Twen??ty years ago, we were in 2004, one of the best years in the history of gaming. So many games have come out since then, and the industry has gone through so many changes. Did a series manage to rule all others sales-wise? Is it the series you'd expect? Can you guess the highest-selling games of the past two decades?

Fortunately, you don't have to think too hard about it. Consumer behavior advisory firm Circana, known for its in-depth research into video game data, released its findings of the top 20 best-selling games for the past decade. At th?e top of the list each year is more than a few surprises.

2004: Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas

2004 was the year when Rockstar cemented their flagship IP as the most successful video game series in the world. Even the massive Halo 2 came out in second. Madden NFL 2005 came in? third; another series you bett??er get used to seeing on this list.

2005: Madden NFL 06

You'd think it was the absence of a GTA or Halo release that allowed for the Madden series to get the top spot, but we also had the release of Resident Evil 4 �which doesn't even show up on the podium. The original Star Wars: Battlefront II �the one without all the bugs at launch �came out in second. The Call Of Duty series was beginning to show its teet??h by claimi??ng the third spot.

2006: Madden NFL 07

Though Gears Of War was by far the most popular game of '07, it was yet another first place for the Madden series. Gears Of War managed to come in second, with NCAA Football 07 claiming the third spot.

2007: Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock

2007 was a massive year for Guitar Hero, as the third game in the series got the top spot, and Guitar Hero 2 managed to be third. Madden NFL 08 got the second place this time around.

2008: Rock Band

2008 was another great year for Harmonix (how the tables have turned) with Rock Band, the studio's most ambitious title, claiming the top spot, and Guitar Hero: World Tour claiming the runner-up spot. Wii Fit came out in third.

2009: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

And this was when Call of Duty truly began to rule the world. Modern Warfare managed to beat out the huge Wii Fit to claim the top spot, and New Super Mario Bros. Got the third spot.

2010: Call of Duty: Black Ops

Another year, another victory lap for Call of Duty, this time with Black Ops getting the top spot. Halo: Reach's valiant efforts got it the second place, and Wii Fit Plus remained a solid seller in third place.

2011: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Let's just talk about the second and third place, shall we? Even the massively successful The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim fell to Modern Warfare 3, and the Madden series returned to third place on the podium with Madden NFL 12.

2012: Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Halo 4 is one of the most divisive entries in the series, but it came out surfing a wave of immense hype following the passing of the torch to 343 Industries. Whether or not it was deserving of the hype, Halo 4 once again managed to cling only the second place to Black Ops II's gold. Madden NFL 13 gets the bronze medal once again.

2013: Grand Theft Auto V

Finally, the only series that could ever hope to beat Call Of Duty does it. Call Of Duty doesn't fall much behind, though, as even the so-so Call Of Duty: Ghosts manages to get the second place. The Madden series goes three-for-three as Madden NFL 25: 1989 �2014 once again gets the third spot.

2014: Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare

Advanced Warfare saw Call Of Duty go back to its natural habitat, while the original Destiny reached the second position. Grand Theft Auto V began to hint at it?s amazing longevi??ty by getting the third spot.

2015: Call of Duty: Black Ops III

Guess who got the first place in 2015. Not even the highly anticipated Fallout 4 could stop Black Ops III from getting the top spot. Grand Theft Auto V stayed in a very comfortable third place.

2016: Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare

Infinite Warfare took the first spot against Battlefield 1, a game many hoped could finally dethrone the COD series. It did not. Tom Clancy's The Division got the third place.

2017: Call of Duty: WWII

In a redo of 2014, the newest iteration of Call Of Duty leaves the newest iteration of Destiny, Destiny 2, in the second place. NBA 2K comes back to the scoreboard as NBA 2K18 gets the third place.

2018: Red Dead Redemption II

Rockstar did it again in 2018 when Red Dead Redemption II was finally able to beat that year's iteration of Call Of Duty, Black Ops 4. NBA 2K19 got the third place.

2019: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)

Everything goes back to normal in 2019, where the Modern Warfare remake claims the top spot, and NBA 2K20 and Madden NFL 20 claim the second and third places, respectively.

2020: Call of Duty: Black Ops: Cold War

2020 was an even better-than-usual year for the Call Of Duty series, as it got the top spot with Cold War, and Modern Warfare stayed on the podium to take second place. NBA 2K21 got the third place.

2021: Call of Duty: Vanguard

Another year, another COD in first, another NBA (2K22) in second, and yet another COD in third, with Cold War staying for the third place.

2022: Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (2022)

Though Elden Ring was easily the most talked about and beloved game of 2022, the top spot went to, you guessed it, another COD game. NBA 2K23 came back to get yet another third place.

2023: Hogwarts Legacy

And in an absolute monkey paw-type scenario, the COD series got beaten to first place in 2023 by the absolutely vile Hogwarts Legacy. Another twist was the absence of the NBA 2K series and the resurgence of Madden, with Madden NFL 24 coming in third.

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If you and your friends have the dream of managing NFL teams, Madden NFL 25's Fra??nchise m??ode is the perfect option to test yourselves (albeit on the virtual platform).

I love playing the Franchise mode as a solo journey, where I am up against the AI managers. But there's an option to conduct a league between you and your friends, where each of you takes charge of a franchise. Let's take a look at the exact steps of setting up a multiplayer league an??d how your friends can join them.

How to create a multiplayer league with Madden NFL 25 Franchise mode

Creating a multiplayer league in Madden NFL 25 isn't very different from a solo league.

• Open and load the game.
• Select Franchise.
• Go to League Creation and pick the second option.
• Select the franchise of your choice.
• Proceed to the next stage to open league settings. Here, you can tweak different settings, including making it public or private (password-protected).

To play with your friends, make sure to create a ?private league. The maximum number of users ??is 32. Next, note down the league name and password and share it with your friends.

If you or your friend want to join a league, they can do so from the Franchise mode as well. They will have to enter the league name and password to join the league. Once they're in, they can pick a franchise of their l??iking and continue with the differen?t aspects of management.

That's pretty much it when it comes to playing Franchise mode with your friend??s. Just make sure to coordinate and decide who's picking which franch?ise so there's no quarrel about it later.

The post How to play Madden?? NFL 25 Franchise mode with your friends appeared first on Destructoid.

We all knew it was coming, but EA has shared details on this year's Madden NFL game, simply titled EA Sports Madden NFL 25 (not to be confused with the Madden NFL 25 from 2013). With three different editions available across multiple platforms, we've broken down what ea??ch one contains and how much they cost ahead of the game's release o??n August 16.

EA Sports Madden NFL 25 platforms

EA Sports Madden NFL 25 is available to pre-order on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam and Epic Games?? Store. The PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions also come with a PlayStation 4 and Xbox One version respectively, so last-generation console owners can pick up those versions f??or access.

EA Sports Madden NFL 25 price and how to pre-order

Here are all the different editions available for EA Sports Madden NFL 25 as well as how much they cost:

• Standard Edition (PS5/Xbox): $69.99 / £69.99
• Standard Edition (Steam/Epic Games Store): $69.99 / £59.99
• Deluxe Edition (PS5/Xbox): $99.99 / £99.99
• Deluxe Edition (Steam/Epic Games Store): $99.99 / £89.99
• MVP Bundle: $149.99 / £139.99

PC owners should be aware that the MVP Bundle is not available on either Steam or the Epic Games Store; it's a console exclusive. This is because the bundle also comes with EA Sports College Football 25, which isn't getting a PC release. You can pre-order EA Sports Madden NFL 25 via the digital storefront of your platform of choice: the PlayStation Store, the Xbox Store, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.

