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

Ready to dive into some football? In America, the love for this sport never truly takes a break. As we gear up for the NFL draft kicking off Thursday night, Electronic Arts is embracing this offseason highlight with a clever nod. To mark the occasion, they’ve unveiled an exciting draft-themed commercial, alongside announcing the release dates for EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, both hitting shelves this summer.

Their engaging two-and-a-half-minute ad, titled “The Call,” is set to broadcast during draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. It crafts a compelling narrative around a fictional wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr. The storyline captures the emotional rollercoaster as Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn calls Matthews, giving him the life-changing news that he’s the 29th pick in the draft. Through the ad, viewers are taken on a journey through Matthews Jr.’s impactful football career, moving from high school to college, all vividly reflected in the high hopes and dreams on the young Texas Longhorn star’s face.

The NFL draft is the pivotal moment where college champions transition to the big leagues, where aspirations of becoming professional athletes take root. For those who get that monumental phone call, it’s not just a goal achieved but a new chapter. However, as Coach Quinn reminds his rookie receiver, “The work’s just starting.”

EA is promoting the idea that fans can live through this thrilling journey themselves by playing EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. On Thursday, they confirmed that this iteration, formerly NCAA Football, will launch on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Madden fans don’t have to wait much longer, with its release scheduled for August 14, accessible on Nintendo Switch 2, Windows PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X.

Indeed, EA is stepping away from older platforms, marking Madden NFL 25 from 2024 as the last edition available on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In an exciting move, Madden NFL 26 will be gracing the Switch 2, breaking a 13-year hiatus since Madden NFL 13 was available on a Nintendo system. While EA hasn’t spilled all the details on this year’s Madden features, we’ve reached out to them about whether the Switch 2 version will match up with its counterparts on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. We’ll keep you posted once we hear back.

For those eager to get their hands on them, pre-orders for both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 are now live across all platforms. Although the Switch 2 version isn’t directly available on EA’s site, Amazon offers pre-orders for a game-key card “physical” edition. This year, just like before, fans can opt for the MVP Bundle, allowing them to snag both games at a discount. Exclusively available digitally for PS5 and Xbox Series X, this combo bundles the deluxe editions for $149.99, a neat $50 saving from buying them separately. Deluxe Editions come packed with a slew of in-game bonuses for modes such as Ultimate Team and Franchise, plus the luxury of three days early access. All the pre-order perks are detailed on the College Football and Madden websites.