EA Sports is getting back into the golf game after spending several years away from the putting green. Earlier this year, the sports gaming juggernaut officially announced the upcoming release ofEA Sports PGA TourasEA Sports' official return to golf. Following EA’s last title, HB Studios and later 2K Sports moved into the golf gaming market. But, EA announced earlier this year that its ownPGA Tourfranchise would be returning in 2022.
While the company hasn’t released a newPGAgame since 2015, EA Sports has plenty of history on the golf course. For 25 years following the release ofPGA Tour Golffor MS-DOS in 1990,PGA Tourwas a mainstay among EA’s annual sports titles, partnering with professional golfer Tiger Woods for most of the franchise’s history. While the company had previously given an optimistic release date of Spring 2022 for the franchise’s upcoming return, a recent statement from EA Sports informed fans that the wait for a new EAPGA Tourgame may be a bit further off than expected.
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A statement released on Wednesday by theEA Sports PGA Tourannounced the delay stating that the company would be “shifting the launch date” of the upcoming return to the series formerlyheadlined by pro golfer Rory McIlroy. The company gave little explanation as to the reasoning behind the delay, keeping the statement brief and teasing at more information on the game’s launch plans to come in the future. A Spring release date would likely have put the game’s release date alongside the expected dates for the 2022 Masters Tournament in April or PGA Championship in May.
When EA announced the return of its ownPGA Tourfranchise, the company made sure to emphasize the exclusivity and appeal of its licensing deal and partnership with the PGA Tour. EA Sports confirmed it would be the only one of this year’s annual golf titles to feature the PGA tour’s majors, including well-known tournaments like the Masters and PGA Championship among others. The sports juggernaut also announcedEA SportsPGA Tourwould feature women’s golfand the inclusion of several elements of the LPGA, including professional women’s golfers and the Amundi Evian Championship.
2022 is shaping up to be a year of significant change for several of EA Sports' major franchises. The return of the dormantPGA Tourfranchise will likely be accompanied by a re-brandedsoccer series without the FIFA nameas EA Sports has been in a contract dispute with the football association, recently trademarking the nameEA Sports FC. EA’sUFCseries following the mixed martial arts circuit is also rumored to be making a comeback in the near future.
EA Sports PGA Touris currently in development for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S with no confirmed release date.
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