College basketball is making its way back into the digital realm. On Thursday, 2K Sports announced plans to integrate college basketball programs into its NBA franchise following EA Sports’ recent withdrawal from a similar licensing deal.
2K revealed that its “college basketball experience” will feature over 100 programs set to be included in the game over the coming two years, with some surprises planned for early 2026 and significant developments for 2027 and beyond.
“Yes, it’s true,” 2K stated. “We’re creating a college basketball experience that showcases more than 100 programs nationwide, from established powerhouses to unexpected gems. Competition drives excellence at all levels, which is why our approach with college basketball guarantees that our partner schools, college athletes, and players all gain from this. You won’t have to wait long to see your favorite colleges in the game! Big plans are underway for 2027 and beyond, along with some surprises in early 2026.”
After the revival of EA Sports’ college football franchise, many anticipated the return of a hoops game. However, development details had been unclear. In June, EA Sports teased its own return to college basketball for the first time since 2009, aiming for a release in 2028.
Despite that, a recent report from Extra Points indicated that EA had rescinded its licensing proposals to schools and conferences, as several had already accepted an offer from 2K for inclusion in its NBA franchise.
According to the internal memo from EA, “Given there are some schools choosing to accept the 2K Sports proposal for inclusion in NBA 2K, the offer for a separate college basketball video game will need to be rescinded.”
In contrast to EA Sports’ standalone game proposal, the 2K bid featured a non-exclusive license for a gameplay format integrated into NBA 2K MyTeam Mode through downloadable content (DLC)." The success of any standalone college basketball title would be contingent upon the financial performance of the college basketball DLC.
The last college basketball edition from EA was released in November 2009, featuring Oklahoma star Blake Griffin on its cover. 2K Sports previously ended production of its college basketball game after poor sales.