Everything included in each edition of EA Sports Madden NFL 25

Standard Edition

Here is everything included in the Standard Edition of EA Sports Madden NFL 25:

• EA Sports Madden NFL 25 (includes last-gen PS4/Xbox One version for PS5/Xbox Series X|S)
• Cover Athlete Elite Player Item
• Choice of 2 Strategy Items
• Superstar Drip Gear (unavailable for PS4 and Xbox One)
• Legendary XP Boost (unavailable for PS4 and Xbox One)

Deluxe Edition

Here is everything included in the Deluxe Edition of EA Sports Madden NFL 25:

• EA Sports Madden NFL 25 (includes last-gen PS4/Xbox One version for PS5/Xbox Series X|S)
• Three-Day Early Access (August 13 to August 15)
• Early Access Ultimate Team Challenges
• 4600 Madden Points
• Cover Athlete Elite Player Item
• Choice of 2 Strategy Items
• Superstar Drip Gear (unavailable for PS4 and Xbox One)
• Legendary XP Boost (unavailable for PS4 and Xbox One)

MVP Bundle

Here is everything included in the MVP Bundle for EA Sports Madden NFL 25. Again, this bundle is unavailable on PC:

• EA Sports Madden NFL 25

  • Base game (includes last-gen PS4/Xbox One version for PS5/Xbox Series X|S)
  • Three-Day Early Access (August 13 to August 15)
  • Early Access Ultimate Team Challenges
  • 4600 Madden Points
  • Cover Athlete Elite Player Item
  • Choice of 2 Strategy Items
  • AKA Player Item
  • Elite Player Item
  • 99 OVR player in Madden NFL 24 (requires a copy of Madden NFL 24)
  • Superstar Drip Gear (unavailable for PS4 and Xbox One)
  • Legendary XP Boost (unavailable for PS4 and Xbox One)

• EA Sports College Football

  • Base game
  • Three Day Early Access (July 16 to July 18)
  • 4600 College Football Points
  • Alma Mater Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 134)
  • Cover Athlete Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 3)
  • Heisman Hopeful Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item)
  • Bring Glory Home Ultimate Team Uniform Item

The post How to pre-order EA Sports Mad?den NFL 25: Prices, standard edition, deluxe edition, MVP bundl??e appeared first on Destructoid.

Fans of American football are no doubt looking forward to the annual entry in EA's Madden NFL series, officially titled EA Sports Madden NFL 25. As such, we've ??compiled everything we know about this year's game, including when it'll launch and which platforms it will be available for.

When will Madden 25 release?

As expected, EA has confirmed via digital store listings like Steam that Madden NFL 25 will launch this August; specifically, August 16. This means it will come out a month after EA Sports College Football 25, another American football sim from EA.

What platforms will Madden 25 release for?

Unsurprisingly, Madden NFL 25 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Aside from being the most current platforms, this has been the case for the last several games ever since 2020's Madden NFL 21. Anyone who's still on last-gen consoles don't? need to worry about missing out, though, as the game is coming to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as well. They aren't being sold separately though; standard editions of the PS5 version co?me with the PS4 version, and standard editions of the Xbox Series X|S version come with the Xbox One version.

Is it actually called Madden NFL 25?

There was speculation on what exactly this year's Madden NFL game would be called since EA already named the 2013 entry Madden NFL 25 in celebration of the series' 25th anniversary. Rather than go with anything radically different, EA's elected to simply call this year's entry EA Sports Madden NFL 25.

Admittedly, the 2013 Madden NFL 25 isn't exactly the easiest to buy, what with it being over a decade old. We had a quick Google ??search and the only copies we can find are secondhand and for very little money, which should clue anyone in that it isn't the latest entry. It's also no longer available digitally on either the PlayStation or Xbox stores, so you don't need to worry about pre-ordering the 2013 game by accident.

Will Madden NFL 25 have cross-play?

At the time of writing, EA hasn't formally confirmed if Madden NFL 25 will have cross-play. It's a safe bet since it was included in last year's game, and the Xbox store listing also mentions the inclusion of cross-platform multiplayer. However, Madden NFL 24 only had cross-play on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. So, you pro??bably shouldn't expect to see cross-play on either the PS4 or? Xbox One versions.

Who is making Madden NFL 25?

EA Orlando, formerly known as EA Tiburon, has worked on the Madden NFL games since 1995, and that continues to be the case for Madden NFL 25. It's juggling two projects at once, though, since EA Orlando is working on EA Sports College Football 25 too.

The post Madden 25 2024 release win?dow, platforms, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

Ahead of Madden 25 releasing this upcoming summer, NFL Hall o??f F??ame member Barry Sanders provided a grim update for football fans.

Ironically, in 2013, Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders was the Madden 25 cover athlete celebrating the sports-sim franchise's 25th anniversary. Now, just a few months ahead of the 2024 iteration of Madden 25, Sanders confirmed that he is discontinu??i??ng his relationship with the brand and its products.

Accompanied by a video montage of Madden 99 gameplay starring the legendary running back, Sanders left fans in disbelief with a statement: "I apologize for those that were expecting me in the games." Sanders did not provide a reason for no longer wanting to be involved, but he won't be in Madden titles moving forward. Over the years, EA has released several different versions of the runn?ing back in the Ultimate Team game mode, and Sanders is usually one of the best cards in? the game mode.

EA has received criticism for its handling of legends in Madden. Players are able to step into the shoes of all-time great icons in the online game mode Ultimate Team, but they aren't available in offline game modes. So even if users want to have legends in Franchise mode or custom games against their friends, that's not an option. The Madden devs haven't revealed plans for the upcoming installment, but even if EA has a change of heart, the title ??will be missing one of the greatest football players of all time.

The post NFL legend Barry Sanders discontinues relat??ionship with Madden appeared first on Destructoid.

A hot season starting to cool down

This year's summer has been chock-a-block with incredible games from Final Fantasy XVI to Street Fighter 6, but things are starting to cool down with the August 2023 games lineup. There are still some great games like Sea of Stars and Baldur's Gate 3 ?on the horizon. However, we can take a bit of? a breather as most of these anticipated titles are fairly niche. Here's everything you can expect from the August 2023 games release schedule.

[caption id="attachment_392530" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via From Software a?nd Bandai Namco[/caption]

Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: From Software and Bandai Namco
Developer: From Software
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 25
Trailer
Our Preview

The legendary studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring (From Software) is bringing back a mech favorite with Armored Core VI: Fires of Rubicon.  The Steam page claims it's bringing the developer's "signature action gameplay" into the mix with "fast-pac?ed, omni-directional battles." Each fight will be set in "massive stages," and now with better graphical fidelity, the action will look even more intense and stunning. W?hile there isn't any Souls-like combat from this sequel, you can deeply customize your mech just how you'd like it.

Your judgment will impact your mech's movement and even its battle style. The Steam page claims that "each mission can be approached with a unique mech strategy." Something you'd expect from From Software is boss battles; this game comes with them in spades. Hopefully, this game lives up to the extremely high expectations of the developer's huge fanbase after its 2022 magnum opus Elden Ring. From t??he pedigree alone, this is one of the most anticipated August 2023 games.

