So the last time I bought a console, NCAA football was still a thing.

I think gaming has to an extent shifted away from sports games. Madden and FIFA still sell really well and I think there is still a market for the NBA stuff. The loss of NCAA titles was huge, but I doubt it’s the main reason for this apparent shift. I think the ubiquity of online gaming combined with the large market for mobile games has cut in to that sports game market. People can play an online game basically forever as opposed to beating a game and then never touching it again.

Sports games used to be one of the most frequently made types of games, even going back to the 80s, likely owing to their simplicity and the fact they could be remade each year with new rosters. Now the market is saturated with all kinds of games all the time, so even if the number of sports games was the same, it would seem like they were reduced. In other words, there are just way more games being made these days and technology allows developers to make much more complex games that consumers want.

Madden is pretty much the same every year. Unless you can't play without updated rosters and stats, just get last year's version. I had to have a football game with my Xbox so I picked up Madden 18 on sale a few months ago.

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Has gaming really just gone away from sports for the most part?

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I believe they all sell really well. Like other posters said, it's more that there isn't really competition so they have become a bit stale. I'm hoping to get back into next gen when they might make it look a bit different. Wishful thinking.

NHL is the best sports game, change my mind

Internet and online play have really changed how sports games are made. Everything is focused on online gameplay and micro transactions, the offline single player experience is an afterthought. Madden and NBA2k I would argue are more popular now than ever when you look at the multiple tournaments the developers have surrounding their games, tv/media coverage these events get and people making money being a “YouTube Gamer.” Even the NBA has partnered with 2K to create a professional league for their game.

It used to be an over saturated market hence why there’s so few options today vs a decade plus ago. Did anyone ever play NFL Gameday series?

I’ve always only played sports games. Haven’t even bothered to upgrade my 360 for the shitty selections offered these days.