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EA puts women on the cover of 'FIFA 16' for the first time
Back in May, EA announced that FIFA 16 would feature 12 national women's soccer teams, making it the first major sports franchise to focus on women's sports. Today marks another milestone: FIFA 16 is now also the company's first major sports title to feature a female athlete on its cover. Three of them, actually -- depending on where you live.
Xbox One Madden NFL 16 bundle comes with a year of EA Access
XBox One's new bundle will have football fans cheering. The Xbox One Madden NFL 16 bundle includes 1TB of storage, a full download of Madden NFL 16 and a year's subscription to EA Access. That subscription not only grants access to The Vault, EA's collection of downloadable titles, users will also be able to play Madden 16 on August 20th, a full five days before the game officially launches. The bundle will go on sale August 18th for $400. You can also pre-order it from Amazon.
EA shows off its stable of upcoming sports blockbusters
As expected, EA took the stage at E3 2015 to showcase the next installment of its popular sports franchises. That, of course, includes FIFA 16, Madden 16, NBA Live 16, NHL 16 and Rory McIlroy PGA Tour. This year, like most others, EA Sports is focusing on evolution rather than revolution, so people familiar with these titles won't notice any major change. But that's not to say some things haven't changed. In the case of FIFA 16, for example, there are all-new defensive mechanics, which will help you defend better ground against attacking players. For NBA 16, EA Sports revealed an app that can take your picture and then use it as a custom character's face -- the most impressive part about this is how it only takes a couple of minutes.
'FIFA 16' will feature women soccer players for the first time
If you're entitled to play a sport in real life, then it's only fair that you can do so from the comfort of your couch. That's why it's good to see EA Sports announce that FIFA 16 will feature women's soccer teams for the first time. Now, users will be able to play as one of 12 international teams that include the USA, England, Brazil and France. It's a big step, too, since while you can get a licensed WNBA title from 2K Games, this is the first time EA has included a women's roster in one of its team-based games. In fact, the only woman we remember appearing in one of these games up to this point is Ronda Rousey in the UFC spin-off title.
'Madden NFL 15' update will remove Ray Rice after indefinite suspension
After another video of an incident between he and his then-fiancée surfaced Monday, the Baltimore Ravens cut star running back Ray Rice. Now, he'll be removed from Madden NFL 15, too. EA Sports has confirmed that it plans to nix Rice from the Ravens depth chart with a pending update, and that the player won't be available as a free agent either. "With Ray Rice's indefinite suspension from the NFL, he will be removed from Madden NFL 15," EA told us in a statement. "This roster change will take place by this Friday." Rice had already been suspended by the NFL for two games based on footage that surfaced over the summer showing him dragging an unconscious woman from a hotel elevator. The latest revelation from TMZ (warning: graphic) showed him punching his now wife during the altercation in Atlantic City. This has become common practice for EA as it removed Aaron Hernandez from Madden NFL 25 and NCAA 14 last summer following his arrest for first-degree murder. Nike has also nixed Rice's endorsement deal, and the Ravens are allowing fans to return jerseys to the team's stores. [Photo credit: John Grieshop/Getty Images]
'Madden 15' will bring EA's CoachGlass app to the PlayStation 4
Remember that Xbox exclusive "CoachGlass" app that pushed to push Madden NFL 25 tips and play advice to the second screen? It just got a little less exclusive. In a new post detailing the app's Madden 15 implementation, EA revealed that the feature will be available on both Xbox One and Playstation 4 platforms. While there's no word as to why the feature is no longer an Xbox exclusive, its former status won't be forgotten: the app is keeping the Microsoft-inspired name. There are a few cosmetic changes too -- the app has been redesigned to make play data easier to read, and it focuses more on statistics than suggesting strategies.
Watch out: fake EA social accounts are swiping World Cup fans' logins
Internet scams certainly aren't new, but they're kicking into high gear now that the World Cup has many people eager for some futbol. For example, Malwarebytes has spotted a fake EA Sports account on Instagram (fake accounts have been on Twitter for a while) that lures FIFA 14 gamers with promises of free team members. If you're tempted enough to click through, you wind up at a plausible-looking phishing site that asks for your EA Origin and Xbox Live credentials -- do that and you'll quickly lose control of both logins. There's no guarantees that Instagram or authorities can shut the Instagram account (or any other nogoodnik) down for good, so the best defense is a healthy dose of caution: always double-check an offer if it seems too be good to be true, no matter where it comes from.
'EA Sports UFC' looks to bring out the mixed martial arts fighter in you
Given the success of franchises like FIFA and Madden, it's easy to see why EA would want to commit valuable resources to developing an MMA title, a sport that's been getting bigger and bigger over the past few years. But the road for creating this new game, dubbed EA Sports UFC, wasn't an easy one. The relationship between UFC President Dana White and EA had its complications a few years ago. Back then, the developer reportedly wasn't interested in making a title for the mixed martial arts company, which is what started the kerfuffle between them. Because of this, UFC eventually hooked up with THQ to create a game, while EA Sports went on to develop its own MMA series. Still, neither of these things lasted too long. And after the unfortunate demise of THQ, EA Sports eventually reached a deal with UFC, granting it licensing rights for the popular MMA league. The by-product? EA Sports UFC.
