EA's Latest PS4 And Xbox One Golf Game Is Being Removed From Sale Soon

It's the end of the road for EA's latest golf game. Rory McIlroy PGA Tour is being removed from all digital storefronts for PS4 and Xbox One on May 22, which is also when it'll be taken out of the EA Access free game "Vault" on Xbox One. It's just the second game to leave the service, following FIFA 14 last year.

The news comes by way of sports site Pasta Padre. The site surmises that this may have something to do with a licensing deal expiring. We have contacted EA in an attempt to get more details, and we'll update this story with anything we hear back.

Rory McIlory PGA Tour, like EA's previous Tiger Woods PGA Tour games, uses a lot of different licenses. The game features the likenesses of many professional golfers in addition to McIlroy, including Jordan Spieth, Rickie Fowler, and Jason Dufner. There are also a number of real-world courses such as St. Andrews and TPC Sawgrass that require licensing. What's more, the presentation is voiced by broadcast TV veterans Rich Lerner and Frank Nobilo.

Even after losing Augusta National and bigger-name commentators like Jim Nantz from past games, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour likely incurred a significant and potentially complicated licensing situation that was probably always due to expire at some point.

Rory McIlroy PGA Tour launched in July 2015 to middling reviews and criticisms over its perceived lack of content at launch. More courses were added as free DLC after launch.

After dropping Tiger Woods as its cover star, EA announced McIlroy would take over for what was expected by some to be a new series of licensed PGA Tour games from EA. However, EA released no follow-ups and has yet to comment on the future of the franchise.

While EA may be backing away from licensed golf games, there are still golf games on the market and new ones coming. Golf Story for Nintendo Switch is delightful, while HB Studios' The Golf Club franchise--which allows players to build and design their own courses--is due to return this year with The Golf Club 19.

from GameSpot https://ift.tt/2GdVcAg