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

Are you ready to dive into the world of football? The excitement never truly fades for America’s favorite sport, and the NFL draft, the highlight event of the offseason, kicks off this Thursday night. To mark this occasion, Electronic Arts has launched an engaging draft-themed ad for their upcoming releases: EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, both scheduled to hit the shelves this summer.

In a captivating two-and-a-half-minute commercial titled “The Call,” viewers follow the journey of a fictional wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr. This ad is slated to run during the draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. We are taken through the thrilling moment when Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn reaches out to Matthews, announcing that they’re picking him with the 29th overall draft pick. As Quinn narrates the tough yet inspiring journey of Matthews Jr., from his high school days to his college career with the Texas Longhorns, we get a glimpse of the raw emotion etched on the rising star’s face.

The draft represents a pivotal moment where college football intersects with the NFL, offering NCAA standouts the chance to fulfill their dreams of becoming professional athletes. For those who receive that monumental draft day call, it’s the end of an arduous journey and the start of another, filled with endless opportunities and hurdles. Quinn doesn’t hold back when he tells his rookie: “The work’s just starting.”

EA is bringing this thrilling voyage from college ball to the NFL right to your gaming console with EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. They’ve announced that EA Sports College Football 26 will launch on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with Madden’s release following on August 14. Madden will be available on Switch 2, Windows PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

In an exciting twist, EA is planning to move away from last-generation consoles, marking Madden NFL 25 as the final installment for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Madden’s return to Nintendo platforms is noteworthy too, with its debut on Switch 2 breaking a 13-year absence since it last appeared as a scaled-back entry for Wii U’s launch. EA hasn’t spilled the beans yet on new features or modes for this year’s Madden. We’ve reached out for clarification, particularly about whether the Switch 2 version will match the features offered on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. Stay tuned for updates.

You can already pre-order both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 for all available platforms. While you won’t find the Switch 2 version on EA’s official site, Amazon is taking orders for a game-key card “physical” version. This year, just like the last, EA offers an MVP Bundle for those eager to experience both games. Available exclusively in digital format on PS5 and Xbox Series X, the bundle includes the deluxe editions of both college and pro games for $149.99, providing a $50 saving compared to buying them separately. Each Deluxe Edition is packed with various in-game perks for modes like Ultimate Team, Road to Glory, Dynasty, Franchise, and Superstar, plus three days of early access to the game. Check out the full list of pre-order bonuses on the College Football and Madden websites.