EA Sports announced Thursday on social media the much-anticipated college football game will be released this summer.

In fact, there will be a full reveal in May.

As pointed out in the video, the company addressed the “Big Al in the room.”

The release of the EA Sports college football game will be the first since the release of NCAA Football 14 in July 2013.

There has been speculation about whether it would really happen, which, of course, the company played up in the hype video released Thursday.

In January, 247Sports reported the new game will be built on the same engine as EA Sports’ Madden franchise with differences in gameplay, playbooks, mascots, traditions and stadium atmosphere.

The “Dynasty” and “Road to Glory” modes will also return.

The series was discontinued due to the debate over student athletes being compensated for their names, images and likenesses continued around the country and in legislative bodies.

In August of 2023, an EA Sports statement confirmed the company was planning for a 2024 summer release of the much-anticipated college football game.

“We’re incredibly excited to bring back an authentic college football experience for fans and athletes that have shown such passion for the franchise, and we’re looking forward to delivering it in Summer 2024,” the EA spokesperson told On3 in August.

On the day where the Madden 2024 cover was unveiled, an EA Sports video game appeared headed for a potential roadblock.

In June 2023, it was reported the College Football Players Association was urging athletes to boycott the game, with the hope EA Sports would reconsider its payout to athletes.

EA, per the report, has contracted OneTeam Partners to facilitate college athletes’ likeness. A source told On3 there is roughly $5 million available for the players’ name, image and likeness. That’s roughly $500 per player. There were to be no royalties, per Sportico.

Fans were left wondering if there would ever be a game after a report indicated EA Sports was to release an update about the game during the CFP national championship. That news never came.

Stay tuned.

Mark Heim is a reporter for The Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter @Mark_Heim. He can be heard on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5 FM in Mobile or on the free Sound of Mobile App from 6 to 9 a.m. daily.