are never coming back like it was without congress getting involved, and that isn't happening.

[@icemanx5085]

😂😂😂 With the new administration coming in!!! They definitely rolling with EA they all for a good monopoly 😅

[@traycannon5793]

Pls never stop making these man , the newer generation needs to know what EA did to sports gaming

[@onyamate1847]

The day the music died.

[@GridironMasters]

I think football gamers who want something other than the AAA slop have to really think about where they invest their money. My personal stance has become to not talk about 2K as a savior, as it's not the same Visual Concepts/2K from 99-07. EA, the NFL and the casual gamer all played a part in ruining the market. I think the future for sports gaming is in the indie and AA space. It's probably not going to be a huge market but at least the developers will listen to you and also do something different at the same time.

[@oklywright8886]

I’ll be here liking every single one of your madden videos until the end of time, man. Never give up. Maybe someday it will pay off & we’ll have YOU & this community to thank.

[@Venom3254]

Sega cooked hard with NFL 2K

[@videogamemadness1582]

Someone just put sports games to rest. If they can't be done right then it shouldn't be done at all. 2k would screw it up and ea has for 20 years.

[@MatthewHollie1987]

No.

[@Bolts17]

it's not about having 2k make it, its letting anyone else have a shot at it and keeping EA on their toes because of they don't make one that can compete they'll lose money and have to make a better game, even if NBA 2k has its problems, you can't deny its franchise mode is MILES ahead of Madden's..

[@anthonygill4795]

Ppl don't even know that on the Xbox version of this game you could have your burned cds any cd burned to your Xbox, and insert any part of any of your WON MUSIC INTO THE GAME!!!😊😊. You could have your music play at 1st downs, 4th downs, touchdowns, and interceptions. When and whatever you wanted. I loved seeing my 9ers score a touchdown, then Miss E Elliott song "Work it" would play. It was fabulous!!

[@cope847]

Man, this is sad. Im still holding onto hope that we'll get other licensed NFL games. Maybe 2K could go for a lesser league like the UFL. I'd play a well made UFL game.

[@xxwarpigspartan1138]

Im just hoping for the day 2k grows a pair a makes another APF

[@East_Texas_Gaming]

I was in 11th grade when the contract was signed, and when NFL 2k5 released ....we were all pissed we never got a NFL 2k6 and so on.

[@realFalconfire]

So…EA had the rights to the NFL was given before I was born. Goddamn it NFL. DO NOT RENEW IT!!!

[@eliasmathew797]

Same 😢. Never got to experience peak NFL games

[@icemanx5085]

If they opened it back up I doubt 2k try to even enter the market.

[@gamingwithmarvs]

Crazy that it been twenty years since this happened wow

[@Nunya7211]

Bro the amount of people who actually know all about the exclusive license EA has compared to a few years ago is insane!!!!!!!! The level of awareness has skyrocketed

[@mjdf122]

I’ve seen all from 1980-Now I have every console and tons of games I happen to enjoy sports games many memories throughout the decades

[@SanDzFit]

This game was great for its time, but after recently replaying it, I feel most of us have on rose tinted glasses. APF 2K8 is my go-to for sim ball. It’s bare bones but the on field action and ability to play with NFL legends is phenomenal.

[@HumanOptimization]

Wow! Great video. HOpefully the monopoly ends. I actually lvoed madden 06 on gthe 360. it was my introduction to online gaming. played the heck out of it. lol

[@swissmrkc]

Always enjoy your vids. One thing I would like to point out that is incorrect, you mention in the first minute.... is that the NFL was upset about bringing down the price that was not the case...... EA went to the NFL indirectly brought this up as a reason why the exclusive license would be necessary..... the NFL didn't care and then ask EA for the for a solution because they were upset. The impetus was EA thought of an idea hated that they were getting outsold cried to the NFL and use that line of trying to undercut the price which also made Sega Sports know they were going to lose money to pay off for the following year cuz they knew their product was so good... Paul taglia Vu then cited this as a reason but this reason was brought up by EA. When Paul taglia Blue retired I was really hoping that was a time that the new NFL commissioner would overturn this but unfortunately that's not the case. I bought this thing day one,remember those forum posts, I was part of the Gillette 20,000 online tournament and I placed 8th. Would never have dreamed it was all over in 2004, for years thought the 2k series would return. I haven't played an NFL game since.

