Pricing and Exclusivity
ESPN NFL 2K5 was the first in the 2K series priced at $19.99 the day it shipped, much lower than market leader Madden NFL at $49.99. This greatly reduced Madden sales that year; one EA Sports developer recalled that "t scared the hell out of us". EA reduced Madden NFL 2005's price to $29.95. In December 2004 EA Sports acquired an exclusive rights agreement with the NFL and NFLPA to be the sole creator of NFL video games. The deal terminated 2K Sports production of any further NFL games. The ensuing season, Madden 2006, saw pricing returned to the $49.99 MSRP.
Many gamers believe that EA originated exclusivity rights talks with the NFL and NFLPA in order to prevent 2K Sports from eating into their Madden sales figures. However, the unconfirmed rumor is that the NFL and NFLPA wanted just one franchise to have the rights. EA, being the bigger company with more money than the fledgling 2K Sports, outbid 2K and won the exclusivity rights. Though gamers suspicions cannot be definitively confirmed, the fact that EA also subsequently acquired the exclusive rights to NCAA Football, Arena football, and ESPN for 15 years (which completely removed the teeth of 2K's ESPN Football franchise) effectively shutting 2K out of any chance of having a licensed American football game, gives gamers a plausible reason to be highly suspicious of EA's intention.
In December 2010, A U.S. district court judge certified a class action anti-trust lawsuit against Electronic Arts for anti-competitive practices to proceed. Pending the outcome of the suit, 2K Sports could be granted NFL rights again which would permit the series to continue. In February 2011, however, EA extended the exclusive contract until 2013.
Read more about this topic: ESPN NFL 2K5