2K Sports Confirms Return to College Basketball Video Games, Targets 2027 Release

College Hoops 2K8

2K Sports has officially confirmed it is re‑entering the college basketball video game market, stepping in just as EA Sports bows out of its own planned.

The announcement came Thursday night via social media, where 2K revealed it is developing a new title featuring over 100 programs from across the United States — from "powerhouse to Cinderella stories."

“Competition fuels quality at all levels,” the company said, adding that its approach is designed so “partner schools, college athletes, and our players all benefit.” Fans won’t have to wait too long to see their favorite teams in action either — 2K teased “big plans for 2027 and beyond,” with some surprises potentially arriving as early as 2026.

Why EA Sports Backed Out

EA’s exit wasn’t due to lack of interest — in fact, the company had been working toward a 2028 release of a fully licensed game featuring all Division I men’s and women’s programs. But according to earlier reports, the plan hit a wall when several schools opted to sign with 2K instead. EA's demand for "exclusivity" reportedly made some schools hesitant.

Without enough major programs on board, EA decided it couldn’t deliver the kind of comprehensive experience it had promised. In a memo to schools, EA’s VP of Commercial Partnerships and Licensing, Sean O’Brien, called the decision “disappointing” but said there was no acceptable path forward.

How 2K Got Here

Originally, 2K’s plan was to feature college teams only as MyTeam DLC within the NBA 2K series. But with EA out of the picture, publisher Take‑Two Interactive shifted gears to develop a standalone college basketball game. The company already has a licensing deal with UCLA and says more agreements are on the way.

Industry insiders suggest the first game could eventually expand to include all Division I programs if it performs well commercially. For now, the confirmed roster of 100+ schools is already enough to reignite excitement in a genre that’s been dormant for years.

EA’s last entry, NCAA Basketball 10, launched in November 2009 with then‑Oklahoma star Blake Griffin on the cover. 2K’s last college hoops title, College Hoops 2K8, arrived even earlier in 2007. Both series were shelved after declining sales and licensing challenges, leaving fans with nothing but nostalgia.

If 2K can bring the same polish and depth it’s known for in NBA 2K, college basketball fans might finally get the slam dunk they’ve been waiting nearly two decades to play.