EA may dominate football and soccer, but its basketball game franchise NBA Live has struggled against the NBA 2K series.
After years of mixed results, this culminated in EA skipping NBA Live 20, allowing NBA 2K20 to be unchallenged.
We have been promised NBA Live 21, but we'll just have to continue waiting on the finer specifics. That is unless we get something from EA Play.
Let's go over what we know so far.
NBA Live 21 release date
THE RETURN: NBA Live is coming back just as KD is expected to return
While we don't have an NBA Live 20 release date to go off, both 18 & 19 hit the shelves in early-mid September.
READ MORE: Everything there is to know about NBA 2K21
This is also in-line with 2K's release date window, so it would make sense to launch a fresh NBA title against the biggest name on the block.
However, EA Sports could take their time and make an even bigger splash later on...
EA Play
PATIENCE- Lebron James is tired of waiting on NBA Live 21, but the wait may soon be up
EA Play will be the first major gaming event to persist despite coronavirus. It will preview the major upcoming releases from EA slated for 2020. It will begin on Thursday, 18 June.
That means we could expect some big news from NBA Live 21 at EA Play this year, especially considering NBA 2K20's recent reveal trailer premiere during the PS5 reveal event.
We expect EA Play's schedule to look something like this:
6:45pm ET / 11:45pm BST – Countdown to EA Play
7pm ET / 12am BST – Star Wars Squadrons – CONFIRMED
7:30pm ET / 12:30am BST – EA and Next Gen
8pm ET / 1am BST – Madden 21
8:30pm ET / 1:30am BST – FIFA 21
9pm ET / 2am BST – NBA Live 21
9:30pm ET / 2:30am BST – Battlefield 6
NBA Live 21 on PS5 & Xbox Series X
ALL POWERFUL: Next-gen consoles are a huge step forward
Console gaming is about to take a big leap forward this year with the introduction of the next-gen consoles from Sony and Microsoft.
The two giants are due to release the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X at the end of 2020.
READ MORE: NBA Live 21 Ultimate Team wishlist
If EA really want to relaunch the NBA Live franchise in a meaningful way they will tailor NBA Live 21 to the impressive specs of the next-gen consoles.
With huge processing power, enhanced graphics, and non-existent load times, EA could design their new game specifically for the PS5 & Xbox Series X and potentially blow NBA 2K21 out of the water.
NBA Live 21 cover
On top of the release date, the burning question is who will be on the cover of NBA Live 21.
For NBA 2K20, its official reveal trailer premiered during the PS5 reveal event, and by showing only Zion Williamson, leads fans to assume the rookie has officially made the cover.
While there are still many picks left for NBA Live 21's cover, it'll be difficult to choose a player with as much buzz around him as Williamson.
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Probably the best choice left is Giannis Antetokounmpo, who has made a solid campaign for being a repeat NBA MVP.