Is EA Sports working to bring NCAA Sports back?
Three years ago, Electronic Arts had to remove themselves from the virtual world of College Sports, with the official cancellation announcement of their beloved NCAA Football series.
A number of student football and basketball athletes, led by Ed O’Bannon, Ryan Hart and Sam Keller, sued EA Sports for using their likeness without compensation. Last July, a judge approved a $60 million settlement, as nearly 25,000 student athletes will share percentages at an average of $1,600 in the settlement – thirty percent of which is going to lawyers.
The previously mentioned plaintiffs will receive an estimated of $15,000 each, with a collective of twenty-one other players getting $5,000 from the case. Since NCAA Football ‘14 hit shelves in July 2013, the game has seen yearly updated roster on last-gen Sony and Microsoft consoles.
Kirk Herbstreit of the EA Sports NCAA Football series, is still frustrated with the outcome and recently said, “Ed O’Bannon ruined that for all of us. And hopefully we can get that fixed. Every single college football player would be OK with getting a free copy of the game as compensation.
That’s the compensation that they would take. I’ve never met one player in college football that’s like: ‘They can’t use my name and likeness! I need to be paid!’ They’re just thrilled to be on the game. They love being on the game. It’s like the biggest highlight of their life, is to be on the game.”
While the fate of the series returning this decade is unlikely, we’re hopeful EA Sports is getting together necessary paperwork and documents to present to the NCAA and it’s players.