Month: June 2018

EA’s Madden franchise aims to be the most authentic representation of the popular American sport, and year over year it delivers improvements that make the game look and feel even more genuine. The same cannot always be said for what happens off the virtual field, however.

This year, the NFL has instituted a much-criticised, Trump-supported policy that requires all players on the field to stand during the national anthem, lest they face a fine. Players can also remain in the locker room during the anthem if they wish to avoid the fine. This new pre-game setup will not be reflected in this year’s Madden 19, producer Ben Haumiller told GameSpot today at the EA Play event ahead of E3 2018.

He explained that the team at EA Sports is instead focusing on getting players into the game as quickly as possible. Haumiller suggested that the new kneeling policy is a “distraction” from the real reason people play Madden games: to play Madden.

“We work very closely with the NFL and the NFLPA. We work very closely about how we want to represent the game, and really make it a celebration of the sport,” he said. “And maybe a place where you don’t have to … you love the game, but you don’t have to worry about everything else that’s going on that might be distractions from [the reason] you’re trying to be here–it’s about the game.”

The pre-game presentation in Madden 19 will remain largely the same as in previous years. You’ll see cuts of the stadium and the players coming out of the tunnel. “We really want to get you to the gameplay,” he said, adding that EA Sports focuses most on making everything from the start of the game to when the final whistle blows as authentic as it can be.

Madden 19 will feature commentary updated on a regular basis, but it remains to be seen if the announcers will talk about the kneeling issue. In speaking with Haumiller, it appears unlikely that they will.

EA has been wishy-washy in recent years about having the announcers discuss controversial issues. In 2016, EA said the commentary in Madden 17 would have the announcers briefly discuss Coin Kaepernick’s decision to kneel during the national anthem. His brave protest over violence against minorities was one of the biggest pieces of sports news that year, so it was a big deal that Madden 17 would have its announcers respond to this. However, they never did, and EA was called out for backing out of responding to the issue, and that may happen again this year.

Madden 19 launches on August 10 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The game is also coming to PC, which marks the first entry in the franchise for PC since 2007’s Madden 2008.

At EA Play to kick off E3 2018, the company closed with a deep dive into Anthem. During the interview, BioWare general manager Casey Hudson shared more details on the Javelin mech suits and customization options. But, loot boxes won’t be an option.

Hudson was clear that it wouldn’t be selling randomized loot boxes, but you can purchase cosmetic items a la carte. The suits come in at least four different archetypes: Ranger, Colossus, Interceptor, and Storm. Each of them performs a bit differently, and you can switch between them for any given mission.

The customization options will let you change the paint jobs and even the actual geometry of the suit. Further details weren’t shared, but it sounded as if cosmetics will be available by playing the game. It’s unclear at this point if there will be some skins and vanity items that you can only get by spending money.

We’ll be checking out Anthem at the show, so we’ll have even more details in the coming days, but we also rounded up other notable details from the game’s on-stage demo here. Anthem’s release date is set for February 2019.

One of the biggest games from EA going into E3 2018 is the multiplayer-focused shooter Anthem by the iconic developer BioWare. Plenty of details were revealed on the upcoming game during the EA Play event, but the more curious aspect is how the exosuits, called javelins, will work. These suits are the focus of gameplay and function as character classes with a number of distinct abilities that affect the way you approach combat.

There are four javelin types: Ranger, Colossus, Interceptor, and Storm. The Ranger is a more generalized suit, a sort of all-purpose javelin. It appears to have fluid mobility and can hold its own in close-range combat. If you’re interested in laying down more damage, the Colossus is a heavy, specialized type that packs big weapons to cause high level of destruction and area-of-effect attacks. Details were scarce on the Interceptor, but we know it’s the most agile of the classes while the Storm is a caster-type that could help support the squad.

While javelins share similarities to traditional classes, players can swap between different javelin types since actual characters are just the pilots, called freelancers. You can switch between these for any given mission, it’s not a permanent choice.

