There hasn't been an EA PGA Tour golf game since 2015. Now the series is back
Not everyone gets dressed in their finest slacks and sweater vest to go and play 18 holes on the nearest green, but many of you will remember playing EA Sports PGA Tour back in the day. After a six-year hiatus, the series is back and it's coming to next-gen consoles.
Whilst 2K games have continued to make popular a PGA series, it was Electronic Arts (EA) that first brought mainstream, officially licensed golf games to the forefront. After an announcement yesterday, the franchise is being resurrected but for PS5 and Xbox Series X only - any potential plans for a PC release have yet to be confirmed.
https://twitter.com/EASPORTSPGATOUR/status/1376504692063272960?s=20
As per an official press release, the game is currently in development and will allow players to build their own virtual career and will feature "THE PLAYERS Championship, FedExCup Playoffs and more unforgettable events". As with other EA Sports games, there will be official licensing to recreate real golf courses and represent the likenesses of real golf pros.
The last cover star before the series stopped was Rory McIlroy, who replaced golf icon, Tiger Woods, after 15 years as the brand lead. There was a year gap between Woods' last title and Rory McIlroy PGA Tour (2015), when it was clear the franchise's future was uncertain.
The game is being built using EA's Frostbite engine, seen in titles such as FIFA, Battlefield, Madden NFL and the Star Wars games to name just a few. With the power of next-gen technology, the new PGA Tour "promises stunning fidelity, breathtaking immersive environments, and approachable, dynamic gameplay".
Executive Vice President and General Manager, Cam Weber has stated: "we couldn’t be more excited to expand our sports portfolio with a new golf title on next-gen hardware". He went on to say that is the "team of passionate golf fans is meticulously recreating the world’s top courses" and that they cannot wait for fans to have their own virtual experience.
On the PGA side of things, their Chief Legal Officer and Executive Vice President Licensing and Merchandising, Len Brown, has said they are "thrilled to continue working with EA SPORTS on its golf franchise to authentically represent the PGA TOUR for the next generation".
He added that "the newest game will give golf fans another way to experience their favourite sport, or to discover their passion for it.” No official release date has been mentioned just yet.
EA is known for making some of the most popular sports games in the industry: FIFA, Madden NFL, NHL, and UFC. Back in the day, PGA Tour was a mainstay in that list, but we're just glad to see it back.
Most of us are still no better at the games than the real thing - or even crazy golf, for that matter - but we'll certainly have fun practising when it returns.
