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Madden NFL 18 roster update details following week five of the season
The new roster update available to download now in Madden NFL 18 reflects performances through the first five weeks of the season. Changes are few near the top of the ratings scale but Kareem Hunt keeps climbing (+2 to 86) after beginning his rookie season at 75, and Carson Wentz made a big jump (+3 to 84) which doesn’t even count in the three touchdowns thrown in the win over the Panthers last night.
Notables on the move this week include Luke Kuechly (-1 to 97), Le’Veon Bell (-2 to 94), Kam Chancellor (-1 to 94), Harrison Smith (+1 to 93), Landon Collins (-1 to 92), Jalen Ramsey (+1 to 90), Mike Daniels (-2 to 90), DeForest Buckner (+2 to 89), A.J. Bouye (+2 to 87), Zach Ertz (+2 to 87), Darius Slay (-2 to 87), Jaquiski Tartt (+4 to 82), and Micah Hyde (+4 to 81).
Check out full details on current ratings and any changes in this week’s update through the form on the official Madden NFL 18 website.
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First retailer deals for Madden NFL 18
Earlier this week multiple retailers began offering a deal on NBA Live 18 and now another EA Sports title can be had at a discounted price. Both Amazon (though exclusive Prime members) and Gamestop are currently offering Madden NFL 18 for $40.
Amazon: PlayStation 4 – Xbox One
Gamestop: PlayStation 4 – Xbox OneThe move by retailers seems quick but it’s actually a month later than when the first deal went live with Madden NFL 17. That happened just two weeks after the game had released, which may be an indication that Madden NFL 18 has performed better on the marketplace comparatively.
This is probably the best deal that will be found until Black Friday, when the annual sports titles are made readily available for $25-$30.
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Follow-up patch for Madden NFL 18 removes recent problematic changes
Earlier this week Madden NFL 18 received a massive patch which added new features, updated likenesses and equipment, and attempted to fix a number of issues and deliver improvements based on community feedback. Unfortunately there were some unforeseen problems that arose from a handful of the changes that were implemented, and another patch that was rushed out today has reversed course on the areas affected.
Our top priority for the update was to address the lag many of our Franchise users are experiencing while playing their games, but we have discovered that the fix we implemented has not been sufficient in fixing the issue. With today’s title update, we are removing that fix from the game, as it has instead resulted in impacting Franchise users. We’ll keep working diligently to get the lag issue addressed in an upcoming update.
♦Reverted attempted fix for lag in Franchise mode to in order to fix Franchise crashes
♦Fixed a crash some users were experiencing in Franchise when navigating menus very quickly
♦Reverted tuning change to “Nearby Player” catching penalty to reduce the number of drops
♦Reverted “Low Catch Rating” and “Catch in Traffic” user notification banners
♦Addressed Madden Ultimate Team (MUT) Auction House filters resetting after making a bid -
Details on another major NBA 2K18 patch
NBA 2K18 has now received its second major patch for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One while Nintendo Switch and PC will be getting it in the near future. The first patch of real substance released at the end of September and addressed a framerate problem following timeouts and made attribute ratings visible when purchasing upgrades in MyCareer. This new update is more wide-ranging, heavily affecting gameplay and all the various modes. Read more
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First retailer deals for NBA Live 18
NBA Live 18 never had a chance in the marketplace to sell even at a reduced $40 pre-order price. No one, including publisher EA Sports, would have expected otherwise. The goal instead was to reestablish some credibility, get a few people on board with the series over the next year through various means (demo, EA Access, price drops, possible stumbles by competition) and hopefully see the signs of progress with the release of an NBA Live 19.
It remains to be seen whether Live 18 will be the long-awaited turning point for the series but we’re now onto the phase where retailers are lowering the price due to lack of demand. Best Buy has the game for $30 but even better is the $24 for Gamers Club members and Gamestop is also selling it for $30. Amazon, which generally follows the lead of other retailers, has yet to come off the $60 which is never going to move any copies – though a third party currently has some up for $40 plus shipping. (Update) Amazon now has the PS4 version for $30.
Those with interest that decide to wait it out a little longer will have good opportunities in the future with NBA Live 18 likely to be $20 or less for Black Friday and its entry into the EA Access Vault on Xbox One to look forward to in the front half of next year.
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NBA 2K18 vs NBA Live 18 Player Face Comparison, Part Three
Whether it be through varied scanning techniques, differing levels of access to specific individuals, or their respective graphical engines, competing sports video games tend to win with representations of certain players but certainly not all of them. In the past with the basketball games NBA 2K had the clear edge according to fans but NBA Live had some respectable showings. Most recently when conducted between NBA 2K15 and NBA Live 15 it was the former that won for near 75% of the players that were examined.
Now it’s time to look at NBA 2K18 and NBA Live 18 which have both boasted improvements to visuals and face scanning in the last three years. Polls are open now for the final set of eight players. Make sure to also cast votes for the first set of faces as well as the second set. Results and analysis to follow later this week! Read more
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Second patch for Madden NFL 18 addresses issues and adds new features
A massive patch released for Madden NFL 18 today just about a month after the first update was made to the game. This is the one that many have been waiting for as it fixes issues that have been identified by the community following release, adds new features, improves some player and coach likenesses and brings in some new equipment. Blocking in the Gun Monster formation has been fixed, Seasons have been introduced for MUT Squads, and much more that has influence across gameplay, Franchise, and Ultimate Team. Read more
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The Line Drive for October 8
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Details on the roster update that followed week four with Madden NFL 18.
♦Review of FIFA 18 which has added more drama both on and off the pitch.
♦Poor signs with early sales returns and FUT activity for FIFA 18 on Switch.
♦NBA 2K18 received an additional patch on Xbox One for MyCareer stability.
♦No word on the new All-Star game format being patched into NBA 2K18/Live 18.
♦The latest content released for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 17.
♦The new online Event in MLB The Show 17 involves Division Series participants.
♦Details on the improvements already made through Mutant Football League’s beta.
♦Franchise Hockey Manager 4 released alongside the new season for PC and Mac.
♦Forza 7 will be getting changes made to the heavily criticized VIP membership.
♦Details on the changes upcoming with a patch for NASCAR Heat 2.
♦New DLC featuring Fast and Furious cars will release soon in Rocket League.
♦The soundtrack has been completely revealed for Need for Speed Payback.
♦Details on the latest system software update that’s out now for PlayStation 4.
♦Blu-ray releases this week headlined by The House and Baby Driver.
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