NHL and NHLPA Announce Multi-Year Licensing Extensions with Electronic Arts and 2K Sports

Strategic Insights -

The National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) have announced that Electronic Arts (EA) and 2K Sports have agreed to non-exclusive, multi-year licensing extensions. These agreements will allow EA and 2K Sports to continue producing a full range of NHL video games for various consoles, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii. EA has been a marketing partner with the NHL and NHLPA since 1991 and has created team-specific animation vignettes to showcase the new NHL rules changes. 2K Sports' "NHL 2K6" was the first NHL video game available for the Xbox 360, and their "NHL 2K7" game will be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles this holiday season.

Key Takeaways:

  • Electronic Arts (EA) and 2K Sports have agreed to non-exclusive, multi-year licensing extensions with the NHL and NHLPA to produce NHL video games.
  • EA has been a marketing partner with the NHL and NHLPA since 1991 and has created team-specific animation vignettes to showcase the new NHL rules changes.
  • 2K Sports' "NHL 2K6" was the first NHL video game available for the Xbox 360, and their "NHL 2K7" game will be released for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 consoles this holiday season.
  • The agreements will allow EA and 2K Sports to continue producing video games for current and next-generation consoles, including the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii.
  • EA and 2K Sports have world-class development teams that design games to enhance the connection between NHL fans and the personalities and athletic abilities of players.
  • NHL fans and consumers will have more options to choose from, allowing them to select the quality games they want to play.

Statistics:

  • Since 1991, EA has been an entertainment-marketing partner with the NHL and NHLPA.
  • EA has created 30 team-specific video game animation vignettes to showcase the new NHL rules changes.
  • "NHL 2K6" was the first and only NHL video game available for the Xbox 360 console at its launch in November 2005.
  • 2K Sports will publish "NHL 2K7" for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 next-generation game consoles, as well as current-generation systems, this holiday season.

Sources:

  • National Hockey League (NHL) Press Release
  • Market Wire Press Release
  • National Hockey League Players' Association (NHLPA) Press Release
  • Electronic Arts (EA) Press Release
  • 2K Sports Press Release