[caption id="attachment_392533" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Larian Studios[/caption]

Baldur's Gate 3 (PC)

Publisher: Larian Studios
Developer: Larian Studios
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 3 (PC) and September 6 (PS5)
Trailer

RPG fans, rejoice! Baldur's Gate 3 is finally leaving early access on August 3. There is deep customization in the game, allowing you to pick from 12 classes (with 46 subclasses) and 11 races (including 31 subraces) for your hero/heroine. Larian Studios also claims your decisions will leave an impact on the storyline. "Every choice you make drives your story forward, each decision leaving your mark on the world," says Larian on the game's Steam page. "Define your ??legacy, nurture relationships and create enemies, and solve problems your way."

We'll see how grandiose the story is when the game fully releases, but it certainly sounds promising. As the game is set in the Dungeons & Dragons universe, it will be based on the 5e ruleset. You'll be rolling the dice for your actions during combat and can interact with the environment in unique ways. Oh, and you can have romantic relations with a bear...if that's your thing.

[caption id="attachment_392534" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA[/caption]

Immortals of Aveum (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: EA
Developer: Ascendent Studios
Price: $59.99
Release Date: August 21
Trailer

If you're tired of guns and want a bit of a change-up, there's Immortals of Aveum with magic instead of ammo. You'll be blasting away all sorts of foes with 25 different? spells at your disposal. There are also 80 talents to learn in this FPS single player campaign. As one of the battle mages??, you're tasked to save the world from villains who plan to send it to the abyss.

The game looks exciting with plenty of intriguing enemies to fight and a sense of verticality within its level design. The graphics look pristine as well with gorgeous visual effects and grand en?vironments.  I??t's one of the more intriguing August 2023 games on this list.

[caption id="attachment_392536" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via EA[/caption]

Madden NFL 24 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)

Publisher: EA
Developer: EA Sports
Price: $69.99
Release Date: August 17
Trailer

EA has a busy month in store because Madden NFL 24 is also dropping in August. Instead of slinging spells, you'll be throwing footballs and handling them better with an improved version of FieldSENSE. EA claims on the game's Steam page that it's "giving you greater control and delivering realism to all the ways you play." Additionally, there's a new feature called the SAPIEN technology. Apparently, it adds more realism to the body definition and variation of the athletes' physiqu?es. EA clai??ms this results in "realistic player movement."

EA also says that your teammates' ratings and situational awareness have improved since the last game with better AI. Thankfully, Madden NFL 24 will include crossplay, allowing you to play with your friends on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. While this is not my particular cup of tea (soccer should be called football, damn it), this year's Madden seems to be a big step up. It might be worth waiting for it to come to Xbox Game Pass, however, like Madden NFL 23.

[caption id="attachment_392538" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Sabotage Studio[/caption]

Sea of Stars (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, PC)

Publisher: Sabotage Studio
Developer: Sabotage Studio
Price: $34.99
Release Date: August 29
Trailer

Sea of Stars is the standout indie out of the August 2023 games list. Sporting wonderful 16-bit inspired graphics, Sea of Stars will wrap you up in some good ol' JRPG goodness. It's seemingly inspired by classics like Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG. There's a turn-based combat system that relies on timed button?? presses. If you time them correctly, your damage will increase. As the game proceeds, each combo will p?rogress in difficulty.

The animations are absolutely gorgeous within the art style, adding even more of a nostalgic rush to the game. The game does feel modernized, however, with no random encounters and no grinding to speak of. Go at your own pace and stop The Fleshmancer performing their evil doings. To keep you entertained, there are other activities in Sea of Stars, suc?h as fish??ing, cooking, and a tabletop game called Wheels.

[caption id="attachment_392540" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Fireplace Games[/caption]

Honorable Mentions

• Thronefall (PC) - August 2
• Flutter Away (PC, Switch) - August 3
• Atlas Fallen (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 10
• Moving Out 2 (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC)  - August 15
• En Garde! (PC) - August 16
• Marble It Up! Ultra (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, PC) - August 17
• Bomb Rush Cyberfunk (PC, Switch) - August 18
• The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC)
• Ride 5 (PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 24
• Goodbye Volcano High (PS4, PS5, PC) - August 29
• Samba de Amigo: Party Central (Switch) - August 29
• Under the Waves (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC) - August 29
• The Shape of Things (Switch) - August 31

The post Most anticipated game releases – August 2023 appeared first on Destructoid.

The celebration is being removed in light of recent events

A touchdown celebration animation is being removed from Electronic Arts' Madden NFL 23, in light of rece??nt real-world events. The CPR celebration will be taken out of the game, after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapse?d on the field on January 2.

The celebration in question has the scoring player lie down the ground, while their teammates run over and give fake CPR to "revive" them. EA Sports told CBS Sports that celebration ??will be removed from ??the game relatively soon.

"EA Sports is taking steps to remove the celebration from Madden NFL 23 via an update in the coming days,"?? a spokesperson told ?CBS.

Hamlin collaps??ed on the field during the Bills' game against the Cincinnati Bengals on January?? 2. He went into cardiac arrest, and personnel had to perform CPR on Hamlin.

Damar Hamlin has since been discharged from a hospital in Buffalo a??????????????????????????nd will continue rehabilitation at home.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlU-Fjm7_oA

On the field, off the field

This isn't Madden NFL's first time seeing real-world events collide with in-game features. EA removed former Las Vegas Raiders hea??d coach Jon Gruden from Madden NFL 22 in 2021, following his resignation over remarks made in emails. Concussions and brain injuries have also been an ongoing topic for the Madden series, with some games working to address their portrayal of the issue.

And for sports on a grander scale, world politics come into play. Electronic Arts removed the Russian national teams from games like FIFA and NHL in response to the invasion of Ukrai??ne, in line with its partners at FIFA, UEFA, and the IIHF.

The post EA is removing Madden NFL 23 CPR touchd?own celeb??ration following Damar Hamlin incident appeared first on Destructoid.

EA hoping to restore 'around 40%' of affected files

Electronic Arts has addressed a major data storage glitch that has caused untold damage to the save data of many Madden 23 players. The glitch �which struck EA servers between Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29 ??�has corrupted the Franchise save files of many users, essentially deleting their custom leagues entirely.

"Unfortunately, if you logged into franchise leagues during this time, your data was affected due to a data storage issue that resulted in franchise files being corrupted," said EA in a statement. "We know how important your franchises are to you, and we?? are actively working on a fix to restore some files ??via a backup as soon as possible."

However, EA noted that, unfortunately, many of the affected save files were beyond repair, ?and that, of all corrupted data, only around 40% of users w?ould find their Franchise data salvageable. Thus, it is simply a nerve-rattling case of "fingers crossed" for all those affected, as they wait to see whether their custom leagues �that they have no doubt poured many, many hours into curating �have been permanently wiped.

More information is expected from the EA tech team next week, and users are asked to keep a close watch on the official Madden 23 Twitter. Wishing you luck if this concerns you.

The post Madden 23 franc?hise save data corrupted in server glitch appeared first on Destructoid.

There's actually "three unique covers"

As a kid, I was drawn to the jovial cover of any given Madden game. Seeing John Madden's friendly face was actually the reason why I picked up the series in the first place on the SNES, and he's making a comeback for the Madden NFL 23 cover for the first time in a long time.

