EA Sports announced the return of college football in games for Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles, and new YouGov Direct data suggests many American consumers are keen to play.
YouGov surveyed a group made up of those interested in the top sports leagues in the country or people interested in gaming and/or esports. Roughly a third (34%) of this group is somewhat or very interested in playing a new title in the EA College Football video game series.
What’s more, nearly seven in ten (68%) American consumers who have previously played an EA Sports NCAA Football title are interested in picking up the forthcoming EA Sports offering.
EA Sports last made a college football video game in 2013. The new game will include rosters without names, images or likenesses or real college players to adhere to NCAA rules – something which 35% of sports fans and gamers said would have a negative impact on their gameplay experience.
Nearly one third (30%) of gamers and sports fans surveyed say a lack of real-life players would have no real impact on gameplay experience. Nearly one in five (13%) say it would have a positive impact and nearly a quarter (22%) say they’re not sure. Of those who have previously played EA Sports’ NCAA titles in the past, a quarter (25%) said the absence of player likeness would have a positive impact, while 32% said it would have no real impact.
Those who are interested in the new title are split: 33% say it will have a positive impact, 29% say it will have no major impact and 34% say it will have a negative impact.
No release date is yet set for the game which Daryl Holt, EA Sports vice president and general manager, told ESPN the game is in the beginning stages of development.
Electronic Arts stock hit a new record following the news, which made considerable waves. Nearly a third (32%) of gamers and sports fans said they were aware of the announcement.
Methodology: Results are based on a YouGov poll of 1,000 Americans who either: Play more than seven hours of video games per week, have an interest in esports, or are interested in the Major League Soccer, the MLB, the NBA, the NFL, the NHL or NASCAR. Interviews took place on February 3, 2021, between 6:19 p.m. and 7:24 p.m. The survey was carried out through YouGov Direct. The margin of error is approximately 4% for the overall sample.
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