NBA 2K21 had a huge reveal during the recent PS5 event. EA Play was supposed to be the chance for NBA Live 21 to get the franchise back into the spotlight.
Instead, it was all quiet on the NBA front from EA. So is the franchise never coming back?
Nothing at EA Play
It was a strange EA Play this year.
Thanks to coronavirus the event was digital, with all the execs, producers, and designers remote. As a result it was a much shorter event with less flash and bang than usual.
It was also entirely quiet about NBA Live 21.
THE LAST STATEMENT: This is all we have heard for some time
Given that little was said about FIFA 21 and Madden 21 it is maybe understandable. However, those games got reveals earlier in the week. It's been utter silence about NBA Live since they cancelled last year's title.
For the next generation of players
It is this line that has given fans a nugget of hope that 2K will get some competition.
With the next-gen consoles, the PS5 and Xbox Series X, arriving toward the end of 2020 the hope was that NBA Live 21 would launch along with the new hardware.
READ MORE: FIFA 21 Pre-order: Price, editions, early access & more
We are yet to get much in the way of next-gen exclusive game news, so there is still hope. But maybe just a fools hope.
What next?
There is no future date to hang your hat on for NBA Live 21. EA Play was the obvious place to announce the game.
THE RETURN: KD could hit the court again before we get another NBA Live
With that now in the rearview mirror there is not clear point for when EA will produce news on the next step for the franchise.
There is a chance that the next Inside Xbox stream could be a home for it. After all that was when we got our first look at Madden 21.
However, it's best not to get too excited.
It looks like NBA Live is well and truly dead.
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