As the new NFL, Premier League, and, a bit later, NBA seasons get underway, many fans will be keen to get their hands on the upcoming releases of premium video games from the likes of EA Sports, 2K, Konami, and Sony. Indeed, new game releases are now part and parcel of the fall, often coinciding with the start of new sports seasons.
To say that sports video games have become prominent is a bit of an understatement. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry that has become integrated into the wider sports sectors. It’s not just the premium games for PlayStation and Xbox, either. A wealth of exciting sports mobile games can be discovered, and there are numerous sports-themed slots on platforms like SportsMillions. What’s more, sports games are evolving with realistic simulators and AR/VR experiences.
But it wasn’t always this way. Back in the 1980s, the nascent video game sector strived to emulate the sporting experience, with mixed results. Still, the genre was ripe for new titles to enter the arena.
1980s: The First Glimpses of Sports Gaming
While titles like Pong (1972) technically marked the beginning of sports video games, the 1980s marked the true beginning of the genre. The decade saw the rise of arcade classics such asTrack & Field (1983) and Punch-Out!! (1984). On classic 8-bit consoles, Tecmo Bowl (1987) gained popularity for its realistic – at least it seemed realistic to 80s kids at the time – football gameplay on the NES.
John Madden Football (1988) also made its debut, setting the stage for the big AAA sports games of today. These games were relatively simple but foundational in establishing sports as a viable genre in the gaming world.
1990s: Seeds of the Franchises Take Root
The 1990s witnessed a surge in realism and the birth of many of the franchises that dominate today. FIFA International Soccer (1993) – soon to be called just “FIFA” – introduced semi-realistic soccer gameplay and launched a behemoth series.
Other classics like Sensible Soccer showed that FIFA wouldn’t have it all its own way. NBA Jam(1993) brought arcade-style basketball gaming to the masses with exaggerated moves and over-the-top fun. Madden NFL ’94 continued to build on the success of its predecessors. The era also saw the launch of the game-changing PlayStation console, with titles like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999) showing that all types of sports could have a home in the gaming sector.
2000s: The Console Era of Sports Gaming
The 2000s are often seen as the golden age of sports video games. FIFA and Madden NFL continued to dominate, with annual releases scooping up attention and lightning gamers’ wallets. Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) emerged as a competitor to FIFA. As something of a cult classic, it offered a different style of soccer gameplay. NBA 2K (1999) gained traction as a basketball sim, eventually surpassing NBA Live.
Additionally, Tiger Woods PGA Tour brought golf to the forefront of sports gaming, while Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and its sequels remained popular, influencing skateboarding culture.
2010s: Gaming Anywhere and eSports
The 2010s saw the integration of online play and the rise of eSports within sports video games. FIFA and NBA 2K continued to innovate with enhanced graphics and online modes like FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT).
This was arguably the beginning of the era of customization, where gamers had more control over the product. Rocket League (2015) introduced a unique blend of soccer and vehicular mayhem, quickly becoming an eSports sensation. Meanwhile, Madden NFL and PES continued their annual releases with refined mechanics. The decade solidified the role of sports games in the competitive gaming landscape, with professional leagues forming around key titles.
2020s: Immersive Experiences and AI Integration
In the 2020s, sports video games have increasingly focused on immersive experiences and AI integration. FIFA and NBA 2K now feature AI elements – both in gameplay and development – lifelike graphics and deep career modes are also the norm. eFootball (formerly PES) made a controversial shift to a free-to-play model. Additionally, games like MLB The Show continued to push the boundaries of realism.
The 2020s also saw an expansion in mobile sports gaming, with popular franchises adapting to smaller screens. The future will surely integrate more AI, making sports video games easier to make and more complex. EA Sports recently used AI to code more than 11,000 unique players for EA College Football 25. VR, too, might play a role, although they have been talking about a VR revolution for many years now without it really going mainstream.