[@YaredYahu1212]

NFL 2K5 will always be the GOAT of football games. The best Madden was 08-09. Things will never be the same.

[@jab1289]

At 5:33, when El Psycho Diablo said something about five more years (of glorified roster updates), I wish that it would have been only five.

[@PatToReal]

I don’t know if you made a video on the 2k mlb games but you definitely should if not

[@mikeyy131reacts]

amazing as always

[@Benjamin-tf4cm]

I loved 2k football too. Now I’m thinking what if 2k just put the game out at a regular price and never pissed the nfl off. Maybe we would still have competition between the 2

[@WestCoastCheeseHead]

Damn man I feel old😭 but I’m only 27 I used to play NFL Fever and NFL 2k5 so much as a little kid those games were so much more fun than any madden

[@Mr.MikeBarksdale]

Maybe we should be petitioning the player's union, not the shield itself. Players may be more receptive to getting authentic gameplay, to say nothing of the fact they will be anti-monopolists by nature.

[@Negative28]

NFL 2k. NFL GameDay. NFL Fever. Quarterback Club. If just one of those could come back, man.

[@MathewGX]

I am unspeakably bitter about EA's exclusive NFL video game license, for even more reasons than outlined here.

[@welcom2myworld12]

One day we'll be free from these handcuffs.

[@Lucky_9705]

The NFL needs to revoke EA’s exclusivity license immediately

[@jakobbuckles4472]

I just wish we had competition again. i don't want EA to lose the NFL license completely, I just want 2K and other Devs to have a chance. I don't understand why The NFL won't open up the contract again, wouldn't that make them more money to have more games and brand exposure??

[@Matthew6248]

Have never buyed a Madden game for a long long time, do Acclaim's Legends of Wrestling trilogy in the future

[@programme9363]

I can't believe it's been 20 years

[@dhosea101]

The beginning of the end of fun football video games. Madden 2006 for the Xbox 360 was the start of bad football games. Little did we know, it was about to get worse, MUCH worse!

[@nostalgicgamer1363]

The only thing 2k5 lacked was coaching hires and position editing

[@HighLifeProds17]

Might've doomed AAA sports gaming as a whole forever...

[@johnvoncannon9717]

The preview video for Madden 07 cost $20, same as 2K5.

[@eliasmathew797]

5:26 holy heck, they freaking called it.

[@MicRizzy]

This chanel inspired me to start my own and my first video will be about this topic but from the perspective of why things actually hapened the way they did. Like I said I love this channel and hate Madden, but I’m also in the corporate world here in Orlando, FL. Living here in Orlando, right in EA’s backyard, I have some very vague connections to the way things went down. The reality is that the NFL’s business model has always been about exclusive deals. There are countless examples-two being Nike’s uniform deal and Panini’s license for trading cards. So, if you don’t like how Nike makes uniforms or how Panini designs cards, too bad-just like with Madden. This is how big brands operate-exclusivity streamlines operations and guarantees massive revenue. By the mid-2000s, the NFL was already implementing exclusive deals across its ecosystem, and gaming was just another arm. 2K had the chance to bid like everyone else, but EA was already established and offered $1.5 billion. Of that, $500 million goes to players and marketing, but the NFL pockets $1 billion just for existing. That’s no risk for them. If Madden flops, EA takes the hit, not the NFL. Let’s be honest: this isn’t changing unless someone offers the NFL more money with less risk, which is unlikely. Even if multiple companies made NFL games, the NFL would still choose the sure thing over potential creativity. None of us would make a different choice. You’d take the billions every time. The reality is, the NFL doesn’t care about innovation because it doesn’t need to. We’re such a tiny part of their market that we barely register. And like it or not, we’ll still watch football and buy Madden. It’s like having one pizza place in town. Why would they bother with new toppings or unique recipes if you’re going to buy from them anyway? That’s the NFL’s business model-safe, guaranteed profits, zero risk. Im sorry but its not a conspiracy its just a giant brand doing boring giant brand stuff...

