EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — On Friday, one of the most anticipated video games on the market, EA Sports College Football 25, was released worldwide.
“I even said that I think [College Football 25] It’s going to be the most popular sports video game of all time,” UTEP quarterback Cade McConnell said.
Electronic Arts announced that 2.2 million unique players played “College Football 25” during the early access period, which began on Monday for people who pre-ordered the game.
EA Sports College Football 25 will be the series’ first game since 2013’s NCAA Football 14.
EA Sports was forced to drop the franchise in 2013 due to lawsuits from athletes, but a name, image and likeness deal has now been reached and the game is back for the first time in over a decade.
Starting in February, EA Sports made the game available to FBS Division I players across the country. Players who participated received a minimum payout of $600 and a free copy of the game.
“As soon as I heard I could participate, I joined,” New Mexico State running back Monte Watkins said. “I was already there before the meeting started to tell me how to participate.”
“To be able to play in a game. You never turn down an opportunity like that,” UTEP linebacker Dorian Hopkins said.
All 134 FBS DI programs and over 150 stadiums will be featured in the game. Two college Division I football programs from the Borderlands and their respective stadiums (UTEP and Sun Bowl, and New Mexico State University and Aggie Memorial Stadium) will be featured in the game.
“The first time I turned the game on and watched it, I just got goosebumps just seeing us running down the field at Aggie Memorial Stadium,” New Mexico State wide receiver Cordell Davids said.
“The Sun Bowl was amazing,” Hopkins said. “The way EA put UTEP on the map was amazing.”