Javelin customization is also a big deal. Not only will players get gear and weapons, personalization through different paint jobs and armor pieces/geometry will be part of the fun. There will be cosmetic/vanity items for purchase, but EA says you’llknow what you’re getting; there will be no loot boxes. Additionally, Anthem won’t contain microtransactions that give gameplay advantages.

A release date was announced for BioWare’s new game–expect to see Anthem for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC this February. We have Anthem covered from all angles; be sure to check out the entire reveal that happened at EA’s E3 press conference and our compilation of all the Anthem details.

BioWare revealed a ton of new information about its upcoming IP Anthem during EA’s pre-E3 2018 press conference. The Destiny-esque shooter is slated to launch for PS4, Xbox One, and PC on February 22, 2019, and now we’ve gotten a better look at its mysterious setting and how progression works.

As BioWare previously revealed, Anthem puts players in the role of Freelancers–individuals who pilot powered exosuits known as Javelins. There are four types of Javelins available and they’ll be fully customizable. Players can fly these Javelins freely out into Anthem’s world to take on missions. Despite being designed to be played with allies, the game can also be completed solo–although you will need to have a persistent internet connection regardless of how you play.

Anthem takes place in a dynamic world that’s built around a core narrative. Freelancers are the guardians of the rest of the human population. They venture into a dangerous world, described as being “abandoned by the gods,” to fulfill contracts, complete missions, and handle threats.

Whenever the player returns to the main hub, they’ll witness the effects of the choices they made and experience the next stage of Anthem’s narrative. This is where most of Anthem’s story exists. Exploring the world will be more of a social experience; players will experience the same weather patterns and day/night cycle, as well as see the same wandering enemies and detailed environments.

BioWare promised Anthem will get plenty of updates post-launch. Some will be gameplay related, as the world will reshape and change in response to new developments over time. Others will be story-driven updates. BioWare says it has built a world where players interact with characters that they’ll fall in love with, and lead writer Cathleen Rootsaert wants players to have new experiences with those characters over time.

We’ll have more details on Anthem this week as E3 unfolds. You can read more about the game–and other news from EA’s E3 briefing–in our recap of all the announcements from EA Play. For our full coverage of the big event, be sure to visit GameSpot’s E3 2018 hub to follow along with all of the biggest news from the show.

EA’s E3 2018 showcase might not have had a whole lot of surprise reveals, but it certainly had a very important message that permeated through the conference. At times, EA said and showed things that seemed to point towards a publisher and developer who has learned a lot of lessons from a very rough 2017, a lot of which is thanks to the controversy surrounding loot boxes and games as services. However, its silence in other portions, specifically when it came to sports games, sent a mixed message.

One of the defining news stories of 2017 revolved around the drama of Star Wars Battlefront 2, specifically its implementation of loot boxes and microtransactions. The road there was a long and strange one, filled with mixed messages and confusing rhetoric that ultimately came to a boil when the world got its hands on the beta in October 2017. And, of course, EA completely removed microtransactions for a period of time just hours before Battlefront 2 officially launched (after a week of negative reviews and feedback from early access for preorder customers).

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Check out every game featured during the EA Play E3 livestream

EA kicked off E3 2018 with a fairly dense press conference that featured everything from sports sequels to mobile real-time strategy games, and finally a deeper look at Anthem, the next big game from famed RPG studio, BioWare.

Though there were only ten games on display, there was a lot of news associated with some of EA‘s bigger titles. We learned that Battlefield V will receive a post-launch battle royale mode, following in the footsteps of the industry at large in the wake of Fortnite’s runaway success. The announcement was made that Madden 19 will be the first game in the series since Madden 08 to arrive on PC.

We were also clued into a lot of great announcements for Battlefront II fans, including the growing roster of heroes, and the tease of future content based on the Clone Wars time period. Not one to make a mere solo Star Wars announcement, EA also had Respawn Entertainment CEO Vince Zampella reveal the name of his studio’s upcoming game: Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. We don’t yet know a ton about the game, but we do know the time it’s set and what type of character you’ll be playing, along with the fact that you’ll use a lightsaber.

The show wrapped with a panel of BioWare developers talking about their vision for Anthem, and EA also announced the game’s release date: February 22, 2019.