From 1988 until the year 2000 (when Eddie George kicked off the tradition of players on covers), John Madden himself adorned the cover of the series (from 2000-2005, Madden was present as a little sticker-like logo). After that, the "Madden curse" and the hype of who would be the next star athlete to appear was the next big thing, and became a given: until Madden NFL 23.

This year, EA is d?oing something a little differently. This morning, the publisher unveiled the cover (which is "three unique covers"), and it's none other than John Madden himself. Artist Chuck Styles, who did the digital art for the Madden NFL 23 cover(s), had the following to say about Madden's legacy: “As someone who grew up loving football, playing in the suburbs of West Phill??y, it’s a full circle moment to now be able to contribute to the culture of the sport by honoring an icon like John Madden, who has influenced generations of football fans through his passion for football and unmistakable energy, through my art."

EA has also dubbed June 1 "Madden Day," announced remastered audio of Madden for the game, a Madden mode (with two versions of Madden coaching "All Madden Athletes" in the 1970s), and have dedicated the EA HQ Redwood football field as "John Madden Field," with Madden family members in atte??ndance. "More ways EA is honoring John Madden will be announced in the coming weeks." It's a 'lotta Madden!

The post John Madden returns to the cover?? ??of Madden NFL 23 for the first time in decades appeared first on Destructoid.

It's time to complete your SteamWorld collection

We're nearing a new month, and that means it's time to hear about some free games on the horizon across multiple platforms and subscriptions. In the case of Prime Gaming, Amazon Prime members can claim seven PC games in March, a few of which stand out.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-zlQL3OFsk

These games will be free with Prime Gaming on March 1:

• Madden NFL 22
• SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech
• Surviving Mars
• Crypto Against All Odds
• looK INside
• Pesterquest
• The Stillness of the Wind

Those first three are the big boys, so let's run through 'em.

Madden NFL 22 might be worth a look if you're able to push through ongoing issues and do your thing in Franchise mode, although there is always that lingering sense that there's clear room for improvement, and that can be distracting. I mean, you know the drill. That's the annual sports game life. It's worth noting that if PC isn't your preferred platform for Madden, the Xbox version is currently a part of EA Play / Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.

I'm sure plenty of us who loved SteamWorld Dig and even SteamWorld Heist have not taken the time to check out SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamech. It's a turn-based RPG with card battling, which is not everyone's cup of tea, myself included. That said, I feel like the SteamWorld charm can do some heavy lifting here, and I think a decent chunk of players have gotten more comfortable with card mechanics from games like Slay the Spire.

As for Surviving Mars, it's a chance to build the (probably) ill-advi??sed colony of you?r dreams. One of my favorite facets of management/builder sims is the ever-present threat of shit going real bad, real fast, and the need to adapt to situations on the fly.

[caption id="attachment_310022" align="alignnone" width="1920"] _{The Stillness of the Wind.}[/caption]

What about the other four games?

Crypto is a tower defense game with "hackers and other blockchain threats," while Pesterquest is a visual novel for Homestuck fans, and looK INside is a point-and-click adventure that's a family affair. Of the lesser-knowns, I'm most curious about The Stillness of the Wind �that palette is such a mood, and the solitary homestead premis??e is unique.

That's it for March, but it's not too late to grab Stellaris if you missed it earlier this month.

The post Amazon Prime Gaming has seven fre?e games to claim in March appeared first on Destructoid.

1936 - 2021

John Madden, perhaps the single most recognizable personality in the history of the NFL, passed away on December 28 at the age of 85. Madden, who has been involved with the pro football scene for over five decades, might be best known to our readers as the figurehead of Electronic Arts' John Madden Football video game series, which Ma?dden has become synonymous with since its inception in 1988.

Born in Austin, Minnesota in 1936, John Madden first hit the gridiron during his high school years, eventually receiving a college scholarship at the University of Oregon. While Madden would eventually be signed for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles in 1958, severe injuries from his college football career would force his retirement before he ever had the chance to play professionally. Undaunted, Madden would transition into a coaching role in the 19??60s, rising to the role of head coach for the Oakland Raiders �the youngest coach ever to head up a pro team �and would lead the Raiders to a Super Bowl win in 1977.

After retiring in 1979, Madden moved on to what is perhaps his most iconic role, that of a sports broadcaster and commentator. Broadcasting on CBS, Madden worked alongside fellow commentator Pat Summerall for CBS Sports for over ??20 years, before moving to FOX Sports in the mid-'90s, and eventually ending his television career with NBC in 2009. Madden became famous for his larger-than-life delivery style, keen analytical mind, and a slew of commentary gems such as "At the end of the game, the team with the most points on the board is going to win."

Madden's fame and personality pushed beyond the sport itself, and would see the broadcaster make celebrity appearances on Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons, and even rock band U2's video for "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of." For video game fans, however, John Madden will alway??s be the face of EA Sports' long-running and incredibly popular video game series, with the broadcaster leading his name, his likeness, and occasionally his voice to over 30 titles for an abundance of platforms. Madden himself took it with good humor that he ??was best known internationally as "the guy from the video games" over his impressive list of actual sporting achievements.

Destructoid is not a sports history website, yet the fact we have presented an obituary for John Madden shows how intrinsically linked with video gaming he was, as a name a?nd likeness for a blockbuster series. Indeed, it's absolutely fascinating how, when it comes to the branding of sports game franchises, you have "PGA" for golf, "FIFA" for soccer, "WWE 2K" for pro-wrestling, "NBA 2K" for Basketball, and "MLB" or "RBI" for baseball...

...B??ut when it comes to pro-football video games, nobody calls it "NFL."

The post John Mad?den, football legend and video game icon, passes away appeared first on Destructoid.

Jon Gruden is being replaced, following his resignation over uncovered emails

Electronic Arts announced it will remove the former Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden from Madden NFL 22. The head coach resigned his position earlier this week after emails containing offens??ive remarks were reported on by several outlets.

"EA Sports is committed to taking action in maintaining a culture of inclusion and equity," reads EA's statement. "Due to the circumstances of Jon Gruden's resignation, we are taking steps to remove him from Madden NFL 22.? We will replace him with a generic likeness via a title update in the coming weeks."

?//twitter.com/EAMaddenNFL/??status/1448393205297332232

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week on an email Gruden sent in 2011 concerning the NFL lockout, making a racist remark about NFL players union head DeMaurice Smith. Shortly after the report was published, the Raiders organization announced that Gruden had resigned. More recent emails also began to surface, as reported on by the New York Times, containing homophobic remarks and vulgar lan??guag??e.

While Rich Bisaccia will serve as interim head coach of the Las Vegas Raiders, Electronic Arts will be replacing Gruden in Madden NFL 22 with a generic likeness instead.

This isn't the first time EA has had to pull people from its sports games following real-life events, or even seen a game affected by real-life scandals.

Lead image via Wikimedia Commons

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It's been a while

Madden on Switch? Wait, Madden wasn't already on Switch?! Nope!

It's crazy isn't it? I mean, I thought at some point in the last eight years or so that Madden had graced the Wii, Wii U, or Switch. For a while everything still got Wii ports: just ask Ubisoft.

But nope, there hasn't been a Madden game on any Nintendo console since Madden NFL 13 in 2012. That's almost a decade ago. But that could change, based on the verbiage in this new job listing for a Madden developer.

