"Madden" will continue to be the NFL's officially licensed video game for another five years. Photo Illustration by Rafael Henrique/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

NFL extends Electronic Arts, 'Madden' deal through at least 2025

By Zac Wassink | Last updated May 28, 2020 3:53 PM ET

As Jordan Heck wrote for Sporting News back in March, the NFL and 2K have agreed to the creation of multiple non-simulation football video games during the 2020s, but those of you holding out hope for an alternative to the "Madden" series will have to wait for at least another half-decade.

On Thursday, NFL insider Albert Breer reported that the NFL and Electronic Arts extended their deal through at least 2025 and, likely, through 2026.

Per source, NFL owners just voted to approve an extension of their deal with Electronic Arts. This one will run through the 2025 season (and through 2026 if revenue markers are hit).

So when it comes to that kind of game, it'll be Madden for a while.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) May 28, 2020

While 2K has been given the right to release games with NFL logos and trademarks, those titles will be more arcade in nature.

"NFL 2K5," the last true NFL-related game released by that developer, is widely viewed as the greatest pro football simulation ever made.

As Eddie Makuch wrote for GameSpot, "Madden 20" set a franchise record for most pre-orders last August.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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