XBox 360 News
EA extends its NFL contract to 2012
By Stevie Smith
Feb 13, 2008, 12:22 GMT

The following news may not arrive as a surprise for veteran gamers that know Electronic Arts has been synonymous with officially licensed NFL titles since the end of the ice age, but EA has this week announced that its association with the National Football League has been extended to 2012.

The deal, which covers both the NFL and its players, enables the California-based third-party publishing giant to develop, publish and distribute interactive American football videogames in an extension of existing contracts initially signed in December of 2004.

EA’s new extended deal will grant it continued rights and access to all NFL teams, stadiums, and players through to the end of the 2012 season, which officially draws to a close in February of 2013. Of course, given the huge financial worth of its Madden NFL games -- $2 billion USD in total revenue -- it’s highly likely that EA will refresh this latest deal way ahead of that Feb 2013 date.

Beyond covering all aspects of the interactive gaming experience, which includes home console platforms, handheld formats and console-based online features, EA will also have access to NFL Films and the NFL Network to help bolster its already immersive videogame experiences.

“We are excited about the opportunity to extend and expand our relationships with the NFL and NFL Players,” commented Peter Moore, President of EA Sports. “Game quality is our top priority, and we’re committed to pushing our gameplay innovation, connecting football fans via rich online experiences and delivering the most visually stunning sports games on the market.”

Good news for EA, then. Though it remains to be seen whether EA Sports pushes the envelope of its longstanding Madden NFL franchise during 2008 seeing as this year marks the 20th anniversary of EA’s official association with the NFL.