According to YouTuber Doctre81, not only does the listing mention "Nintendo game consoles" by name, but it's not typically wording found in specific software engineer postings for franchises: indicating that this could be proof of a Madden Switch port.?? As Doctre81 point??s out, EA is finally making an effort to port games on the Switch and get in on that money train. It's possible! Even if it's a stripped-down or spinoff version.

Even if it's not for Madden 21 this year, it could very well be proof of the next Madden hitting Switch. EA would be crazy to leave all that money on the table now that the Switch h??as proven it can hang.

Online Software Engineer - (C++) - Madden [EA via YouTube]

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Reminder: If you have Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on console, you also have EA Play

EA Play has become my preferred way of checking out EA-published games in most cases. Rather than paying to buy a digital copy of a game I don't need to own – or subscribing for a full year of EA Play – I spend the five bu?cks needed for one month of access, and make ?extra sure auto-renewal is turned off.

The service has three more games on the horizon: Madden NFL 21 (March 2), Star Wars: Squadrons (March 18), and NHL 21 (April). If you're subscribed to EA Play, you'll be able to p??la??y the full versions.

Worth noting: EA Play is baked directly into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S, so if you already have that big-boy membership, you're covered here. (What about PC players? EA reiterated today that EA Play will be rolled into Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on PC "later this year.")

Did any of you rack up multiple years' worth of Game Pass Ultimate in a conversion deal? Jealous.

Also worth noting if it's been a while: EA Play used to be called "EA Access" on consoles and "Origin Access" on PC, and these? three games are joining The Play List, which used to go by the "Vault."

I'm probably going to pass on these titles, but if you need your Madden or NHL fix (particularly the latter) or you wouldn't mind dipping into Star Wars: Squadrons' single-player campaign, there you go.

I'm more focused on It Takes Two, a co-op adventure from the makers of the bonkers A Way Out. I'm weighing whether to buy the game outright (it'll be $40), or spend $15 for a month of EA Play Pro. I know this every-so-often "rental"-style strategy isn't for everyone, but for EA games, I'm fine with it.

The post EA Play is add?ing the full versions of Madden ?NFL 21, Star Wars: Squadrons, and NHL 21 soon appeared first on Destructoid.

That's the opposite of delay of game

Kickoff came a day early. The PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of Madden NFL 21 and FIFA 21 are scheduled to launch tomorrow, December 4. However, anyone who owns last-gen versions of th?ose games can upgrade today.

EA Sports pulled the trigger on pushing upgrades out the door, which is a nice little surprise for anyone who's playing Madden or FIFA and ma??king use of backward compatibility. Of course, P??S4 versions can only be upgraded to PS5, and Xbox One versions can only be upgraded to Xbox Series S/X.

There are a few different scenarios at play here with EA's Dual Entitlement program. Anyone with a digital copy of either game can simply go to the PlayStation Store or Microsoft Store and grab the next-gen version for free. Those who have discs will be able to pop it into their new console and download a digital upgraded version. However, anyone with a disc but a disc-less console has to hit up EA support to validate the purchase.

Those who waited to buy Madden or FIFA can't take advant??age of this early next-gen arrival. They have to wait until December 4 which is when it was supposed to go live in the first place.

The post Madden and FIFA’s next-gen upgrades arrive one day early appeared first on Destructoid.

Madden '21 the only new entry in Top Ten

It was a quiet one for physical releases last week. As such, there has been very little movement in the UK Charts, with only Electronic Arts' annual football release Madden NFL '21 breaking the Top Ten.

Nintendo Switch social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons currently holds the number one spot, having popped in and out of the premier position since its initial release back in March (Yes, March. Can you believe it?). The remainder of the Top Ten is rounded out with Nintendo regulars such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, and Minecraft, alongside sporting titles such as Electronic Arts' UFC 4, FIFA 20 and 2K Games' PGA 2K21.

This is merely a calm before the storm of the holiday release period. Next week sees the launch of Square Enix' Marvel's Avengers, 2K Games' NBA 2K21, and Activision's much-desired Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, kicking off what ?is to be several months of guaranteed high-street sellers.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: August 29, 2020
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo
2. PGA Tour 2K21 - 2K Games
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
4. Grand Theft Auto V - Take-Two
5. Minecraft - Nintendo
6. Ghost of Tsushima - Sony Interactive Entertainment
7. FIFA 20 - Electronic Arts
8. UFC 4 - Electronic Arts
9. Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo
10. Madden NFL '21 - Electronic Arts

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

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Movin' da chains

Madden has taken itself too seriously for decades as the realistic-as-it-gets facsimile of NFL football. The next game is flipping its hat around and sitting backward on its chair, all to let you know that it has a cool side too.

EA Sports has revealed a new game mode for Madden NFL 21 called "The Yard." It's an arcade-style take on football, six players per side on play?ground fields. Behind-the-back passes, pitch after pitch after pitch, plenty of showboating -- you know the vibe.

The obvious analog is to the NFL Street games of the mid-2000s, but don't expect an authentic recreation of those. NFL Street had a lot of little touches that leaned even further away from realism. Style points for flashy play, a GameBreaker superplay meter, stats-altering equipment -- it was all so fun. Madden's The Yard looks to be somewhere between normal Madden and Street, like an itch half-scratched.

The first taste of The Yard is out today as part of the Madden NFL 21 Mobile launch. That's a free app meant to promote the official Madden 21 launch in late-August. It has a singleplayer version of The Yard. On PC and consoles, The Yard will have full online multiplayer functionality. However, progression carries over between mobile and the official Madden. 

Or, for the authentic experience, bust out the PS2 and NFL Street. 

The post Madden 21 gets a new mode that’s like NFL Street appeared first on Destructoid.

Who could've guessed

Lamar Jackson, reigning NFL MVP and the most exciting player in football, is the cover star of Madden NFL 21. This is the part wher??e we all feign surprise. Whoa, crazy!

This isn't so much a reveal as it is a confirmation. Jackson already accidentally outed himself as this year's Madden star back in April, and EA just awkwardly sat on its existing marketing schedule for two more months. EA Sports gave a nod to Jac??kson's slip-up -- it had to, it was so egregious and definite -- but has stayed si??lent since then: 

When the @Ravens leak your Cover Athlete...😑 pic.twitter.com/qO5I90YxNE

— Madden NFL 20 #StayandPlay (@EAMaddenNFL) April 21, 2020

Alongside formally putting Jackson's face on the Madden box, EA Sports revealed a few gameplay priorities for this year's game. There are new ball-carrying mechanics, an updated open-field tackling system, and new defensive line mechanics. The trailer shows a Vikings O-lineman getting absolutely dusted, so yep -- Madden NFL 21 is perfectly realistic.

Madden NFL 21 launches August 28 on PC (Origin and Steam), PS4, and Xbox One. Console players can upgrade their current-gen versions to next-gen versions on PS5 and Xbox Series X if they do so before Madden NFL 22 releases. (Also, Madden NFL 22 confirmed, apparently!) Here's where you can read more about that offer, but EA plans to elaborate on it dur??ing this Thursday's EA Play livestream.

The post Lamar Jackson is the Madden NFL 21 cover athlete, and it’d be rude if we didn’t all act surprised appeared first on Destructoid.

