Ready to dive into some serious football action? Even though America’s favorite sport doesn’t really take a break, there’s one standout event in the offseason that gets everyone buzzing—the NFL draft, kicking off this Thursday night. In honor of this occasion, Electronic Arts has unveiled a fantastic draft-themed commercial to celebrate the upcoming release of EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26, both set to launch this summer.
EA’s latest two-and-a-half-minute ad, “The Call,” is all set to make its debut during the draft coverage on ABC, ESPN, and NFL Network. The commercial tells the story of J.D. Matthews Jr., a fictional wide receiver. Viewers follow along as Washington Commanders’ head coach, Dan Quinn, dials him up to reveal he’s the 29th pick in the draft. As Coach Quinn narrates Matthews Jr.’s journey from high school to his college days, viewers can truly feel the emotion etched on the Texas Longhorns star’s face.
The draft represents a pivotal moment in the lives of college football players, where their dreams of joining the NFL can finally become a reality. For those who get that call on draft day, it’s the payoff of years of hard work and the start of a new chapter filled with both opportunities and challenges. Quinn aptly reminds his new recruit, “The work’s just starting.”
EA aims to immerse football enthusiasts in every step of this journey through EA Sports College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26. They announced these exciting games will arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, with College Football 26 hitting shelves on July 10 and Madden NFL 26 following on August 14, also available on Nintendo Switch 2 and Windows PC.
Interestingly, EA is making a big move by stepping away from older consoles. Madden NFL 25 will mark the last game available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The Switch 2 version of Madden NFL 26 is breaking a long dry spell, as the series last graced Nintendo platforms with Madden NFL 13 back in November 2012. Though details on modes and features for Madden NFL 26 are sparse, we’re inquiring with EA for updates on whether the Switch 2 version will match the PC/PS5/Xbox versions feature-wise and will update the article when we hear back.
You can now place pre-orders for College Football 26 and Madden NFL 26 across all platforms. While the Switch 2 version isn’t listed on EA’s site, Amazon is offering a game-key card “physical” copy. If you’re eager to explore both games, there’s a discounted MVP Bundle available. Packed with deluxe editions of both titles, it’s only available digitally on PS5 and Xbox Series X for $149.99—a $50 savings compared to buying separately. This bundle also comes with a slew of in-game bonuses for popular modes like Ultimate Team, Road to Glory, Dynasty, Franchise, and Superstar, and grants three days of early access. Full details of pre-order benefits are available on the College Football and Madden websites.
