Exclusive rights to NFL simulation video games thanks to a vote from league owners this offseason, but that doesn’t mean current players won’t be featured in other games Ian Kennedy Jersey in the near future. 2K, the video game publisher behind the annual ” 2K” series and the popular “ESPN NFL 2K5” game, announced Thursday an agreement with the NFL Players A sociation to include more than 2,000 NFL players in multiple new football games starting in 2021.2K, which itself operates under the umbrella of Take-Two Interactive, had a “multiyear partnership” with the NFL Alex Gordon Jersey to produce future football-related games. 2K’s latest agreement, struck alongside OneTeam Partners (OneTeam) — a joint venture between the NFLPA, MLBPA and RedBird Capital — confirms those games will feature active NFL player names, jersey numbers, images and likene ses.2K’s upcoming new games are cla sified as “non-simulation” games, which are technically exclusive to EA Sports and its annual “Madden” franchise. But it’s unclear exactly what does and does not qualify as a “simulation.” For instance, 2K said in its pre s release regarding the NFLPA deal Joakim Soria Jersey that its games will be “football game experiences,” signaling potential similarities with game-day play found in “Madden.” Either way, 2K’s acquisition of NFL player likene ses marks a clear step toward re-entering the NFL video game market. “We’re thrilled to be working with the NFLPA and OneTeam to bring the biggest and best stars in football to the games we’re working on,” said 2K president David Ismailer. “We want to give fans experiences that are authentic, memorable and fun, and having a roster Justin Grimm Jersey of real-life sports heroes through the Players A sociation and OneTeam is a Chris Owings Jersey huge part of delivering on that promise.”Specific game titles, developers and release dates will be announced at a later date. 2K released six different NFL simulation titles between 1999-2004, most recently publishing the critically acclaimed “ESPN NFL 2K5.” Electronic Arts signed an exclusivity deal with the NFL shortly afterward to ensure EA Sports held the rights to future simulation as part of its “Madden” series, which began in 1988.…