Call it the Flock of Seagulls Offense

Since 2000, the NFL's Most Valuable Player award has been won by a quarterback 17 times. The past seven years saw the MVP won by a QB every season. This isn't some sort of statistical aberration but it is something of a bias. Voters gravitate toward recognizing quarterbacks because of their positional importance. No other single position in football plays such a crucial role in a team'??s success.

That's why high-level Madden doesn't make a great case for Madden as a ?faithful NFL simulation. Over the weekend, Raidel "Joke" Brito won the Madden Bo?wl without drafting a QB. Why no QB? Because Joke didn't throw a pass in the entire tournament. Joke rode a strict run-only offense to a 17-0 win over Daniel "Dcroft" Mycroft in the finals. 

Madden tourn??aments are structured such that competitors draft players while adhering to a combined salary cap. Quarterbacks are generally the highest-paid players in football, so Joke decided?? to take that money and disburse it elsewhere. He put a punter at QB (all they have to do is hand the ball off), and put his money into a stout offensive line and defensive superstars. 

Joke ended up walking away with $65,000 for his Madden Bowl victory, but the cash isn't his only prize. He was also awarded a belt with more than 700 Swarovski rhinestones and a 24-karat gold plate. Befitting? of a champion.

The Champ is HERE, congrats @Jokeeee_‼ï¸

Your #MaddenBowl Champion 💪 pic.twitter.com/KViwL4nulN

— Madden NFL 20 (@EAMaddenNFL) May 17, 2020

R?aidel 'Joke' Brito wi??ns first Madden Bowl championship behind run-only offense [ESPN]

The post You don’t need a QB to win the world’s biggest Madden tournament appeared first on Destructoid.

This felt inevitable

When you hear "big catch" and Madden in the same sentence, you immediately assume someone dialed up "Da Bomb" and streaked 80 yards down the sideline for a touchdown. Not thi??s time. This time, it's another reminder that things are never as easy as they should be.

Earlier this week, EA mentioned in a shareholders call that it's offering free next-gen upgrades on PS5 and Xbox Series X. That seemed to be confirmation that EA is a partner that's partaking in Xbo?x's Smart Delivery program and PlayStation's inevitable spin on the same idea. Instead, EA has its own setup.

EA's approach to next-gen upgrades is contingent upon buying both the console and the game in a timely manner. Here are the qualifications EA lays out in its Xbox Series X announcement post: "To receive the offer, players much purchase Madden NFL 21 on Xbox One by December 31, 2020 an?d upgrade to Xbox Series X by March 31, 2021."

Whereas Smart Delivery runs in perpetuity, free upgrades no matter when you buy the hardware and software, EA makes it contingent upon being an early-ish adopter. To make use of this offer, a consumer has to buy both Madden 21 and an Xbox Series X within (approximately) four months of their respective releases. Free upgrades are good and it'd be great if they became the norm -- but EA's approach is a stark reminder that third-party publish??ers' involvement might be a lot more caveat-filled and u??nattractive than how Microsoft and Sony handle it.

EA Sports Announces Madden NFL 21 Will Be Available on Xbox Se?ries?? X [EA]

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Choose your fighter

I want to see the Venn diagram for Bleeding Edge, Madden NFL 20, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. Is there anyone out there who has equal love for all? three of these very different games?

Today through April 26 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, Microsoft is running a Free Play Days event for the trio. Xbox Live Gold subscribers can download, install, and play these three games for the duration of the promo, and that also includes achievements if you're looking to pad out your running total. Bleeding Edge, in particular, only has 10 achievements. Earning all 1,000 points is a matter o?f if, not when.

Frankly, I wasn't that hot on Ninja Theory's team-based brawler, but I do think it's worth checking out for free – and I hope they make the shift to free-to-play while they can. For now, a small group of developers is working on tidying up matchmaking woes, latency and lag issues, and other pressing concerns before introdu?cing a new hero, Mekko the dolphin, who will join the roster in the next patch?.

I imagine most folks know where they stand with Naruto Shippuden by now. As for Madden, with a distinct lack of sporting e??vents in the world, I wonder if people are getting their fix with video games.

The promo also applies to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, and all three games are d?iscounted.

Free Play Days &??ndash; Bleeding Edge, Madden NFL 20, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 [Xbox]

The post Xbo?x Live Gold members can play Blee??ding Edge, Naruto, and Madden for free this weekend appeared first on Destructoid.

Maybe accidentally?

Lamar Jackson doesn't drop the ball often. The second-year Baltimore Ravens quarterback finished his first year as the full-time starter with one of the most impressive seasons ever put together. He led the league in touchdowns thrown (36) and set an NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback (1,206). Jackson was named the NFL MVP, running away (ha!) with the accolade de?spite elite competition from other quarterbacks.

However, Jackson sort of fumbled today even though all sports are indefinitely postponed. In a from-home video chat with the Ravens' social media team, Jackson revealed that he's the cover athlete on Madden 21. The way he makes the announcement -- awkwardly and unsure-sounding -- leaves the realistic possibility that maybe? Jackson wasn't supposed to say anything just yet. See for yourself:

Lamar says he'll be on the cover of Madden: pic.twitter.com/bPtzFBIlVI

— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) April 21, 2020

For what it's worth, EA Sports hasn't updated any social sites to confirm Jackson as Madden 21's cover star. Likewise, we haven't received a press release from Electronic? Arts. These efforts are usually coordinated, and EA's inaction lends credibility to the theory that this was a big whoopsie on Jackson's part. Someone's probably scrambling to write a press release right now.

Intentional reveal or not, there was never really another good choice for the cover of Madden 21. Jackson was only the second unanimously-voted MVP in NFL history (the other was Tom Brady in 2010), and his 2019 campaign was eye-poppingly impressive as both a passer and a rusher. By all accounts -- h?ere's one?? account that wonders aloud "Is Jackson a Jedi?" -- his 2019 season was transcendent and will be remembered for years to come. If that's not enough to convince you, the only other reasonably-acceptable choice, Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes (and newly-anointed Super Bowl MVP), was just on the Madden cover last year.

[Update: EA Sports has responded with the following t?weet, very much indicating that Jackson was too loose-lipped on today's stream:

When the @Ravens leak your Cover Athlete...😑 pic.twitter.com/qO5I90YxNE

— Madden NFL 20 #StayandPlay (@EAMaddenNFL) April 21, 2020

The post (Update) Baltimore Ravens QB Lamar Jackson awkwardly reveals that he’s the Madden 21 cover star appeared first on Destructoid.

Uh-oh

Madden is wading into dangerous territory. For the first time in Madden's history,?? an equipment update will give players a stat boost.

EA Sports released the patch notes for Madden 20's January update, and it includes the addition of the Nike Vapor Edge cleat. As The Verge notes, only athletes who are signed to Nike (Ezekiel Elliott, Dalvin Cook, and Christian McCaffrey to name?? a few) will have access to this shoe. It's not just for looks, though. EA has confirmed that wearing the shoe will actually make these players faster:

Your favorite player just got faster‼ï¸@usnikefootball's new Vapor Edge Elite 360 cleats are giving players a boost in #Madden20 pic.twitter.com/CIhdIU9Fft

— Madden NFL 20 (@EAMaddenNFL) January 30, 2020

Equipping the Nike Vapor Ed?ges will grant a +1 bonus to speed or acceleration. It's not much, sure, but we're teetering perilously close to setting an awful p?recedent. EA can start a bidding war, asking apparel companies to pay so that their products and athletes are represented as more capable. Right now, Nike athletes are just a tiny bit quicker than their official ratings, all because they're wearing the right shoe.

