The NFL, NFL Players Association and EA Sports made a huge decision on Thursday when they came to a multi-year agreement to keep Madden as the league’s only football simulation game, continuing its iconic decades-long partnership.
“Madden NFL 20 was the most successful title in its franchise history,” said Cam Weber, EA Sports’ executive vice president and group general manager via email. “Our rapid growth this year was industry-changing and was a key forcing function in driving the biggest and widest-reaching deal in interactive entertainment for the NFL.”
The deal will reportedly provide $1 billion to the NFL and $500 million to the players during this time, with another $500 million in marketing commitments, according to Darren Rovell of Action Network.
The extension means EA Sports will continue to be the league’s exclusive publisher of football simulation games through 2026.
Madden was first created in 1989 and has been the exclusive NFL game since 2005.