EA Sports wants its 2014 World Cup game to appeal to all, not just FIFA fans
"We don't have limitless resources. We wanted to bring the game to as many people as possible and right now that was the 360 and PS3." That's what 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil's lead producer Matt Prior had to say about the title not launching on Xbox One or PlayStation 4. Which is to say, EA's leaning on console-adoption numbers as the primary reason for the lack of a proper game on Microsoft's and Sony's newest consoles. Instead, EA Sports plans to bring some "engaging" World Cup-themed content to FIFA 14's Ultimate Team mode, in the hopes that'll be enough to satisfy disappointed Xbox One and PS4 owners.
EA Sports' UFC game bends reality by letting you fight as Bruce Lee
If you're EA, how do you build up hype for EA Sports UFC -- a license-based fighting game where players will largely know what to expect? You promise them Bruce Lee, that's what. Yes, PS4 and Xbox One gamers will get to pit the Game of Death star against the UFC roster despite a 41-year gap separating the two. You'll have instant access to Lee if you pre-order, and he's otherwise unlockable. EA justifies this by contending that Lee is the "father of mixed martial arts;" that sort of makes sense given Lee's style and Judo knowledge, but the inclusion stretches the definition of MMA (and, arguably, taste) to the limit. If you've ever wanted to know how Jeet Kune Do fares against Brazilian Jiujitsu, though, you now have a good reason to look forward to EA Sports UFC's release on June 17th.
EA Sports told the NCAA it was using real players in its college football titles -- back in 2007
Back in September, EA Sports announced that it would shutter its NCAA Football series after losing support from the college sports governing body and due to ongoing legal spats. As part of that news, the video game studio said that it had settled its case with those suing over the use of their likeness in its releases. During the course of the last week, though, a federal district court judge ordered documents be made public in the Ed O'Bannon player-likeness suit. So why does that matter? Well, as it turns out, EA sought use of player names and faces "just as they are shown on TV broadcasts", and a document shows that the NCAA knew "hidden" rosters were being used back in 2007. This news comes after an EA Sports exec said last year that the NCAA gave it the official OK to match up real names and with virtual jersey numbers -- directly identifying actual players. And as AL.com reported, the NCAA is suing EA Sports for not protecting it during the aforementioned settlement proceedings. What's more, in exchange for the ability to pack its games with player likenesses, EA agreed to sprinkle in "academic-related features." That's why "academic prestige" is part of the recruiting pitch options in Dynasty mode and explains the inclusion of player suspensions in previous releases. You know, the whole "violation of team rules" type thing? The O'Bannon lawsuit is still in progress, so it could be quite a while before we find out just how much those player likenesses were really worth. [Image credit: NCAA Football 14/EA Sports]
EA Sports' 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil won't be coming to Xbox One or PlayStation 4
As is the case every four years, FIFA's biggest football competition is about to take place. To celebrate the 2014 tournament, which will be played in Brazil, EA Sports is releasing a title to give fans a chance to virtually experience the World Cup on gaming consoles. While the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil game will be available on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, we were surprised to find out that EA Sports won't be bringing it to their next-gen revisions, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Here's what the game's Lead Producer, Mat Prior, told us: When we made the decision we considered a number of factors but most importantly we wanted to create the best game we could that could reach as many people as possible and the way to do that was make our best game yet on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. We gave our team the mandate of setting a laser focus on building the highest quality game for X360 and PS3 they could, and that's exactly what they are doing.
EA Sports is divorcing Tiger Woods, teases next-gen PGA game
EA Sports' 15-year relationship with PGA Tour cover athlete Tiger Woods has ended. In a post on the company's blog, Vice President and General Manager of Golf Daryl Holt said that the split was a mutual decision and wished Woods continued success. While this isn't on the scale of, say, separating the Madden name from the firm's NFL games, it's another part of the overall shift going on not only within EA Sports, but EA as a whole. Even without a poster boy, the company is still very much making PGA-licensed games. If you need proof, take a look at the work-in-progress screenshot up above and bask in the warmth of that next-gen sunshine. The firm posted a side-by-side comparison shot, pitting current hardware against what we'll be playing on in the future, and the difference is almost startling enough to make us say, "Tiger who?"
