After 11 long years, the day college football video game fans have been waiting for is finally here.
EA Sports College Football 25 is set to be released this week, allowing gamers the chance to play as their favorite school and build a program into the next great dynasty or create the next star to win the Heisman Trophy.
The game is set to be released on Friday, but people that bought the deluxe version of the game or have an EA Play membership will be able to play it a few days earlier, making it appointment gaming when it officially drops. Here are all the details of when EA Sports College Football comes out.
When does EA Sports College Football 25 come out?
Those who preordered the deluxe edition of EA Sports College Football 25, bought the MVP bundle with Madden 25 or have EA Play early access will be able to play the game on Monday, July 15. The standard version of the game will be available to play on Friday, July 19.
What time does EA Sports College Football 25 come out?
For those able to play the game on Monday, it will be available to play at 4 p.m. ET. For those who have to wait until Friday, it will be released at 12 a.m. ET.
EA Sports College Football 25 versions, how to preorder
The deluxe version and MVP bundle can still be digitally pre-ordered through Xbox's Microsoft Store and PlayStation's PlayStation Store up until July 18 and will be available to play if purchased after the early access period begins.
The standard version of the game costs $69.99, the deluxe edition is $99.99 and the MVP bundle is $149.99.
EA Sports College Football 25 review
USA TODAY Sports was able to play the full game of EA Sports College Football 25 before it releases, and the first impression of the game lives up the ginormous hype.
The presentation of the game will blow every gamer away. The details of every team and stadium is precise, capturing the unique traditions and pageantry of every FBS school. For instance, UCLA's "8 clap" can be heard during games and Hawai'i fans celebrate by throwing up the shaka. Another aspect of the presentation is the commentary. The commentators stressed the hours they put into the game, and there are so many fresh takes coming from the booth where the same things don't get repeated over and over again.
If there were still any doubt this is a "Madden reskin," the gameplay should put it to rest. It truly feels as if you're playing an updated version of NCAA Football 14. The movements are crisp yet there's nuance in what is needed to execute plays. After several games played, there weren't any wild animations. Passing is much more precise and how good your quarterback is will determine how easy − or hard − it is to air the ball. However, it won't take long to realize how much fun running the ball is. Players will be heavily rewarded for finding the open lanes, and juking out defenders will leave a smile on anyone's face.
Dynasty mode is the mode everyone loves, and players will remember the amount of time needed to build a program. Becoming a hall of fame-worthy coach is a process and it'll absolutely take time to become a national power if you start with a low-prestige school. The recruiting feels much more personalized and realistic to the point you'll become attached to those recruits you're so desperately trying to get to sign with your team, happy if you get them and disappointed if you don't. The presentation of the game is also deeper in dynasty mode with commentary on how a team's season is going and the domino effects around the college football world.
Road to glory is a mode everyone should try once. It's fast paced but also has layers that make every experience unique. It has funny moments, like do you cheat on a test or skip your night class for that midnight party, but it also makes every decision made important. Focus on becoming a leader and your player will have poise, but if those grades drop, you won't be able to play.
If there is anything to nitpick about the game, it's that people will have to remember that this is truly a new game and it'll take hours to get really good at it. Player ratings matter, and if you're going against a star player, it'll take a massive effort to slow them down. An example is in an exhibition game played, there was no answer to stop Southern California's Zachariah Branch. That also leads to the next point: playing defense is tough. College football is all about the offense, and it shows. It was difficult to get many stops and force punts. The majority of games played were shootouts. Kicking is also much more difficult; the meters for power and accuracy are very sensitive, and field goals outside 35-yards aren't a guarantee. We can confirm Hawai'i's Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex is not in the game, but there's clearly something going on between EA Sports and Hawai'i on who's fault that is.
Those who have been waiting more than a decade for this game should rejoice. EA Sports College Football 25 delivers.
