Rory McIlroy is the new face of the new EA Sports golf video game, replacing a legend in the process.
EA Sports already announced in 2014 that their 2015 game will no longer feature Woods after the two parties parted ways in 2013.
CBS Sports reported that the official announcement made on March 16 confirmed that Rory McIlroy will be replacing Tiger Woods on the cover of EA Sports "PGA Tour". Woods has been on the cover of the game since 1998 and it is the first time that EA Sports will launch a golf video game without Woods on the cover.
McIlroy said in a report by Golf Channel, "Playing video games is one of the ways I try to relax in my downtime, and one of my favorite video games was golf. That's what makes today's announcement so exciting to me. I am on the cover of EA SPORTS Rory McIlroy PGA TOUR and it's named after me. That is crazy! I am more excited than I can possibly put into words."
McIlroy said in the same CBS Sports report, "I'm very proud and humbled to see my face and name on EA Sports Rory McIlroy PGA Tour."
He added, "This is a great honor, and something I couldn't even dream of growing up playing the sport. I really hope people enjoy the game and I'm very glad I can be a part of it."
GameSpot reported that the tagline for the new game will be "Golf Without Limits". "Rory McIlroy PGA Tour" will be featuring the Frostbite engine for the first time, which is the same toolset used in games like "Need for Speed" and "Battlefield". One of the upgrades in the upcoming versions is the absence of load-times between holes.
According to EA Sports, the new toolset will let the development team come up with beautiful new environments. Gamers can expect highly detailed golf courses. The Frostbite engine will also present the whole course simultaneously, taking out load times between holes and letting players take their shot from almost any location.
ESPN reported that McIlroy has been at the top spot of the golfing world since August 2014. McIlroy and Woods were both on the cover of the 2011 game. The game will be available in June 2015 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. A preview of the game was featured on YouTube, showing McIlroy teeing off and playing on the green.