Madden games are pretty good and they get better every year, but back then gamers had plenty of football games to choose from. These options meant that Madden had competition every year, with many of them adding new features to stand out.
One of the many games that competed with Madden was the NFL 2K series, which was first available for the Sega Dreamcast console as an exclusive. The console actually had the NFL 2K series as an exclusive because Madden games were not available for it. The games quickly became popular and they would continue for a while. The Dreamcast was discontinued, but the series made appearances for other consoles, becoming one of the biggest competitor of the Madden games.
The NFL 2K series was considered one of the biggest competitors of Madden because it brought a number of interesting features and the company made moves to get more football fans to try their title.
The NFL 2K series made its debut for the Dreamcast after Madden games were not released for the console. The first NFL 2K game was released in 1999 and brought all 31 NFL teams along with alumni teams and All-Pro teams. The game received good reviews and the series would continue with a new game a year later.
NFL 2K1 was released for the Dreamcast on September 7, 2000. The game made a number of improvements and added new features, including online play and a franchise mode with more than just one season. The release was a success and it received good reviews.
The series was an exclusive for the Dreamcast, but the publisher started considering other consoles, becoming a Madden competitor. NFL 2K2 was first released for the Dreamcast but the game would later arrive for the PS2 and Xbox, becoming the first in the series to arrive to other systems. The third installment made improvements to the passing game and the AI. The game also featured the Houston Texans, who had just been added to the league.
NFL 2K3 was released a year later for the PS2, Xbox and GameCube. The game added a licensed ESPN presentation, with player awards and a realistic halftime report. The game also added a number of things to its franchise mode, making big improvements over the previous edition. NFL 2K3 also added historic teams, current coaches and the ability to create ones. The game also brought online play for the Xbox.
The series returned the following year with a different name, ESPN NFL Football. The game was released for the Xbox and PS2. It was the first game in the series not to feature 2K in the title. The title featured the ESPN presentation once again, now with highlights and reports.
NFL 2K5
The series became the biggest competition for Madden after two football games were cancelled. The release of the next edition caught everyone by surprise, not because of its new features or graphics, but because of its price. NFL 2K5 was released in 2004 for just $19.99, convincing many Madden fans to try the title. The move was surprising, especially for the game developer behind Madden, which released its title for $49.99. Madden’s $49.99 price was the regular price for most new games at the time, so no one expected 2K5 to be available for $19.99.
Madden won the battle a few months later, with EA signing an exclusive agreement with the NFL. The Madden series was now the only game that could use NFL teams and player names. EA also signed an agreement with ESPN, giving the Madden series a huge advantage over its competitors.
Other Games and Petitions
The series took a three year break, making a return with a spin-off in 2007 with All-Pro Football 2K8. The game featured more than 200 retired NFL players and brought back some of the player animations and gameplay.
It’s been 12 years since an NFL 2K game was released, not including the spin-off, and fans would love to see it return. But this wouldn’t be easy, EA has an exclusive agreement with the NFL, making it the only series that can feature all the teams and player names. Still, fans have not forgotten about the NFL 2K series, which received good reviews on most of its games.
Fans of the game have created petitions for a return but a new game has not been confirmed. Madden games have had huge success and are now just one of the few options for football fans. But we can never rule out a return, especially if the series had success in the past.
Madden 17 will soon be announced and fans can’t wait to hear about the new features. But gamers do want to see NFL 2K make its return and compete with Madden. Will the series ever return? Did you play NFL 2K5? Have you played Madden 16? Let us know in the comments.
I certainly wish we could have NFL 2K back. ESPECIALLY considering the strides that 2K games has made with it’s NBA series. I think it would be an excellent game. Madden should not get exclusive rights to the NFL license. It does gaming fans an enormous disservice. If and when NFL 2K returns, I will be a FAITHFUL patron. Believe that!
Madden series is garbage under the bridge,madden 16 trash,madden 15 garbage and Madden 25 is plain retarted,well,Madden nfl series is kind of dead,thought i hope there won’t be a Madden NFL 17 because connected careers/connected franchise mode sucks.
I think you are just spouting off your opinion, because the facts say madden is thriving with 2017 installment of the game. Their sales is high you need to check the facts before saying things like that.
jerk it’s the only ducking option we have for a NFL game like duh no wonder the sales for madden is high because it’s our only god dam option they force us to buy it.
So you resort to calling names, how childish you are acting. We are not forced to do anything and god has nothing to do with this while your taking his name in vain. clean up your language kid, people don’t respect you or take what you say seriously when you speak in that vulgar manner.
If you don’t like the names that people are calling you, then you shouldn’t live up to them in your life, @disqus_o3apqxmu9T:disqus ! Go to your safe space if you don’t like the bitter and harsh truth, you little crybaby!
Madden is trash. Overpriced and idiots fall for it every year.
your opinion.
I know it might be to late for 2017 but 2K18 need to be created. Madden need to stop. The only madden I liked was madden 2005. So 2K please come back to the NFL. And make NBA 2K and NFL 2k.
NFL 2K17 – Official Release Trailer!!!
https://www.youtube.Com/watch?v=j9HiftyFNjY
Man, the NFL PA needs to stop renewing the exclusive deal for this to happen. They are the reason why we only see one NFL game.
If we really want NFL 2K series back (and I badly want it back), a mass boycott of the next Madden game will need to be planned. That will take resources and planning to get the word out. I don’t know how feasible it will be. Any thoughts?
it wont work, they are making to much money off madden 17, and the legal tape that would have to be crossed to make it happen is too thick.
If nobody buys it they wont make it.
but everyone will. nomatter what someone might say or do.
Its called a “boycott” they work all the time. Having one NFL game choice is wrong. It creates a monopoly. Competition in the market drives price down and creates a better product. Madden is overpriced and buggy as hell. They can’t figure out the play clock, Defense lines up in the backfield. You get stock randomly while orchestrating plays at the line. WR’s run dumb routes. I can go on… PATHETIC.
You can sit here cheer-leading for Madden all you want but its time they lost the license. If they weren’t afraid of their inferior product they wouldn’t have bought out the NFL like a bunch of hack dbags.
i know what a boycott is lol and im saying it won’t work because not enough people will follow through with the boycott period. people have tried this before and it went nowhere. i am aware of game issues but really every game in the world has bugs and issues, you can’t expect something to be perfect. i have said my piece and i am done with this silly little argument.
Dude, it’s the NFL PA that chooses to renew it. It’s actually they’re idea for it in the first place.
Madden series needs to come to a end for good,not playing another year of connected careers/franchise mode,no way,no how because connected careers needs to end,really.
We need Madden nfl 18 out of the way,lol
It’s early i hope espn nfl 2k 18 be a fast developed game,hope,show,could probably end up on nintendo switch console
About the only at that things will change is if some people from EA, the NFL, and the Madden staff would…disappear, if you get my meaning.