2K Sports’ highly anticipated return to football with NFL 2K has been delayed. Originally set to release later this year, the company announced that its upcoming arcade-style NFL game has been pushed out of fiscal year 2022. This means that we won’t see an NFL 2K football game until March of next year at the earliest.
No explanation was given as to why NFL 2K was delayed, but 2K did share a statement confirming that the game is being pushed back.
“While we are very excited to once again be working with the NFL and NFLPA, our first title under these new partnerships is no longer expected to be released during fiscal year 2022.” It continues, “2K will have more to share on their plans for our football offerings going forward.”
2K had been oddly quiet all year in regards to its “non-simulation” football game. Unfortunately, now we know why.
When NFL 2K eventually does release, it will be the first time in a decade and a half that a company other than EA Sports released an NFL licensed video game. After Take-Two released the incomparable ESPN NFL 2K5, EA signed a long-term exclusive deal with the NFL to create “simulation” football games.
2K made a brief return to football a few years later with the release of All-Pro Football 2K8, which was an unlicensed game featuring football greats of the past. It didn’t sell well due to the lack of NFL licensing, but it is widely-regarded by simheads to be the best playing football game ever.
It is up in the air as to when we can expect NFL 2K, but it likely won’t be before April 2022. As far as what type of game fans can expect, the company previously stated that it aims to create “approachable and social football experiences” that sport “authenticity, fun, and depth.”