EA Sports Is Building an Open-World Football Game Called Project Gridiron

What would an open-world football game even look like? EA Sports is apparently trying to answer that question right now.

In a new letter outlining EA's future, the publisher confirmed it's working on a brand-new open-world football game for its American Football team, going by the working title "Project Gridiron." According to EA, it's a "brand-new, social-first open-world experience" — which raises plenty of questions and answers almost none of them.

That's not the only reveal, either. EA also reaffirmed it's working on a new Fight Night game, which will be the company's first boxing title in well over a decade. EA says it's in pre-production on the revival, tapping into the capabilities of its simulation fighting team. For fight fans who've waited ages, that alone is big news.

Back to the gridiron, though. EA was upfront that we'll hear more soon: "We have two new projects in development you'll hear about over the next few months." So expect official details on both Project Gridiron and Fight Night in the not-too-distant future — possibly at an event like The Game Awards, though that's just speculation for now.

What exactly Project Gridiron is remains a mystery. Will it have a narrative? Is its open world a shared online universe in the vein of NBA 2K? Could it be a grittier, more mature take on football, the way Fight Night Champion pushed that series? Nobody outside EA knows yet. Madden did dabble with narrative campaigns in the mid-to-late 2010s with decent results before pivoting back to a broader career mode, so there's precedent — but EA describes this as something brand new.

There's also the question of how this fits alongside Madden and College Football. A new College Football is expected next year based on previous EA Sports statements, which would mean three EA football games potentially crowding the same space. Does anyone have the time, money, or interest for all three in a single year? It's also possible Project Gridiron is a total transformation of Madden rather than a separate title — but the wording sure makes it sound like its own thing.

Adding another layer: a recent report noted internal concern over College Football's future, with rising NIL rights costs plus other licensing and development expenses creating friction. Sales have reportedly declined year by year, and some developers reportedly worry the franchise's return may be relatively short-lived. That naturally sparks speculation that Project Gridiron could eventually replace College Football — though again, that's speculation, not confirmed.

For now, the takeaway is simple: EA is swinging big on football and boxing, and we should know a lot more within a few months. What do you think Project Gridiron should be — a shared online world, a story-driven epic, or something else entirely? And will you be picking it up whenever it lands?