Microsoft and EA's CoachGlass Madden app for Xbox One lets you act as a defensive coordinator (video)
At this year's E3, EA briefly mentioned that we would see a Madden 25 integration of sorts with SmartGlass in the near future, but that's as much as the gaming developer was willing to share back then. Now, some four months after the Electronic Entertainment Expo 2013 took place, EA Sports and Microsoft are finally prepared to show off what they've been working on. Meet CoachGlass. The aptly named companion app, which is an Xbox One exclusive, uses SmartGlass to connect with Madden 25 and allow users to control defensive plays during a game via smartphone or tablet. Essentially, CoachGlass lets players take over the role of a defensive coordinator, allowing them to handle all the play-calling and recommending formations it believes will be successful against the rival offense. Obviously, it's easy to see how this took a cue from the renowned "Ask Madden" feature. However, CoachGlass differentiates itself by resorting to data collected from the Madden community, as well as recently used plays, to make its suggestions. Better yet, it also pinpoints who the opposing team's biggest offensive threats are, while "Track Tendencies" displays whether the squad you're up against prefers to throw or pass the football in most situations. EA tells us that as more people get to playing its popular NFL title, the recommended plays will become more efficient, since it'll show ones which have been successful for other gamers around the world.
EA cancels college football title for 2014 amid ongoing legal disputes, lack of NCAA support (update)
A few months back, EA Sports announced that the 2014 installment of its wildly popular college football franchise wouldn't carry the NCAA label after the governing body chose not to renew its licensing contract. Today, the gaming outfit has announced that there will not be a campus-packed release... at all. Admitting that the choice was "profoundly disappointing," GM of American Football for EA Sports Cam Weber cited lawsuits with student-athletes over the use of their likeness without compensation as a cause for the decision. Of course, this is compounded by the NCAA and a number of conferences (Big Ten, SEC and Pac-12 included) no longer supporting the game. "The ongoing legal issues combined with increased questions surrounding schools and conferences have left us in a difficult position – one that challenges our ability to deliver an authentic sports experience," Weber wrote in a blog post. EA also pledged a commitment to NCAA Football 14 that's already in consoles of the faithful where, no matter what, Johnny Football is still celebrating the same way. Update: Moments after EA posted the above news, the company announced that it and the CLC (Collegiate Licensing Company) had settled "all claims" with Sam Keller and Ed O'Bannon for using their names and more. This leaves the NCAA as the remaining defendant in the lawsuit over use of player likenesses. For more on the filing, consult the coverage links that follows.
EA's free-to-play FIFA 14 arrives on iOS and Android
Whether you refer to it as fútbol, football or soccer, there's no denying that the FIFA franchise is one of the sports' best options for gaming across the various existing platforms. Now, following in the footsteps of its relative Madden 25, FIFA 14 is available for iOS as well as Android. As with its sporting game sibling, the renowned title's latest mobile edition can be downloaded at no cost, with EA hoping to bring in revenue by way of in-app purchases -- which includes anything from Ultimate Team points to the unlocking of additional game modes (such as Manager and Tournament). Be prepared to make some room for FIFA 14 on your device though, since the app's size is a little more than 1GB in both the App Store and Google Play.
EA Sports, Origin head Andrew Wilson named new Electronic Arts CEO
Following the resignation of CEO Job Riccitiello back in March, Electronic Arts has announced that the head of EA Sports, Andrew Wilson, has been named as the successor. Wilson also served as an executive producer of the FIFA franchise and EVP of Origin. Chairman of the Board and former CEO Larry Probst led the company during the search that ultimately ended up hiring from within. In a blog post, Wilson committed to delivering the outfit's 2014 fiscal year goals with focus on "continued transformation for our digital future, delivering amazing games and services across platforms and instilling a culture of execution that will drive profitable growth." The new chief has little time to settle in though, as the next-gen console launches are just two months away.
FIFA 13 now available for Windows Phone 8 as a Nokia exclusive
All Windows Phones were not created equal. Nokia's managed to snag exclusive access to this year's FIFA game -- it's only available for Lumia smartphone owners, so HTC and Samsung users are apparently out of luck. EA Sports claims that FIFA 13 offers some enhanced graphics and significant control improvements, featuring game play that includes 30 leagues, 500 teams, 15,000 players and 32 authentic stadiums. The Xbox Live-enabled 951 MB download can be yours for $4.99 at the source link below.
EA plans to scrap Online Pass from existing games, enable access without a code
EA's Online Pass program has been in the news a bit of late, but that'll soon change. The voucher's now set to be phased out completely -- earlier this month the company shared that it won't be including the certificates with new games, but now Game Informer reports that this will apply to existing titles as well. Soon, EA Sports games will no longer prompt users for a code, while numbers for other titles will be made available for free online. The rollout should wrap up over the next few weeks.
EA shows first Xbox One games: FIFA, NBA Live, Madden and UFC (video)
EA teased hours ago that FIFA 14 would be one of the first Xbox One games, but it just used Microsoft's event to unveil a considerably wider slate. FIFA 14, NBA Live 14, Madden 25 and EA Sports UFC are all coming to the new console within the next 12 months. All of them are using a new engine, EA Sports Ignite, that has 10 times the animation detail, smarter artificial intelligence, 3D crowds, "living" sidelines and a daily dose of new content through Xbox Live. EA and Microsoft are getting cozier with the deal, too -- FIFA 14 Ultimate Team will be an Xbox exclusive. We'll have to wait for more detail about that game later this year, but it's safe to say that Microsoft won't be lacking for major sports titles during the Xbox One's vital first year.
