-
Demo for FIFA 19 available now
FIFA 19 features Real Player Motion animation tech, brings in the Champions League License, introduces new ways to play Kick-Off, and concludes the story of Alex Hunter. Now the first opportunity to try the game out is here with a free demo on Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and PC.
Included in the demo are 12 clubs: Manchester City, Manchester United, PSG, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Spurs, Juventus, Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Roma.
The 10 hour trial with EA Access (Xbox One) and Origin Access (PC) for FIFA 19 is expected to go live on September 20. This year with the new Origin Access Premier, subscribers will receive the full game on that date with no restrictions as part of the higher subscription tier where all EA games are included in full. The regular Origin Access and EA Access only provide the full games once they reach the Vault many months later.
-
Demo for Forza Horizon 4 out now
Set in Britain, with new dynamic seasons and regularly released content, the highly-anticipated Forza Horizon 4 is only a matter of weeks away from release. An early opportunity to play the game arrived today however and it can now be downloaded here for Xbox One and PC.
Forza Horizon 4 is set to release October 2nd for the standard version and September 28th for the $100 Ultimate Edition. The game will also be the latest first party title from Microsoft to be provided to subscribers of the Xbox Game Pass. At $60 for a year, those who planned to buy FH4 anyway will receive their money’s worth just from this one game alone.
-
Details on the second post-release patch for Madden NFL 19
Madden NFL 19 has now been out for a month now and today EA Sports pushed live the second major post-release patch for the game. The first update followed improvements based on beta feedback and that one incorporated some of the data that had been collected in its early days of being out in the wild. Included then was a significant change to the Hit Stick, a reduction to dropped passes with possession catches, the addition of a notification regarding what player has been injured off-ball, and updated likenesses for 29 players.
The latest patch features a large number of improvements for Franchise Mode, changes the formula for how defenders play the ball in the air, makes a number of other adjustments to gameplay and RPM, and even more likeness updates have been completed. Read more
-
The Line Drive for September 9
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦EA Sports is counting down the top 100 rated players for FIFA 19.
♦Eligible games to receive a $10 promo credit on pre-orders with Amazon Prime.
♦The sale on Madden NFL 19 for $40 is still alive digitally on PlayStation 4.
♦Physical release has been delayed on all systems for Mutant Football League.
♦Check out the full slate of songs found on the soundtrack for NHL 19.
♦Sony is offering a PS4 bundle with NHL 19 but only available in Canada.
♦Details on the different security measures for HUT with NHL 19.
♦Best Buy is offering a bonus $10 for trade-ins of FIFA 18 and NHL 18.
♦EA Sports reported that FIFA 18 has sold over 24 million copies worldwide.
♦The Spanish Commentary Pack is free on PS4 and Xbox One for NBA 2K19.
♦2K Sports will be running a MyTeam tournament in NBA 2K19 for $250K.
♦EA Sports posted guides for the various Icons in NBA Live 19 The One.
♦The new season of NBA Live Mobile has launched with new features.
♦Login bonuses are being offered through 9/14 with Madden NFL Overdrive.
♦Details on the latest content for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 18.
♦Details on the latest patch out that went out last week for F1 2018.
♦The backwards compatible Skate 3 is on sale for just $5 on the Xbox One.
♦Releasing this week on Blu-ray Ocean’s 8 and digital Uncle Drew and Solo. -
Press Row Podcast: Catching up with The Grish
After a whole week away Rich Grisham is reunited with Bryan Wiedey to discuss the many sports games of September, impressions of Pro Evolution Soccer 2019 and NBA 2K19, the current state of microtransactions, and what non-sports games are peaking interest in the near future.
Check out the podcast through iTunes for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. The show can now also be found on Spotify! Subscribe and give the podcast five star reviews to help support the show. You can also listen with the streaming player found below.
-
Madden NFL 19 opening week roster update now available to download
The most highly-anticipated roster update every year for Madden is the one that leads into opening weekend, given that many fans choose to wait on it before starting up a Franchise Mode that will carry them through the months ahead. Critical cuts, signings, trades, and even holdouts can come into play.
That roster update for Madden NFL 19 released earlier today just in time for the season to kick-off. It includes the final 53 man rosters plus players on the IR and PUP list.
The Khalil Mack trade represented the biggest move heading into the season. It’s reflected but unfortunately the other trade assets that were moved are not.
Mack is now on the Chicago Bears, and with a lower rating of 95 Overall due to a position change from defensive end to outside linebacker. In new franchises started with this roster the Bears have acquired him for free, and the Raiders are left with nothing to show for it, because the draft picks involved in the deal were not moved.
-
Just in time for the season to begin, the first deal on Madden NFL 19 (Digital, PS4)
The NFL season kicks off tonight and the first sale on Madden NFL 19 has arrived just in time for the occasion. The PlayStation Store is offering the game for just $40 to PlayStation Plus subscribers. This could very well be the lowest price for the game until Black Friday in late November when it’ll be found for as low as $25.
The deal comes just a month after the release on Madden NFL 19. That timeline for digital store and retailer sales isn’t all that unusual for sports games these days, however it may feel like an especially quick occurrence due to Madden’s earlier release date this year.
Madden NFL 19 is being viewed as a very average entry in the long-running series which has hovered in the low-80s on Metacritic with a peak this-gen of just 83. This year it has settled in at an 80, which is the lowest since the debut when Madden NFL 25 scored only a 74. Real Player Motion animation tech proved beneficial to gameplay, some valuable additions were made to Franchise Mode, and fans of Ultimate Team are happy with the improvements there. The second season of Longshot story mode was a major disappointment, presentation still lags far behind other sports game franchises, and a number of legacy issues in gameplay remain present.
-
10 hour trial for NHL 19 now available through EA Access on Xbox One
NHL 19 can now be downloaded as a timed trial with EA Access on Xbox One. Subscribers to the service will get 10 hours of playtime after which it will expire. The timer is ticking down whenever the game is loaded regardless of whether it is being played, menus are being navigated through, or if there is any activity taking place at all. Because of that make sure to exit out and close the application from the Xbox One home screen when not in use.
The 10 hours are there to play immediately but can continue to be used at any point in the future. Saves are stored so progress in any of the modes and online records and stats carry over if a full copy is purchased. The complete game is available during the trial period.
EA Access launched July 2014 and is available on Xbox One and has since been joined by Origin Access on PC. Sony has declined to offer the service through PlayStation 4 saying it doesn’t offer enough value, despite being arguably the best value in all of gaming. EA Access includes the “Vault” which offers unlimited play with nearly every game from the company’s catalog this generation, 10% off all digital purchases, and the ability to play games up to five days before they release with a limited timed trial. EA Access is $30 for a full year or $5 month-to-month.
New this year is an additional tier for Origin Access on PC which provides the games in full with no restrictions for the entire year. Origin Access is $30 annually and the new Access Premier is $100 annually. NHL 19 is not available on PC but Madden NFL 19 and the upcoming FIFA 19 are part of that package.
by