[@i9Bash]

On god they fucked it up

[@phenomenalelitebasketball2124]

EA monopolizing the NFL video game space is the worst thing to happen to NFL video games as someone who’s grown up with the EA franchise exclusively making the games the game gets worse every year and they except people to get the game because they crushed their competition

[@johnfoster2584]

Still playing NFL and NHL 2k5.

[@pureo_nikku]

Unfortunately it makes them money so they don’t care abt image😅and not enough people know deep in the weeds how bad of a product it is.. which the documentary only helps protect. But I’ll always appreciate creators like you who remember better times and fight for them

[@Yeomannn]

The worst day in history.

[@-pancakes7205]

I still own my copy of ESPN 2K5 on PS2. it's the only football game i'll ever need.

[@r3y354]

I can’t help but think, wouldn’t it have made more sense for the NFL to tell 2K to sell their games at $50-$60 instead of signing an exclusive rights deal with EA? I feel like the NFL heavily overreacted to NFL 2K being only $20

[@BrandonEldridge-kx9kv]

Wow 20 years ago no wonder people was hyped for NCAA Football 25 people just want to play something else.

[@ren.nshrimpy]

College football 25 is the last EA sports product I will ever purchase

[@TheChrisPhoenix]

20 years ago, sports gaming competition died.

[@Miles117-s1y]

Just got a copy of ESPN football for Five bucks for Xbox 360 I wish I can update the roster love this game have more fun with this game than 25 Madden keep up the good work I know this is old

[@Supersonicspyro]

There is a way to download rosters

[@kirkford2596]

The EA NFL exclusive SIM deal is for a SIM game, Madden is nowhere close to SIM

[@Brazil144hopeful]

Im 41 now and ive given up on a lot of thing's and now im just waiting on what? I don't know 😕

[@ICYMIINMIY]

NEVER LET UP ON EA AND THEIR SHENANIGANS! NO MERCY!!1

[@Reggieamponsah24]

If 2k never did the price thing do yall think we would be in this situation with EA?

[@Michael-sb8jf]

NFL wanted to protect their brand image. 2k essentially walked themselves out of the negotiations by doing that.

[@christianflair1185]

And the whole world just fucking watched

[@xavierking2449]

I used to love ea sports, the Tony hawk series, and the fighting games, now I have to go backwards to the Xbox 360 because back than was fun and no microtractions, ea sports and others needs to get their shit together

[@adstevens751]

Had every football game that was ever made.

[@NipseyEternal99]

I stopped supporting Madden a long time ago since the PS3 I have only bought 2 one on the PS3 Madden 07 and 17 and I haven't played any newer Madden... I still play 2k5 on my phone

[@sarahrafa6677]

Bring nfl 2k back so that there is competition and the effect will be madden will be back on track making good games

[@sodapop.21]

The worst deal in NFL history

[@perfectcell5111]

nfl couldve had 2 juggernaut games

[@gregd806]

It's kind of funny, they gave the exclusivity to EA, but they could have made more money with different franchises… Making different games. Three or four games that you can market and license is better and probably more profitable in the end than one..

[@Michael-ut6zb]

I've lost all faith in modern sports games. Since this being 2K we know right away if they were allowed to make a new NFL game it will be filled with VC/Loot box bullshit. Despite my fond memories, 2K will fuck it up like they have done with NBA 2K. They even went the same direction for WWE with another card collecting mode to line their pockets. For this reason, I'm still here playing on retro consoles playing games like NFL 2K5 and MVP baseball 05 with custom rosters. All sport games are trainwrecks right now and only getting much worse.

[@mmicb0b]

real talk BOTH Madden and NBA 2k Are ALL THE WORSE Because the companies have exclusivity rights