2K Sports Hints At Upcoming College Basketball Game

It seems that college basketball video games are coming back to the court. Yesterday, EA Sports Tweeted the following: “Bring the Madness. Let’s run it back. #CBB #ItsInTheGame.” In case you aren’t a college basketball fan, this is referencing March Madness, the annual NCAA Division 1 basketball tournament that sends even casual college sports fans into a frenzy. In response to EA’s soft announcement, many players took to social media, urging 2K to reveal their own college basketball project. Earlier today, they did just that, posting the following:

The campus has been quiet for too long  https://t.co/AuqoX5u5Qr

— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) June 30, 2025

In a statement to VideoGameChronicle, 2K wrote the following: “2K is the undisputed home of basketball gaming. We have a strong history with college hoops and are exploring exciting new ways to bring athletes and schools to life. Class is in session.” 2K’s NBA2K series has more or less been the only show in town when it comes to basketball sims, with EA discontinuing their NBA Live series back in 2018.

And it’s been quite a while since either publisher tried their hand at college basketball. 2K’s College Hoops series ended back in 2007 with College Hoops 2K8 and NCAA Basketball wrapped up with EA’s NCAA Basketball 10, released in 2009.

College sports games became scarce around that time period due to an antitrust lawsuit levied against the NCAA and EA for using players’ likenesses without their permission. This was caught up in a broader conflict concerning the NCAA’s dictatorial control over college athletes, as the organization forbade students from any form of compensation despite the large profits reaped by many of the biggest Division 1 programs—for context, back in 2010, Kentucky’s John Calipari was making $32 million off an eight-year deal while students made nothing.

However, things changed in 2021 after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of athletes during the NCAA vs. Alston case, arguing that the NCAA had violated antitrust law by restricting athletes from receiving compensation. With the ruling, students gained more control over their NIL (name, image, and likeness rights), eventually leading to many players striking deals with EA to appear in their comeback college sports title, EA Sports College Football 25. The game came out last year to positive reviews and a sizable player base, hitting 700,000 concurrent users on Xbox Live and PSN during its Early Access period.

Following that game’s success and the new rules around NIL for college athletes, it makes sense that we’re seeing both EA and 2K signal their return to college basketball. That said, you probably shouldn’t expect to see these games anytime soon: according to reporting from The Atlantic, EA’s game isn’t due until around 2028.