There were more exciting games shown during the presentation, so check out the rest of this gallery for a look at what else EA had to show.

Anthem

Anthem is easily BioWare’s most ambitious title. Focusing on the exploits of heavily armored freelancers on a hostile alien planet, you’ll work together with other players online to take on dangerous missions while exploring the furthest reaches of the world. While this sounds a lot like Destiny, BioWare’s approach to the concept of the shared-world shooter looks like an interesting change of pace from other games of the genre, and we can’t wait to see more.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: February 22, 2019

Battlefield 5

For 2018’s Battlefield V, EA and DICE are taking players back to World War II. Like Battlefield 1, its single-player campaign will be comprised of shorter War Stories that focus on specific aspects of the war. Multiplayer will see the introduction of playable female protagonists and–in a change from recent entries–dump the season pass model in favor of free post-launch maps and updates. In addition, it’s going to feature a battle royale mode.

Platforms: PC, PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: October 19

Battlefront 2 — New modes

This year Battlefront 2 will get heroes and maps from the prequel conflict, including several new heroes and villains as well as iconic locations from the Clone Wars setting. New Heroes will include General Grevious, Count Dooku, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker. The update will be set between Episodes III and IV in the movie universe.

Command and Conquer: Rivals

Command and Conquer: Rivals brings the iconic RTS franchise to mobile devices. While it can be played single-player, it also allows for wireless competitive play.

Platforms: iOS, Android (Expected) | Release Date: TBA

FIFA 19

FIFA is consistently one of the biggest releases of the year, and in a year where a World Cup will attract many new fans to the sport, FIFA 19 will likely be no different. The game will boast the UEFA Champions League license after primary rivals PES and Konami lost the rights to all UEFA club competitions earlier this year. The news means FIFA has a near monopoly over the world’s major soccer licenses, including the 2018 World Cup, which came to FIFA 18 just recently.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC, Switch | Release Date: September 28

Madden NFL 19

EA’s annual American football franchise returns this year promising better visuals and gameplay. Franchise mode sees new additions in Madden NFL 19, which is good news after 2017’s game left a lot to be desired in that department. And for the first time in several years, the game will also be coming to PC.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, | Release Date: August 10

NBA Live 19

The latest basketball game from EA Sports was revealed; NBA Live 19 shows some new features like dances, emotes, player customization, and a bunch of fresh kicks. This feeds into the return of the player creator and single-player story mode called The One.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One | Release Date: September 7

Sea of Solitude

Sea of Solitude is an upcoming EA Originals game about a lonely girl whose emotions manage to turn her into a monster and the world into a flooded post-apocalyptic world. She must explore this world in order to find a way to turn back into a human.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: TBA

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order

Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order is the upcoming Star Wars game created by Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind the well-received Titanfall series. It takes place between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope during the Jedi hunts.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, PC (Expected) | Release Date: Holiday 2019

Unravel 2

Unravel 2 focuses on the adventures of Yarny, a small, woollen toy. Developer Coldwood says the sequel will be a more upbeat affair than the original, with a slight shift away from puzzler and towards the platformer end of the spectrum. Yarny is more agile than before, and this is utilized in some of the story mode’s trickier sections. New to experience this time around is the addition of drop-in / drop-out co-op play.

Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, and PC | Release Date: June 9

Following the EA Play conference at E3 2018, Nvidia has shown off how Battlefield V plays on PC. The gameplay, which was captured on a GeForce GTX 1080 Ti, shows off the new Grand Operations mode on the Narvik map. You can watch the video below.

Nvidia’s GeForce GTX is the official platform of Battlefield V, meaning the game will utilize features like Game Ready drivers and Optimal Playable settings. This is especially helpful for those who are unsure about the ideal graphics settings to use; this can also help the framerate run as smoothly as possible.

DICE announced during EA Play that Battlefield V would have a battle royale mode. In addition, the developer emphasized that there would be no loot boxes and showed off a new trailer. Be sure to check out our roundup of all the news from EA Play, and stay tuned for more coverage of E3 2018.