When it comes to video games, Madden is almost synonymous with football at this point, with Madden NFL 21 being the upcoming entry. The officially endorsed NFL game is the one that most players go to when they want to experience virtual American football. With Madden NFL 21 coming to Xbox Series X, it's a safe bet the series will be around for a while.
The biggest reason for Madden's endurance is its lack of competition. For years, EA has had an exclusivity deal with the NFL for officially licensed games. This means that other companies cannot make football simulator games with officially branded teams and real players. Obviously the lack of real-world players and teams highly restricts the appeal of a football sim for many players.
Recently, there was a lot of buzz around the issue as it came time for the NFL-EA exclusivity contract to expire. It seemed there might be a chance for another company to create NFL licensed games. That chance is now gone as EA has renewed the contract, this time for several years. The exact number of years is not clear at this time, but for the near future, EA will not have to worry about its climbing digital sales dropping from losing Madden.
According to the NFL, it decided on the new exclusivity contract after several companies bid on it. Presumably, EA won by virtue of largest bid, though the amount is not known at this time. There is also a good chance that the NFL is sticking with EA because they consistently turn a profit. At a time when Madden NFL is being broadcast in place of actual football, it could be a bad idea to change developers.
For many players, this news is unfortunate, as there has been a desire for a different company to tackle the NFL license for a long time. These players wish other companies had a chance to try their hand at an official NFL game to compete with EA, whose efforts have often proved unsatisfactory. One player infamously discovered a banner for Madden 19 in Madden 20, fueling the claim that EA makes the same game each year.
Perhaps at a future date, the NFL will open its license to another company, or even multiple companies. However, since the current contract will be in place for several years, that time is certainly far off. This probably means that many of the old Madden features players want back will remain in the past, and new innovations will probably not materialize. Only time will tell if a truly new NFL licensed game is in the cards.
Madden NFL 21 launches later this year for Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and various other systems.
Source: IGN