While EA's NBA Live series was once the undisputed king of digital basketball, multiple current-gen cancellations and the utter dominance of NBA 2K have made the game a joke to the sports gaming community. However, even in the face of 2K Sports' monopoly on basketball fans, EA seems finally ready to get their franchise back in the spotlight in time for this fall's next gen systems.
As pointed out by Pasta Padre, the long-dormant social media accounts linked to NBA Live have risen from the grave. The game's official Facebook account posted a picture of a basketball embroidered with the EA Sports logo, with a status update that read simply "coming to a court near you." They also generated a small bit of buzz on Facebook by having fans vote on the current NBA Playoff matchups.
EA made similar updates on the official NBA Live Twitter account, asking fans what their favorite arenas are. It's worth noting that these are the most recent social media updates made by these accounts since September 2012, when EA was releasing video content for the cancelled NBA Live 13.
Interestingly enough, the re-activation of NBA Live's social media presence comes just days before the May 21 reveal of the future of Xbox. Is EA planning to reinvent their basketball franchise on the next wave of consoles? It would certainly make sense for the publisher, as 2K Sports have established themselves as the absolute kings of simulation basketball on current systems. The dawn of next-gen provides a clean slate for all, and could potentially help bring the once beloved Live series back to its former glory.
EA's social media activity is also well-timed from a sports standpoint, as interest in the NBA is at its annual peak as the NBA Playoffs draw closer and closer to the finals.
Is NBA Live 14 something you would play, or do you plan on sticking with the 2K series for the next generation?
