Report: EA Sports College Football Devs Fear Franchise's Future
Insider Gaming's Mike Straw says senior sources on the EA Sports College Football series worry it may not survive the decade, citing falling sales and rising costs.
Developers working on the EA Sports College Football franchise reportedly fear the series may not survive to the end of the decade, according to a report from Insider Gaming's Mike Straw, who spoke to senior-level sources working on or around the series. The report was published on October 13, 2026.
Sales of the College Football series have gradually declined entry to entry since its debut in 2024, according to the report. Costs tied to name, image and likeness rights have risen at the same time: EA paid each featured player $600 in 2024 for a total of roughly $7 million, while NIL rights now cost $1,500 per player, with EA spending roughly $20 million on players for its latest game.
Monetization has also been a flashpoint. EA attempted to monetize College Football's single-player modes this summer, prompting significant backlash. The company reversed course on those plans but said it would retool the options and bring them back in future entries. A source told Insider Gaming that microtransactions are planned to return in future College Football single-player titles.
Sources told the outlet that College Football games are planned for the next few years, but some fear the franchise may be on its way out. Insider Gaming noted that not all of its sources shared these fears.
Background
The College Football series is the spiritual successor to the NCAA Football games, and its 2024 debut ended a long absence for EA's college football titles. In 2024, EA paid each player featured in College Football 25 $600, amounting to roughly $7 million in total, and the game became the second best-selling title of that year in the United States, according to the background provided. College Football 26 followed in 2025, and College Football 27 is the latest entry.
Quick answers
What did the Insider Gaming report say about the EA Sports College Football franchise?
The report, by Insider Gaming's Mike Straw, says developers on or around the series fear it may not survive to the end of the decade, citing declining sales and rising NIL costs. It also notes that not all sources shared those fears.
How much does EA pay for NIL rights in the College Football series?
According to the report, EA paid each featured player $600 in 2024, totaling roughly $7 million. NIL rights now cost $1,500 per player, and EA spent roughly $20 million on players with its latest game.
Are microtransactions coming back to College Football single-player modes?
EA reversed course on its summer monetization plans but said it would retool the options and bring them back in future entries. A source told Insider Gaming that microtransactions are planned to return in future College Football single-player titles.