Gaming
SBJ Gaming: Building a better ‘MaddenCast’
The Madden NFL Cast is coming back, and EA Sports' Evan Dexter dives into the changes that are coming in its second season, such as the additions of talent such as Tyrann Mathieu as a color commentator and a new SkyCam presentation behind the quarterback.
North Carolina’s Research Triangle growing into a hub for esports
My SBJ colleague David Broughton took a deep dive into the sports business scene in the N.C. Research Triangle, a market that has quietly become the esports hub of the East Coast.
EA Sports hits pause on F1 26, shifts gears to F1 27
EA Sports is skipping next year’s F1 2026 release, replacing it with a paid expansion to F1 2025 and expanding the scope and resources available for a “reimagined” F1 2027 that’s part of a “multiyear strategic investment,” per the publisher. Codemasters will continue to lead development, and other t...
SBJ Gaming: NBA returns to streetball with Play by Play studios
The November 7 edition of the SBJ Gaming newsletter features reporting on Play by Play Studios tying up with the NBA for The Run, its street basketball game, the NBA 2K League's rebirth, the Cowboys' experience in Fortnite and League of Legends preparing for its 15th world championship this weekend.
IOC, Saudi Arabia cancel deal for Esports Olympics
The IOC and Saudi Arabia have “canceled their 12-year deal to host the video gaming Esports Olympics” in Riyadh. The IOC said today that they “mutually agreed that they will end their cooperation on the Olympic Esports Games.” It is a “rare failure for a Saudi-backed sports project that was a key pa...
SBJ Gaming: NASCAR races into a new era
The October 24 edition of the SBJ Gaming newsletter covers the launch of NASCAR 25, EA Sports FC 26's launch as the third-best-selling game of the year and NBA 2K26 becoming the best-selling game of the year.
Is the NFL’s Madden extension the first salvo in upcoming labor talks?
On the surface, the NFL may not appear to be trying to take advantage of the NFL Players Association’s internal turmoil. (It’s a problem for owners, too.) But Wednesday, the NFL made a commercial play that squeezes the NFLPA with negotiations over an 18-game regular season on the horizon.
SBJ Gaming: What comes next for EA?
After EA's leveraged buyout by Silver Lake, the Saudi PIF and Affinity Partners, the publisher of some of the world's biggest sports and entertainment games faces a number of questions on its future direction.
Gaming speed reads
A roundup of sports video game business news for the October 10 edition of the SBJ Gaming newsletter.
Rival acquires Shake, raises $3M to bolster gaming
Rival, which helps sports properties connect with fans through video game communities, has reached an agreement to acquire social gaming platform Shake as a complementary, shorter-duration offering.
Report: Silver Lake, Saudi PIF preparing $50B ‘leveraged buyout’ of EA
Electronic Arts, the giant video game maker whose EA Sports arm produces market-leading games such as Madden NFL, EA Sports FC (the former FIFA Soccer series) and College Football, is reportedly the target of a roughly $50B leveraged buyout from “a group of investors including private-equity firm Si...
SBJ Gaming: EA Sports College Football 26 avoids sophomore slump
The Sept. 26 edition of the SBJ Gaming newsletter reports on the sales of EA Sports College Football 26 vs. the first-month sales trends for last year's game and other notes from a busy summer in gaming.
EA Sports College Football 26 is already the No. 3 best-selling video game of 2025
EA Sports College Football 25 was the gaming story of the year in 2024. The return of college football set an all-time video game sales record for sports games and earned accolades for its groundbreaking NIL deal for players.
Game Changers: Natali Altshuler, Electronic Arts
Adaptability and versatility are vital skills for any leader, but they may be even more important in video games than in other industries, as constant changes in development, play mechanics, monetization and technology tend to upend operations on a regular basis.
SBJ Gaming: NHL 26 seeks a new ‘Edge’
The September 12 edition of the SBJ Gaming newsletter features reporting on how the NHL 26 development team is using NHL Edge data to make a better, more responsive hockey sim and 2K Sports' latest brand additions and activations for NBA 2K26, plus how Blizzard Entertainment moved too fast to turn t...
Is Luka Dončić a new horizon for Blizzard Entertainment?
When Overwatch’s “Play Like Luka” event went live on Aug. 26, Luka Dončić became the first sports star to make a deal with Blizzard Entertainment for its 5-on-5 team shooter. He had a hand in designing a hero build for Season 18, along with being featured in a slew of themed items in the game.
NHL 26’s incorporation of Edge data adds new layer of player precision
The yearly release of EA Sports’ NHL series hit Friday, and it’s adding a new tech component that should influence all aspects of players’ performances on the ice.
Sources: EA Sports college basketball video game talks hit snag
Hopes for a college basketball video game including all of Division I have reached an impasse -- at least for the time being.
Lakers star Luka Dončić is coming to Overwatch 2
Lakers G Luka Dončić is coming to Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch 2 in a first-of-its-kind promotion for the Activision-Blizzard label during an event that showcases not just his passion for the 5-on-5 team shooter but also a new season for the game. The event -- billed as “Play Like Luka” -- is ...
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Quote of the Day
You need people that can set the tone, set the culture, and set the level of play up here. And since we’re only doing that across six teams, you can concentrate the talent, not spread it across 13 teams or 30 teams. And as a result, you can have a product that every night is equivalent to a WNBA Final. That’s what we’re setting up.-- Project B co-founder & COO Grady Burnett, on recruiting talent to the new basketball league.
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