For as long as I can remember, the Madden NFL games have been in the clutches of one publisher, EA Sports. However, breaking news like this reminds me that the NFL licensing could change hands if the football league decides to do so.
The NFL and EA Sports are currently negotiating a contract extension. If successful, this would maintain Madden’s exclusivity as an EA Sports title until 2026.
EA Sports and NFL negotiating
The current deal was agreed between both companies in 2020 for around $1.5 billion, ending in 2025.
According to Mike Straw of Insider Gaming, EA Sports and the NFL are currently negotiating a one-year extension for the right to Madden NFL. According to sources close to Insider Gaming, negotiations have started later than in previous years for various reasons.
One reason for the delay is that the NFL is concerned about remaining exclusive to the EAFC publisher and wonders if committing to one company was the best idea.
Electronic Arts has been in a similar position with Disney and the Star Wars license. Many games under EA failed to impress fans and generate numbers until Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi series came along.
Disney ultimately decided to lease the license out to multiple developers to encourage new experiences and more cash flow.
EA not worried?
Madden 24 was a ‘make or break’ game for the franchise. It’s well known that the NFL isn’t happy with the current reputation of its football game and could be looking for change in 2026.
However, according to Mike Straw’s report, an EA source said, “At the end of the day, Madden is making more and more money each year for both EA and the NFL. The sales continue to go up, and it would be crazy not to have the deal continue.”
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While EA’s Madden games continue to generate significant revenue, the NFL is exploring whether it might be better to open the licensing to other developers, similar to how Disney handled its Star Wars license. Despite these concerns, EA remains confident in the deal’s continued success due to the game’s profitability. The outcome of these talks could shape the future of the Madden franchise.
With the current deal set to expire in 2025, the NFL is reconsidering its exclusive partnership due to concerns over the game’s reception and market performance. Despite this, EA’s success with Madden’s sales continues to grow, making a potential renewal seem likely. The situation mirrors EA’s previous challenges with the Star Wars franchise, where Disney opted for a more diversified approach. Fans and industry watchers will be keen to see if the NFL chooses to extend its deal with EA or opens the market to other developers.
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While Madden is no doubt “making more and more money each year for both EA and the NFL,” there is no reason to believe the NFL would not ultimately make even more money granting multiple licenses to different developers. It is the NFL brand that is selling, not the product EA offers specifically. It seems short-sighted (especially for a money factory like the NFL) to just be married to one company.