Sports videogame releases are usually drab affairs. New versions come out every year, and beyond roster updates and a few gameplay tweaks, they don't change that much from edition to edition. But EA Sports College Football 25, which will be released worldwide on 19 July, isn't a typical game. It may well be the most anticipated sports video game release ever in the US. And to understand why, we need to go back to the beginning.

Fifteen years ago, former Nebraska and Arizona State quarterback Sam Keller filed a class-action lawsuit that in 2013 resulted in Electronic Arts Sports mothballing its popular College Football video game. The game featured players that did not have real-life names, but resembled every player on every roster in almost every other way. EA settled with Keller, et al., for 40 million, and the NCAA chipped in another 20 million. Sounds like a lot but payments to each player ranged from about 1,500 to 15,000. Keller, for his part, was flogged in the public square of social media for "ruining the video game for us."

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning may have to wait at least one more season before he gets his chance to start for the team. With EA Sports releasing College Football 25 this summer, fans may have gotten the chance to make him their QB1 in the video game -- if he opted in. But it doesn't appear that will be the case. Manning has not opted in to have his name, image and likeness used in the game, Orangebloods.com He is reportedly "focused on playing football on the field."

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. Lots of people are going to be reminiscing about their childhood after EA Sports announced its College Football video game will return after an 11-year hiatus. The series began in 1993 with the release of Bill Walsh College Football, and the game was released under the legendary coach's name for two years. The name changed to College Football USA for the 1996 and 1997 seasons before changing to NCAA Football from 1998 to 2014.

College football fans were hyped at the start of the national championship on Monday night, but it was not only to watch Michigan defeat Washington to win its first title since 1997. Fans were hoping to catch a glimpse at a trailer for EA Sports' new college football video game which is expected to be released over the summer. However, at no point did a commercial for the game drop during the broadcast nor did a trailer get released online. In this photo illustration, an EA Sports logo is seen displayed on a smartphone. Those expecting something were not pleased and expressed their frustrations online.

Earlier this year, at the famed La Romareda stadium in Zaragoza, Spain, EA Sports organised two football matches, one each for male and female pro players. During these competitive 90-minute fixtures, all participants, including subs and officials, wore advanced Xsens motion capture suits that recorded their every movement, shot, tackle and celebration. Involving more than 70 people it was, according to gameplay producer Sam Rivera, the largest number of players ever motion-captured in a single session. Every year, the developers of Fifa tell us that their key aim is authenticity. This year, Fifa 23 – the final product of EA Sports and Fifa's 30-year partnership – is about making key moments more intelligible, detailed and dramatic, zooming in ever closer to the action at pitch level.

Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. For the first time in two decades, late football legend John Madden will grace the cover of a Madden NFL video game. EA Sports on Wednesday announced that the Hall of Fame coach, who died in December, will appear on the cover of all three editions of this year's Madden NFL 23 video game. The covers will include him in different parts of his life, including as a coach and as a broadcaster.

EA Sports announced Tuesday that the soccer title it publishes in 2023 would be part of the new EA Sports FC brand, doing away with the FIFA name the series has used since the days of the Sega Genesis and Super NES. The announcement marks a significant break for one of the oldest and most popular continuous franchises in video game history. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica, a trusted source for technology news, tech policy analysis, reviews, and more. Ars is owned by WIRED's parent company, Condé Nast. "We're thankful for our many years of great partnership with FIFA," EA CEO Andrew Wilson said in a statement.

Thanks to separate licensing agreements, EA Sports can keep most of its features even after its breakup with FIFA. Among those agreements are a deal with FIFPRO, the global players union, that was recently renewed and will allow the game to maintain player names and likenesses. EA also has deals with the English Premier League, German Bundesliga, Spanish La Liga, MLS and UEFA Champions League, among others. Each organization released comments of support to go with EA's official announcement Tuesday.

On balance, over time, we felt that our investments were better suited in spaces that were most important to players, like the different experiences we can now build in the game. For our partners, it's the way we can welcome and engage them into a platform that talks to 150 million young football fans around the world.