A social media post that went viral in early July suggested that the University of Colorado's football program had decided to withdraw from EA's upcoming title College Football 27, citing frustration over the game's microtransaction model.
The post was later traced to a troll account operating under the name Shane Tuttle, which has a history of fabricating sensational stories to generate clicks; the account explicitly claimed that multiple players had opted out, a statement that was later proven false.
EA's Policy Shift
EA, which had been under pressure from the community regarding in-game purchases, announced shortly after the rumor that it would scrap the planned microtransaction system for College Football 27, opting instead for a purely cosmetic monetization approach.
Despite the earlier controversy, the company confirmed that the Colorado Buffaloes will still appear as a selectable team in the final roster, meaning players can still control the Pac-12 program when the game launches.
The same account also spread false assertions that other unnamed players had opted out, further fueling the illusion of a mass exodus while serving only the author's pursuit of attention.
Industry observers note that while the hoax was quickly debunked, the episode underscores the volatility of online narratives and the importance of verifying sources before amplifying alleged industry shifts.