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

Are you gearing up for some football excitement? Even though the sport never truly takes a break, one of the most anticipated events in the off-season, the NFL draft, kicks off this Thursday night. To mark the occasion, Electronic Arts has released a thrilling ad centered around their upcoming titles, EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, along with their confirmed summer release dates.

Their engaging commercial, “The Call,” running for two and a half minutes, is set to be aired during the draft broadcasts on ABC, ESPN, and the NFL Network. It features the story of an imaginary wide receiver, J.D. Matthews Jr. The ad vividly captures his emotional rollercoaster as he receives a call from Washington Commanders’ head coach, Dan Quinn, choosing him as the 29th overall pick. As Quinn recounts Matthews Jr.’s journey filled with hurdles from high school through college, viewers can feel the intensity etched on the young Texas Longhorns star’s face.

The draft acts as a bridge between the college and professional football worlds, where college athletes dream of stepping into the NFL limelight. For those receiving the pivotal draft day call, it’s a moment filled with both fulfillment of past efforts and the promise of a challenging new path. “Now the real work begins,” Quinn advises his enthusiastic new recruit.

EA’s message here is that fans can dive into the full football experience by engaging with both EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. The college football series, previously known as NCAA Football, hits the shelves on July 10 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Madden follows on August 14, finding its home on Nintendo Switch 2 and PC alongside the current-gen consoles.

In a shift away from the past, EA is discontinuing support for older systems, making Madden NFL 25 the last title available for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Intriguingly, Madden’s return to Nintendo platforms marks the end of a hiatus since Madden NFL 13 on the Wii U back in 2012. While EA hasn’t shared specific details about Madden NFL 26’s features, especially concerning whether the Switch 2 version will match other platforms, we’re staying tuned for updates and will provide more information as soon as it’s available.

Pre-orders are live now for both College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 across all platforms. Though EA’s site doesn’t offer the Switch 2 version for pre-order, Amazon is offering physical game-key cards for it. For those eager to own both games, there’s the MVP Bundle, which combines the deluxe editions digitally for PS5 and Xbox Series X at $149.99, saving $50 from buying them individually. This bundle offers enticing in-game bonuses for modes like Ultimate Team and Franchise and grants early access for three days. Check out the College Football and Madden websites for the full pre-order perks list.