Can I Play NCAA Football Video Games on the PS5 in 2024? An In-Depth Look
The short answer is no, officially licensed NCAA football video games are not playable on the PlayStation 5 console as of early 2023. However, the future looks bright for the return of college football games in the coming years thanks to rule changes and new titles in development. Let‘s dive into the history of NCAA Football games, the legal issues surrounding their cancellation, and what fans can look forward to on PS5 in the future!
The Legacy of the NCAA Football Series
For college football video game fans, it‘s been a long decade since the last release of an officially licensed NCAA Football game. NCAA Football 14 hit shelves in July 2013 for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and went on to become one of the highest selling sports titles of the year with over 1.78 million copies sold.
The series was a gaming staple going all the way back to Bill Walsh College Football on the Sega Genesis in 1993. Over 20 annual versions were released by EA Sports, with the games allowing gamers to control real college football teams and compete in virtual seasons and bowl games.
These games captured the passion and pageantry of college football perfectly. As a hardcore fan myself, I have fond memories of leading my Alabama Crimson Tide to multiple national titles in Dynasty mode!
Based on sales and reviews, NCAA Football seemed to improve with every iteration. But legal issues would soon spell the end of this beloved franchise.
How Legal Problems Led to the Series‘ Cancellation
In 2009, former UCLA basketball player Ed O‘Bannon sued EA Sports for using his likeness in NCAA Basketball 09 without compensation. This triggered a protracted legal battle involving thousands of former college athletes that ultimately led to the cancellation of the NCAA Football series.
The core issue was the use of real players‘ names, numbers, and likenesses in the games without providing payment. While EA claimed players‘ weren‘t directly represented, the digital athletes clearly mirrored their real life counterparts, down to appearance, home state, and playing style.
In 2013, EA Sports and the NCAA settled claims with players for $40 million. However, EA also announced this would be the last NCAA Football game produced under the current rules prohibiting player compensation.
"We loved making college football games, but continuing given the NCAA‘s position would have been extremely challenging," said Cam Weber, GM of American Football for EA Sports.
And with that statement, the college football gaming landscape radically changed.
The Current Status of College Sports Games
In the absence of real licensed college football games, EA Sports focused its efforts on the Madden NFL series. Madden allows for unofficial custom rosters and draft classes featuring college teams and players. But it wasn‘t the same experience as the dedicated NCAA Football franchise.
Meanwhile, no other major company was able to gain a license from the NCAA to produce a new college football product. The legal situation surrounding player likeness rights and compensation remained murky.
However, in 2021 there was a potential breakthrough. California passed the Fair Play to Pay Act allowing college athletes to earn money from endorsements. This opened the door to revisiting the idea of college sports games using real athletes.
In September 2022, EA Sports announced a multi-year partnership with the NCAA to explore bringing back college football games. EA‘s website now includes a promo image for EA Sports College Football coming July 2023. No real details have been revealed, but fans are buzzing with anticipation.
EA Sports College Football teaser for 2023 release
Will EA‘s College Football Game Be on PS5?
Based on the announcement, EA Sports College Football is being designed exclusively for next generation consoles PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. This implies it will take advantage of the powerful graphics and processing capabilities of these newer systems.
"We’re bringing back college football video games, starting with EA SPORTS College Football NCAA Football 24 in 2024," said EA Sports GM Daryl Holt. "We’ve secured partnerships with collegiate institutions, conferences and former elite student-athletes that will allow us to recreate the incredible experiences of college football in an authentic manner."
While not officially confirmed yet, it‘s safe to assume PS5 will be one of the top platforms to play the new EA college football title when it launches in mid-2023.
What About Playing Old NCAA Games on PS5?
For gamers feeling nostalgic for past NCAA Football titles, there is sadly no way to directly play them on the PS5 console. PlayStation does not support backwards compatibility of PS3 games, which was the last console to have NCAA Football releases.
PS5 is only backwards compatible with PS4 games. So even if you have old PS3 NCAA discs, you won‘t be able insert and play them in a PS5.
Emulation is the only current option to recreate NCAA Football classics like NCAA 06 and NCAA 11 from last generation systems. Using PC software like RPCS3, you can emulate PS3 games and output the video to a PS5 connected monitor. But performance and stability remains hit or miss.
Until official ports or remasters are produced, emulation is the unofficial workaround for reliving previous NCAA magic on modern hardware.
Alternatives for College Football Gaming on PS5
While the PS5 lacks NCAA compatibility, there are a few alternative college football experiences already available:
Madden NFL 23 – As mentioned earlier, the custom roster feature allows you to recreate college teams and players. The Madden gameplay and presentation still makes for enjoyable college matchups.
Maximum Football 2022 – This indie football game isn‘t the best graphically, but includes fully licensed FBS teams and the ability to customize seasons. It has potential to help fill the NCAA gaming void.
ESPN College Football – This upcoming free PS5 title focuses on quick arcade-style college football action. Made by the NCAA Basketball 10 developer, it should provide fast-paced pick up and play fun.
RetroArch – This multipurpose emulator allows playing original archived ROMs of older console NCAA games on PS5. Performance varies, but reliving classics like NCAA Football 2005 can be great nostalgia.
While none perfectly replicate the polished AAA-quality of EA‘s past NCAA series, these college pigskin gaming options help pass the time until the official return in 2024.
The Future Looks Bright for Next-Gen NCAA Games
With legal hurdles clearing and the renewed EA-NCAA partnership, the future is finally looking bright again for college football games. While you sadly can‘t play old NCAA Classics directly on the PS5, EA Sports College Football promises to usher in a new era of next-gen college football gaming starting next year.
As a huge fan myself, I personally can‘t wait to fire up my PS5 and dive back into the digital college gridiron. The visuals and gameplay should reach new levels of realism and immersion given the graphical power of modern consoles. I‘m hopeful EA can recapture the magic of the legendary NCAA Football franchise. Our long wait may soon be over!