It doesn't seem like much of a stretch to also imagine a scenario where EA locks stat-enhancing equipment behind small microtransactions, forcing the player to pay for the boost. But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Madden 20 is going down a p??ath of preferential treatment based on sponsorship deals. Nike players have an advantage, minor as it may be.

Gridiron Notes: Madden NFL 20 ??Title Update - January [EA]

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At EA Play today

Madden 20 was unveiled back in April, but EA Tiburon took the stage today during the EA Play E3 event to give us a few more details beyond "the cover athlete is&?nbsp;Patrick Mahome??s."

We got?? a little more on Face of the Franchise, which is the new campaign style concept that takes you from the college playoffs through the pro drafting process: it looks like it dials up the drama not unlike a lot of "create-a-wrestler" modes in WWE games. You can watch a bit more on that in the video bel?ow.

The most exciting thing though is also the most gamey. X-Factor abilities are coming, which make superstars even more impactful (Alvin Kamara, Patrick Mahomes, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, the latter ?of which who was on-hand at the event, were singled out specifically), like the "satellite" ability that lets you improve your success rate against one-on-one coverage. Other superstar powers can grant you more hot route options or more accuracy when throwing them on the run. 

X-Factors are like quests, where you have to hit certain parameters to unlock them. You can check those teases out in the gallery below: there's a lot of potential for polarization here but it's also kind of exciting for Madden to do something weird like this?

Plus, the developers are promising che??cks and balances so it doesn't get t??oo out of hand. Signature animations with motion captured performances for individual NFL players are part of this whole mechanic. You can get a look at a bunch of abilities in the gallery below.

Madden NFL 20 arrives on Au?gust 2 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One; a full month before the NFL's opening kickoff on September 5 with the Packers at the Bears.

The post EA expands upon Madden NFL 20’s gamey X-Factor superstar abilities appeared first on Destructoid.

But no Anthem?

EA originally planned to host live-streamed events for E3 2019?? acr??oss multiple days, but that schedule has since condensed into one main event on Saturday, June 8. Today, the company detailed which games we can expect to see at EA Play 2019, and there are a couple of curious omissions. Anthem will be playable at the Los Angeles event, but it's not listed on the schedule as getting any screen time.

EA Play 2019 will stream on YouTube and Twitch. Here's the lineup:

• 9:15am: Countdown to EA Play
• 9:30am: Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
• 10:00am: Apex Legends
• 10:30am: Battlefield V
• 11:00am: EA Sports FIFA
• 11:30am: EA Sports Madden NFL
• 12:00pm: The Sims 4

I apprec?iate the game-by-game breakdown here, because oh my goodness that's a three-hour block on a sunny Saturday. These games cater to very different audiences and EA has struggled to properly pace its traditional E3 press conferences in the past and these EA Play streams in recent years. I?f you see something you like on that list, just show up, get the lowdown, and get out while you can.

It's entirely possible that EA will save an announcement for Microsoft's E3 2019 press conference on Sunday, June 9. I'm still waiting for my precious Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfare 3, after all.

The post EA’s E3 2019 live stream schedule lists Star Wars and The Sims appeared first on Destructoid.

In stores August 2

Madden is a franchise that'??s regula??rly found on PC now. EA was evidently determined to not make last year's appearance on PC a one-off.

Madden 20 will launch on August 2, and it's coming to a trio of platforms. There are the two standbys (PS4 and Xbox One), and there's PC. Madden 19 was the first time a Madden game released on PC ??in the past decade. Now it's gone back-to-back.

The cover athlete this year is the 2018 NFL MVP. Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes graces the box of Madden 20. ??You might as well get the most exciting guy in the NFL to help sell your game.

The post Madden runs the triple option again, returns to P??C appeared first on Destructoid.

Xenomorph Football League, the only XFL I want

The xenomorphs and the Predator race have been at war for quite some time, now. Centuries, it seems. They'??ve duked it out in comics, video games, cinema, action figures, and the imaginations of nerds everywhere. But man, all that fighting sure it tiresome.

As it turns out, conventional warfare between the two species just wasn't getting the job done. For every Predator that takes out a couple of x??enos with a well-placed shoulder cannon, five more pop out of some C-level actor's chest just trying to keep his SAG ??insurance going another month. War is the ultimate war of attrition.

These two cosmic nuisances require far more than punches and ??rockets and acid blood to settle their differences. What they need is the ultimate test of skill, grit, determination, and will. They need American football.

According to some info dug up and translated by the National Videogame Museum, a wonderfully ill-conceived football game for Genesis titled Cosmic Hard Bowl (barf) made it??s way around Sega offices sometime back ??in the '90s. From the concept art it seems that the premise revolves around Aliens and Predators battling each other in American football (for no reason other than it was a '90s video game) in the year 2702. Not like, super violent space football or anything. According to the pitch, there's only one new rule: Teams must be quarterbacked by a human.

So you've got Aliens, who bleed acid and impregnate?? other species via the face to procreate, on one side of the ball; Predators, who have space dreadlocks and shoot fucking lasers out of their shoulders when they're not busy blowing themselves up or ripping off your skin, are on the other side. Now, in the middle of it all, you have Kirk Cousins who's wondering where it all went wrong.

At least C??olin Kaepe??rnick could probably get a job in this league.

Lest you think that this event is some half-assed primetime special meant to draw in bored Alabamans on a Monday night, think again, buster! This ain't no one-off game; no, it seems there's an entire league based around space creatures playing a sport more or less exclusive to one continent. Each race has its own six-team league. The Aliens sport the Anchorage King Salmons, the LA Blade Runners, Houston Exterminators, Chicago Dirty Heroes, Dallas Jet Flying Kickers, and Washington D.C. Bashings. The Predators support the Seattle Samurai Mifunes, San Francisco Black Catfish, Detroit Big 3?, Las Vegas American Dreams, New York Psychic Murders, and Miami Dolphin Creatures. These are all great names, and while they'd have likely changed in localization, I would have staunchly protested that decision.

Never mind the fact that the concept art shows the alien races wearing football gear, that having a team in Alaska is the least practical thing on Earth in terms of travel logistics and sport pragmatics (fucking seriously, the Pre??dators have mastered intergalactic travel but don't see why playing a mostly outdoor sport in a place covered by snow would be a nightmare for fans, teams, owners, and basically everyone involved?), and that having a human compete with two species that could maim, dismember, or even kill him with one false move would not only be a bad idea, but also likely result in an incredibly shitty QB performance every game.

No, don't think about how any of this would work. Just be glad you live in a world where there's at least?? a slight chance that this could h?ave come to fruition. I truly love the '90s.

WTF: An? 'Alien vs Predator' Football Video Game Was Once in Development for SEGA Genesis [Slash Film]

The post Whatever we as a species did to have Alien vs. Predator Football cancelled, I’d just like to apologize appeared first on Destructoid.

TOUCHDOWN!

It should come as no surprise to anyone, but EA's Madden NFL series is massively popular. I guess hype for the latest entry, Madden 19, was at its highest as the game has come out to record-breaking sales. Not only was it the biggest launch in Madden history since Madden 13, but it also became t?he best selling game of August 2018. If that wasn't enough, it is now the fourth best selling game of 2018.

