Embiid replaces James Harden, who was the face of the franchise for 'NBA Live 17' and 'NBA Live 18'EA SPORTS
76ers C Joel Embiid will "grace the cover of 'NBA Live 19' due out in September," according to Vincent DeBlasio of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. The selection marks the "first ever for a Sixer in the game’s history," debuting in '94. With his "larger-than-life personality and growing profile after a breakout year, Embiid was a natural fit to carry the next installment in the NBA Live franchise" (PHILLY.com, 6/26). FORBES' Brian Mazique noted Embiid replaces Rockets G James Harden, who was the "face of the franchise for 'NBA Live 17' and 'NBA Live 18.'" Harden is still "likely a member of EA's overall marketing program for the game as he appears in a few of the screenshots" for "NBA Live 19" already, but that "hasn't been confirmed" (FORBES.com, 6/25). BLEACHER REPORT's Tyler Conway noted EA's NBA series has "undergone numerous transformations and upheaval in recent years, thanks in large part to falling behind the competing NBA 2K series." The game was "scrapped altogether" from '10-12 on console devices after a "series of poorly received demos and aborted rollouts." "NBA Live 18" came out last September to "far more positive reviews, with EA receiving praise for taking the time to release a fully developed basketball game." Reviewers still "pointed out this was a lesser version than what 2K Sports released with 'NBA 2K18,' but for the first time in a decade, there felt like real competition on the market" (BLEACHERREPORT.com, 6/25).
