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

Are you gearing up for some football excitement? Although the sport never really takes a break, the NFL draft — the prime event of the offseason — kicks off Thursday night. To celebrate, Electronic Arts has rolled out an exciting draft-themed ad for their upcoming games, EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, and they’ve also announced the games will hit the shelves this summer.

In a playful two-and-a-half-minute ad titled “The Call,” set to air during the draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network, EA tells the story of a fictional wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr. The commercial takes us inside Matthews Jr.’s whirlwind of emotions as Dan Quinn, head coach of the Washington Commanders, rings him to announce he’s been picked as the 29th overall draft pick. Through Quinn’s recounting of Matthews Jr.’s challenging journey from high school to starring on the Texas Longhorns, viewers are taken on an emotional ride mirroring the intense anticipation and sentiment shared during draft day.

The draft represents a pivotal moment where college football hopefuls strive to step into the professional world. For those fortunate enough to receive that life-altering call, it signifies the fruition of tireless effort — and the dawn of a new chapter filled with both promises and potential pitfalls. Coach Quinn doesn’t let his new rookie forget, “The work’s just starting.”

EA’s games promise to capture the essence of this dramatic journey. They announced that this year’s edition of the series, previously known as NCAA Football, will debut on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with Madden following on August 14, making an appearance on Nintendo Switch 2 and Windows PC along with the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

This year marks a shift in gears for EA, as they bid farewell to older consoles. Madden NFL 25 from 2024 will be the last version available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Notably, Madden NFL 26’s release on Switch 2 marks the franchise’s return to Nintendo after nearly 13 years, looking back to Madden NFL 13 as a Wii U launch title in 2012. Details about this year’s version are still under wraps, but we’ve reached out to EA regarding differences between Switch 2 and other platforms. Stay tuned for updates in this space.

You can already preorder College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 across all platforms. While the Switch 2 version isn’t available on EA’s website, Amazon is offering pre-orders for a “physical” game-key card. For fans wanting both games, there’s the MVP Bundle available exclusively in digital form for PS5 and Xbox Series X, priced at $149.99. This package offers savings of $50 compared to purchasing each separately. Aside from the Deluxe Edition perks, including in-game bonuses for popular modes like Ultimate Team and Road to Glory, buyers also get three days of early access to their new games. More details on preorder benefits can be found on the College Football and Madden websites.