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

Ready for some football action? While America’s favorite sport seems to keep the excitement going year-round, there’s one event that stands out in the offseason: the NFL draft. As it kicks off Thursday night, Electronic Arts is celebrating with a dynamic, draft-themed commercial for their upcoming games EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, paired with the announcement of their summer release dates.

The engaging two-and-a-half-minute ad, dubbed “The Call,” is set to make its debut during draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. It places the spotlight on a fictional wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr., capturing the nerve-wracking moment he receives a phone call from Washington Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn. The call informs him that he’s been chosen as the 29th overall pick, and through Quinn’s recollection of Matthews Jr.’s journey from high school standout to Texas Longhorns star, we witness emotions pouring from the young athlete’s face.

The NFL draft serves as a pivotal transition from college football to the pros, where star players from the NCAA aim to transform their dreams of professional sports into reality. For those lucky enough to get that transformative call, it marks the peak of their dedication and the dawn of new opportunities and challenges. As Quinn wisely tells his new recruit, “The work’s just starting.”

EA promises that fans can dive into this complete football journey through EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. The company revealed that the refreshed NCAA Football franchise will hit shelves on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, followed by Madden on August 14, also available on Nintendo Switch 2 and PC.

Notably, EA is now stepping away from older consoles; Madden NFL 25 was the last to grace PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. In a notable comeback, Madden NFL 26 will end Madden games’ 13-year hiatus on Nintendo platforms, last seen with Madden NFL 13 back on the Wii U in 2012. Although details about Madden 26’s modes and features are still under wraps, we’re in touch with EA to find out if the Switch 2 version will feature the same content as the PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X versions. We’ll keep you posted when we get more information.

You can now pre-order College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 across all platforms. EA’s website currently excludes the Switch 2 version, but you can nab a pre-order for a game-key card through Amazon. Just like last year, enthusiasts can opt for a bundled deal called the MVP Bundle, combining deluxe editions of both games for just $149.99. This digital-only offer for PS5 and Xbox Series X gives you a cool $50 discount compared to buying them individually at $99.99 each. Plus, each Deluxe Edition is packed with in-game bonuses for modes such as Ultimate Team, Road to Glory, Dynasty, Franchise, and Superstar, not to mention three days of early access. Check out the College Football and Madden websites for the complete list of pre-order perks.