2K to add 100-plus college programs to NBA 2K with 2026 rollout

2K Sports confirmed on Sept. 4 that it is developing a college basketball experience that will introduce more than 100 university programs into its NBA 2K ecosystem, a move that follows reports that rival publisher EA Sports has rescinded licensing offers as schools sided with 2K. The publisher said the project will begin surfacing as early as 2026, with "big plans for 2027 and beyond," positioning 2K as the likely steward of a revived era of digital college hoops.

In a social media post, 2K wrote, "Yes, it is true. We are working on a college basketball experience that will feature more than 100 programs from across the country, from powerhouses to Cinderella stories." The company added that its approach will ensure "our partner schools, college athletes and our players all benefit," and noted fans would begin to see colleges appear in-game soon, with further rollouts planned into 2027.

The announcement follows a leaked internal email from an EA Sports executive that appears to withdraw EA's invitation to schools to participate in a standalone college basketball title. The email, attributed to Sean O'Brien, EA Sports vice president of commercial licensing, told multiple college...