I wanted to be the one to present this news... because I'm sensing something in the air (and it smells great). I've seen the NFLPA become a bit more active lately when it comes to a few football games. Before I go any further, here's info from our guest contributor, Sophi, about what the NFLPA is...
The NFLPA stands for the National Football League Players Association. It is the labor union that represents professional American football players in the National Football League (NFL). The NFLPA was founded in 1956 and is responsible for negotiating and enforcing the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the players and the league.
As a labor union, the NFLPA is not owned by the players but rather is run by a board of player representatives who are elected by their teammates. The board of player representatives, in turn, hires a team of executives and staff to carry out the day-to-day operations of the union and to negotiate with the league on behalf of the players.
While the NFLPA is not owned by the players, it exists solely for their benefit and is dedicated to protecting their rights, promoting their interests, and ensuring their fair treatment by the league. - Sophima
So you just read that, and might be thinking... so... what about it? Well, you don't see an NFL license stamped on this game, which means... it's possible that the players are standing up to take control of their likeness, and their benefit as players... including who and how money is made off of them. That's beautiful because they're already making a crap ton of money for the NFL, and now... we can enjoy other types of football games outside of Madden with some of our favorite players. I think this is awesome. This also puts money in the pockets of players no longer active in the league like... Colin Kaepernick, and others that we may be interested in getting back on the field. It was smart for Saber to bypass the NFL and go straight to the NFLPA since the official teams weren't going to be a factor at all here.
I don't know how they plan on moving with this in the long run, but... Saber brought us NBA Playgrounds 1 & 2.
I played the crap out of NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, but this game isn't under 2K, so I'm wondering if that was just a one-off or things didn't work out... or Saber saw a bigger picture and decided to go hard on their own.
The reason why I believe they decided to set out on their own with Playground Sports is because of the NFLPA, but not only that... OneTeam Partners is in on this. OneTeam Partners not only includes NFLPA, it also includes MLBPA, MLSPA, U.S. Women's National Team PA, U.S. Rugby PA, LCSPA, and College Athletes! Before I continue, let's check out the trailer!
I think Saber Interactive is aiming to shoot for the stars in terms of being one of the biggest sports arcade companies out there.
EA runs the football field in regards to Madden... and they now have their clutches on Super Mega Baseball.
2K Games rules the basketball court with NBA2K.
It's possible that Saber is going to own the... playground when it comes to arcade sports. Time will tell, but... either way, I wish them well. I'm really excited about this, and... it's Rated E for Everyone.
KEY FEATURES
- Create Your Dream Team: Choose from hundreds of genuine pro players, reimagined Playgrounds-style, and assemble the ultimate 7-on-7 gridiron squad. Advance through different challenges and events to unlock new players and other exciting rewards.
- Play Your Wild Cards: Unleash over 150 Wild Cards to turn the tide of the game in your favor in an instant. Bust out special moves like summoning walls or invisibility, boost your team’s stats at a crucial moment, or play a Rule-Breaker and flip the rules of the game completely.
- Become a Champion: Prove your skills in single-player Season mode, climb to the top of the leaderboards in competitive online multiplayer with full crossplay, or challenge your friends at home for bragging rights in local multiplayer.
- Customize Your Squad: Personalize your team’s logo, uniforms, and colors, choose your home stadium, then build unique playbooks and Wild Card decks to perfect your strategies on the field.
I would like to see these players in Wild Card Football:
Prime Time
Warrick Dunn
Ricky Williams
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson would be a cool addition since he played for the Hurricanes. At least as a DLC player.
Warren Sapp (who actually replaced The Rock due to injury)
Emmitt Smith
These would be some kickass additions... would they not? I know some guys who would go nuts over this, and I'll be reaching out to Saber Interactive in hopes to see these guys on the gridiron.
Anyway, Wild Card Football will be heading in for a touchdown on... Oct. 10, 2023, on PC (Steam & Epic), PS5, PS4, Xbox X|S, Xbox One, and... Nintendo Switch!