This shouldn't be too shocking as Madden has historically been the biggest seller of August. NPD Analyst Mit Piscatella recalls, "Since 2000, Madden NFL Football has been the best-selling game of August every year, with the exceptions of 2011 and 2012, when Madden NFL launched in the September tracking period." Guess which games were the best selling of those two Septembers? (The answer is Madden)

The odd part isn't about Madden's success, though. What is truly shocking is that Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has shown up in the charts. A game released nine years ago is charting alongside current hits and ahead of some of the biggest games of this year. Have we entered a time warp? This is likely because the game was added on Xbox One backward compatibility last month. Piscatella states, "The title was added to the Xbox One Backward Compatible Game Library on August 28, prope??lling the title up to number 8 on the August best-sellers chart."

The rest of the list is pretty similar to what we saw last month. Oddly, Octopath Traveler and Destiny 2 aren't in the top 20 anymore, but everything else is similar to last month's report.

• 1. Madden NFL 19**
• 2. Monster Hunter: World
• 3. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
• 4. Grand Theft Auto V
• 5. Mario Kart 8*
• 6. Naruto To Boruto: Shinobi Striker
• 7. God of War
• 8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2
• 9. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
• 10. Super Mario Odyssey*
• 11. Minecraft
• 12. Crash Bandicoot: N. Sane Trilogy
• 13. Far Cry 5
• 14. Monster Hunter: Generations Ultimate
• 15. Call of Duty: WWII
• 16. Mario Tennis Aces*
• 17. Overwatch**
• 18. Lego The Incredibles
• 19. We Happy Few*
• 20. The Crew 2

*No digital sales
**No PC digital sales

August 2018 NPD: Madden NFL has its best kickoff since 2013 [Venture Beat]

The post Madden 19 wins MVP for Augus??t according to NPD Group appeared first on Destructoid.

People are urged to stay out of the area

[Update #5: EA has re?leased the following stat?ement on the shooting:

pic.twitter.com/eCK693RjgO

— EA SPORTS Madden NFL (@EAMaddenNFL) August 27, 2018

[Update #4: Sheriff Mike Williams once again addressed the press about the Jacksonville shooting offering new information on the incident. The shooter has been tentatively identified as 24-year-old David Katz of Baltimore, Maryland who w??as at the tournament as a participant. There were three fatalities in the shooting, one of whom was the shooter. All of ??the other gunshot victims, believed to be around nine people not including the deceased, were taken to the hospital and are in stable condition. Other victims may have transported themselves. One handgun was used in the shooting. The names of the two deceased victims have not been released.

As an aside, now that we know the name of the shooter, please be wary about any Twitter or Facebook pages for David Katz that pop up over the next day or two. As has been the norm, these events bring out the assholes on the internet who will use it to try and push a false narrative.]

[Update #3: In a press conference in Jacksonville, Sheriff Mike Williams gave a brief summary of information being released at this time. Currently, the Sheriff's department is trying to identify the shooter. All they are reporting right now is that it's a white male. There is no exact count of the victims just yet, however it was confirmed victims died at the scene. The location is secure and they do not believe there is a second shooter. More information will be released tonight in another press conference. Until then, people are still being urged to stay away from the downtown area as it is still an active crime scene.]

[Update #2: According to the Los Angeles Times, the gunman in the mass shooting is reportedly a competitor in the tournament who had earlier lost.]

[Update: According to ?the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office Twitter page, one suspect is confirmed dead:

One suspect is dead at the scene, unknown at this time if we have a second suspect. Searches are being conducted. //t.co/qBJvkaO7xT

— Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) August 26, 2018

Local media sources are now reporting there are 15 shooting victims, not 11. According to EA, the event is a sanctioned Madden Championship Series event. We will continue to update this story throughout the day.]

In Jacksonville, Florida, authorities are urging people to stay out of the area near the GLHF Game Bar after reports of a mass shooting. According to CNN, the incident took place during a qualifying event for a Madden 19 tournament while it was being live-st?reamed. Local media sources are reporting 11 people have been shot, and four are dead.

Sources: Mass shooting at Jacksonville Landing Sunday. 4 dead. 11 victims. //t.co/ZnvZ8HtEBX //t.co/ZnvZ8HtEBX

— Vic Micolucci WJXT (@WJXTvic) August 26, 2018

We ?w?ill update this story as more information becomes available.

'Mass shooting' at Madden video game tournament in Jack??sonville, Florida, authorities say [CNN]

Also from our network:

Escapist Magazine on How we move on from tragedy

Daily Esports: T??wo pro gamers killed after event loser return??s with gun

The post (Update) Flori?da?? authorities are reporting a mass shooting at a Madden 19 tournament appeared first on Destructoid.

As if it were profane

[Update: EA Sports has issued a statement saying that it erred in censoring Colin Kaepernick's mention from "Big Banks." According to the developer, it didn't have permission to use Kaepernick's likeness in the game (apparently because he's no longer a member of the NFL Players Association) and EA Sports mistakenly thought it wasn't allowed to use his name in a song either. Kaepernick's name will be edited back into "Big Banks" in an August 6 patch that will arrive before Madden 19 launches on consoles.

Here's EA Sports' statement in full:

"We made an unfortunate mistake with our Madden NFL soundtrack. Members of our team misunderstood the fact that while we don’t have rights to include Colin Kaeperni?ck in the game, this doesn't affect soundtracks. We messed up, and the edit should never have happened. We will make it right, with an update to Madden NFL 19 on August 6 that will include the reference again. We meant no disrespect, and we apologize to Colin, to YG and Big Sean, to the NFL, to all of their fans and our players for this mi??stake."]

EA Sports has a history of scrubbing profane lyrics from its games' soundtracks and only presenting the squeaky clean versions. With Madden 19, it t??ake??s things a bit further by editing out a simple name drop of a politically polarizing figure.

Colin Kaepernick is the former ?San Francisco 49ers quarterback who sparked the trend of professional athletes kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustices in America. He essentially sacrificed his career for it. It left him w??ithout a job, seemingly blackballed by all NFL teams.

It also cost him a mention on a Madden 19 track. As seen in the video below, Kaepernick's name is cut from Big Sean's verse on the song "Big Bank." The lyric should be "Feed me to the wolves, now I le??ad the pack and shit, you boys all cap, I'm more Colin Kaepernick, I'm rare as affordable health care (oh God)."

bad enough @Kaepernick7 still not signed, but now they even edit his name out in this year’s @EAMaddenNFL during @BigSean verse, smh pic.twitter.com/3nvkB26z5r

— Mr. Changing Lives (@jeanclervil) August 2, 2018

Also worth noting is that "Big Bank" debuted in late May as the lead single off rapper YG's upcoming album Stay Dangerous. EA Sports revealed the Madden 19 soundtrack on July 25. That's two full m?onths where EA could've quietly pulled the track rather than releasing a version where Kaepernick's name is? treated as profane and inappropriate for children.

Instead, it's highly likely that EA faced late pressure from the NFL and/or its sponsors to eliminate the mention of Kaepernick. This particular partnership is lucrative enough that we'll never hear EA speak ill of the NFL because Madden is a goldmine. So, this type of cowardly kowtowing shoul??dn't really be that surprising at al??l. Embarrassing, but not surprising.

@JeanClervil [Twitter]

The post (Update) EA edited Colin Kaepernick’s name out of a lyric in Madden 19 appeared first on Destructoid.