EA Sports is gearing up for the release of EA College Football 26, slated for this summer. Recent developments suggest that the game could significantly increase its payouts to college football players.
Previously, EA offered high-profile players $600 each for the rights to use their names, images, and likenesses in EA College Football 25. However, a new sports representation company, Pathway Sports and Entertainment, is making strides in negotiating better deals for these athletes.
Pathway has begun offering players $1,500 upfront for their NIL rights, alongside an as-yet-undetermined royalty payment. This initiative has already attracted over 450 players from universities including Alabama, Georgia, and Oregon.
The company aims to sign every scholarship football player, totaling around 11,000 athletes. At the current rate, this could amount to over $17 million in payouts, with estimates suggesting total costs could exceed $20 million when including additional ambassador payments.
While EA Sports has no current ties to Pathway, the success of this company could compel EA to negotiate new agreements to secure the participation of top players in their upcoming title. The outcome may reshape the financial landscape for college athletes involved in video games.
For more details, visit the original article on GameSpot.