The Arkansas State University football team is lined up to be included in the video game “EA Sports College Football 25.” A-State is one of 134 confirmed college teams in the game.

The game, made by Electronic Arts (EA), is returning after a near 11 year hiatus. The last game released in 2013. 

EA will pay the participating athletes $600 if they choose to opt in the video game. They will also receive a copy of the game. 

The game went on hiatus after a lawsuit about using players’ likeness. The first lawsuit started when Ed O’Bannon challenged the game on its use of his name, image and likeness (NIL). The game did not use any player names, but did use their stats, numbers and appearance. 

A $40 million settlement was reached and paid to O’Bannon and a handful of plaintiffs. However, the National Collegiate Athletic Association had other hoops they wanted EA to jump, prolonging the game’s production. 

If an athlete opts out of the game, players will not be able to create them in game. Daryl Holt, senior vice president of EA Sports, said in an ESPN article it would not be allowed, although he would not say how that would be accomplished. 

EA contacted A-State in 2022 and the school sent the company assets to help replicate various elements for the game. KAIT 8 reported EA Sports had been sent out to Centennial Bank Stadium to take photos.

The game is set to release sometime in summer 2025 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S.

Categories: Sports