Former CFL star Doug Flutie, Football Canada partner on video game

OTTAWA — Football Canada and former CFL star Doug Flutie are teaming up.

The sport’s national governing body announced Thursday it has agreed to a licensing agreement with Canuck Play Inc., a company that produces “Doug Flutie’s Maximum Football 2020” video game. Gamers will be able to play as any one of 10 provincial teams in a Canada Cup tournament mode.

“We’re elated that Football Canada could become the first Canadian organization to be an official part of a video game,” Football Canada president Jim Mullin said in a statement. “It’s key for the growth of our sport that we engage athletes at all levels and gaming is a level of participating in our sport.”

David Winter, the founder and lead developer at Canuck Play inc., said the agreement will help football in Canada.

“Part of Maximum Football’s mandate is to help grow the sport in Canada,” he said. “Partnering with Football Canada allows us to further that goal.”

The game features Canadian rules. It also allows gamers to create their own teams and players and even customize their controls.

“Two things were key for us to work with Maximum Football,” Mullin said. “The first is that Team Canada plays Canadian football and American football and both those rule options are available to the user.

“The second reason is that as a national organization we are committed to supporting Canadian innovation around the game of football in Canada.”

The game will be digitally released Sept. 25 on both PS4 and Xbox One.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2020.

The Canadian Press