EA Sports increases College Football 26 player payments to $1,500

EA Sports has announced an increase in name, image, and likeness (NIL) payments for players featured in the upcoming College Football 26 video game, raising compensation from $600 to $1,500. This decision follows the successful launch of College Football 25, which became the highest-selling sports video game of all time, moving over 2.2 million copies in just three days after its release. The game garnered significant acclaim for its depth and attention to detail, appealing to long-time fans of the franchise who had waited nearly a decade for a new release. Players who opted into College Football 25 were compensated through a system designed to be equitable, and EA Sports aims to maintain this approach moving forward. The franchise's resurgence is largely attributed to changes in the NIL landscape, allowing the incorporation of real college athletes into the game. As anticipation builds for College Football 26, the success of its predecessor has set high expectations for the upcoming installment.