How the Lack of Competition Is Ruining Sports Video Games

There has always been a huge demand for sports video games due to how much people love the real thing. For years, gaming companies duked it out to deliver the best games for their respective sports, allowing us to pick our favorites. These days, certain companies have licensing rights that limit variety. The lack of competition is ruining sports video games highlights why the current state of gaming couldn’t be worse.

EA Sports Is Anything but in the Game

EA has had a stranglehold on the world’s favorite sport with the FIFA World Cup franchise. However, the most recent installment of the game, FIFA 23, will be the last one bearing its traditional name. The most common trend for EA games is the copy-and-paste versions of the year’s previous game.

Although EA claims they made vast improvements to the game, the fan reviews beg to differ. It may be a nice addition to your collection if you have never played a FIFA game before, but otherwise, the game remains bland with moderate visual improvements.

The cash cow for EA continues to be its Madden franchise. Since the NFL is the most well-liked sport in the US, you would think the company would do everything it could to make the best game possible. Nevertheless, many fans feel that each year’s new installment of the game feels like the same version as the year prior.

The worst part about modern Madden games is disregarding their franchise mode for the transactional world of the online-centric “Ultimate Team.” As enjoyable as having a prime Barry Sanders on the same team as 2007 Randy Moss, thousands of players prefer a 10-year run with their favorite team.

Fortunately, EA is finally listening to the negativity around the game, as the company stated that Madden 24 would be a “make or break” version of the game.

2K Studios

EA and 2K are the Coke and Pepsi of the sports gaming world, with 2K’s crown jewel being their NBA game. Even though 2K and EA are competitors, they still fall victim to the same problems of a rinse-and-repeat experience. Paying $60-70 for a roster update will eventually wear down the sport’s most dedicated gamers. 2K does its best by creating a new “MyPlayer” story every season, yet even that grows tiresome.

NBA 2K23 tried to lure you in by reliving the best moments of one of the sport’s best shooting guards, Michael Jordan, but even the ability to be like Mike was meh at best. EA attempted to grab a piece of the basketball pie with its NBA Live franchise. However, that continued to be a laughable attempt every year until the company called it quits after the debacle of NBA Live 19.

This Is the Greatest Show

The strongest franchise running today is San Diego Studio’s MLB® The Show. But having the most successful sports video game franchise isn’t anything to write home about, considering the competition involved. The Show takes franchise mode seriously, and the recent inclusion of the game’s best prospects makes the game more enjoyable. Nonetheless, the lack of competition has The Show set in their ways, making minimal improvements, particularly with the lack of an available online franchise.

It’s evident that the lack of competition is ruining sports video games because these companies have no motivation to improve their games when no one opposes them. Some of the best sports games came in an era without monopolies. But with the current state of things, it doesn’t feel like this problem will be permanently ongoing.