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

Are you ready for some football excitement? Even though there’s technically no break for America’s beloved sport, the NFL draft marks a significant highlight in the offseason schedule. This Thursday night kicks off the much-anticipated event, and Electronic Arts is celebrating with a clever draft-themed advertisement for EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, alongside revealing their release dates this summer.

EA has rolled out a captivating two-and-a-half-minute commercial titled “The Call,” which will premiere during the draft broadcasts on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. The ad spotlights an imaginary wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr., portraying the moments of anticipation and thrill when Washington Commanders’ head coach, Dan Quinn, calls him to announce his selection as the 29th overall draft pick. As Coach Quinn narrates Matthews Jr.’s journey from high school to college, you can’t help but feel the intensity and emotion etched on the Texas Longhorns star’s face.

The draft is a pivotal moment, bridging college football stars with their NFL dreams, where collegiate athletes await transformative calls that signal new beginnings filled with both opportunities and challenges. “The work’s just starting,” Quinn emphatically reminds his fresh recruit, underscoring the journey ahead.

Through EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, football enthusiasts can experience the thrill and journey of the sport. EA has revealed that the latest edition formerly known as NCAA Football will be hitting the shelves on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, followed by Madden’s release on August 14, available on Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

This year, EA’s transition from last-gen consoles marks a turning point, as 2024’s Madden NFL 25 will be the last to feature on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Meanwhile, Madden 26 will end a long hiatus from Nintendo, being the first in nearly 13 years since Madden NFL 13 made its Wii U debut way back in 2012. While EA is yet to share detailed insights into Madden’s modes and features for this year, they’re promising updates soon, especially regarding feature parity across platforms.

Football fans can now start pre-ordering both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 on all platforms. Although EA’s site doesn’t list the Switch 2 version, Amazon steps up, offering game-key cards as “physical” copies. Just like last year, there’s an enticing bundle for those eager to dive into both games. The MVP Bundle, available digitally only on PS5 and Xbox Series X, offers deluxe editions of both games at a reduced price of $149.99, saving fans $50 compared to purchasing separately. Plus, they come loaded with in-game perks for modes like Ultimate Team and Franchise, and an exclusive three-day early access. Check out the full list of pre-order perks on the respective College Football and Madden websites.