EA Announces Release Dates and Platforms for College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26

Are you pumped for some football action? It seems like the excitement never really fades for America’s beloved sport, even in the offseason. The highlight of this period kicks off Thursday night with the NFL draft, and Electronic Arts is celebrating with a knockout draft-themed commercial for EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. They’ve also locked in the release dates for these much-anticipated games this summer.

The commercial, a two-and-a-half-minute piece titled “The Call,” is set to air during the draft on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. It centers around the journey of J.D. Matthews Jr., a fictional wide receiver. As the narrative unfolds, we’re invited into his world when Washington Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn reaches out to inform him of his selection as the 29th overall pick. Quinn reminisces about Matthews Jr.’s rise through high school and college, painting an emotional portrait of the Texas Longhorns star’s career and letting us see the ups and downs written on his face.

The NFL draft stands as the crucial bridge between college football and the pros, a stage where college stars aspire to reach their dream of playing professionally. For those fortunate enough to get that pivotal call on draft day, it marks the end of one journey and the start of another, filled with endless opportunities and challenges. Quinn gently reminds Matthews Jr., saying, “The work’s just starting,” as his rookie chapter begins.

EA’s message is clear: fans can delve into the entire football journey by diving into both EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. Announced on Thursday, the new installment of the game formerly known as NCAA Football will hit PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X on July 10, followed by Madden on August 14, which will also be available on Nintendo Switch 2 and Windows PC, aside from the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

This year, EA steps away from older consoles, with Madden NFL 25 being the last to support PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Interestingly, Madden NFL 26 marks a return to Nintendo platforms, ending nearly 13 years without a Madden release since the altered version of Madden NFL 13 debuted as a Wii U title. Though specifics on new modes and features for Madden remain under wraps, EA is still yet to confirm if there will be feature parity across the Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X versions. We’re keeping our ears open for more updates.

Excited fans can now place pre-orders for College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 on all platforms, with the Switch 2 version available for pre-order through Amazon as a “physical” game-key card. For the eager players who plan on grabbing both games, EA offers the MVP Bundle, a digital-exclusive package on PS5 and Xbox Series X priced at $149.99. This bundle, offering a $50 savings over individual purchases, includes deluxe editions along with various in-game bonuses and an enticing three-day early access to each game. You can check out all pre-order perks on the College Football and Madden websites.