NFL Licensed Football Game Coming to iPhone, But Not From EA

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I just received a press release from Gameloft announcing that they're bringing NFL 2010 to the iPhone. This struck me as odd since EA's exclusive rights to the NFL license have been a pretty big topic of discussion in sports video game circles for several years now. I thought that perhaps there was some loophole that allowed Gameloft to license NFL teams and not actual players, but a closer look at a few of the screens clearly show player names (Willie Parker and Adrian Peterson) under the players.

iPhone_NFL2010_1

A quick search of the Internet revealed this press release from a few years ago that announced Gameloft's partnership with the NFL. Honestly, I'm not sure what surprises me more: EA not wrapping up the exclusive mobile rights to the NFL or that Gameloft had actually gotten the rights to make NFL games a few years ago and this is the first that I had heard of it.

iPhone_NFL2010_2

I guess that goes to show you how the iPhone has changed the face of mobile gaming, eh? NFL 2010 will be out by the end of August. The price is TBD.

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Jason Wilson

August 03, 2009 11:22

I thought EA held all game rights for the NFL? How could they not anticipate that football would work on mobile phones?

Danh Hoang

August 03, 2009 11:24

Gameloft has some of the best games I ever played on a virtual dpad and that includes 'Hero of Sparta' and 'Assasin's Creed'. This is great news and I hope the game doesn't disappoint.

August 03, 2009 11:28

@Jason: EA will have an iPhone app for Madden 10 for their League Manager. I believe they were concentrating on that and didn't have the manpower to produce a port from their PSP or DS. I would like to add that Sprint had some timing exclusive NFL game that was mentioned on EAMobile's twitter and the iPhone is partnered with AT&T.

Keith Schloemer

August 03, 2009 17:28

Even though I truly believe this to be a true exemption through lack of articulation in the agreement, I still smell a lawsuit from EA. Sure, it may well be that mobile phones are not mentioned and therefore not included in the exclusivity... But somewhere there are humorless people sniffing around, asking humorless questions. And their beady eyes, pointing fingers and "I-object!'s" are standing by, at the ready.

Andrew Hiscock

August 04, 2009 02:18

From Gamespot, Dec 13, 2004: "The NFL/EA arrangement encompasses action, simulation, arcade-style, and manager games made for PCs, consoles, and handhelds (both the DS and PSP, included), giving EA a firm hold on the football gaming market. The deal does not include titles for mobile phones or Internet-based games, but does include online features of consoles." WHERE'S MY FLASH GAME

Timothy Beery

August 04, 2009 05:00

Wasn't the NFL/EA agreement for 5 years? And isn't this the 5th year? If that's the case, I think it's interesting that no one is talking about the possibility of a new NFL football game not designed by EA. Personally, I can't wait, as Madden has been getting more than stale in the last few years.

August 04, 2009 05:06

It's been extended through 2012, early last year. From the Gamespot news report (and shit! I never read gamespot, and here I am quoting it twice): "However, part of the renewal agreement is to "look at different ways to bring more consumers in," according to EA Sports president Peter Moore. " Evidently, this does not include mobile devices.

August 04, 2009 05:54

Thanks Andrew, I missed that story. Damn, that means I have to wait another 3 years for a new Sega NFL game!

September 16, 2009 16:52

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