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MADDEN

Madden 99 Club Update

Madden 99 Club

In last year’s edition of Madden, just four players received the 99 overall rating from EA Sports: 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams, Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams, Browns EDGE Myles Garrett and Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald. Will more players rate a 99 this season?

The first player to be announced as a 99 overall player was Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson. Jefferson in 2022 led the NFL with 128 receptions and 1,809 receiving yards while adding eight receiving touchdowns.

It was Jefferson’s first selection to the 99 Club, probably not the last.

Who’s Else in the 99 Club So Far?
Aaron Donald, DT, Rams

Donald was unveiled as the second member of the 99 Club on “Madden 24” on Tuesday, marking his seventh straight year in the 99 Club and giving him the most all time, surpassing Peyton Manning. It’s unsurprising, considering Donald earned Pro Bowl status in 2022 even amid a “down year” for one of the all-time great defenders in NFL history.

Donald in 2022 missed six games, marking a career high for him in his nine-year NFL career. While he was still a force on the interior, he also experienced career-lows in sacks (five) and quarterback hits (11). That clearly wasn’t enough to sway EA from giving him one of the top ratings this year.

Zack Martin, G, Cowboys

Six-time first-team All-Pro selection Zack Martin became the third member of the 99 Club on Wednesday, as announced on ESPN’s “Get Up!”

Martin is now the first offensive guard to join the club since another former Cowboy in Larry Allen (2003).

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs

Kelce became the fourth member of the 99 Club on Thursday, as revealed by ESPN’s “Get Up!” It is is his fourth time receiving a 99 rating, most all time among tight ends in the Madden franchise.

Kelce in 2022 earned his fourth first-team All-Pro nod, setting career highs in receptions (110) and touchdowns (12). He also had 1,338 receiving yards, the second-most of his career.

Patrick Mahomes is sure to join the club when Quarterback rankings are revealed July 21st, but will anyone else?

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MADDEN

Madden 24 Closed Beta Returns Until July 17th – How To Sign Up

Madden 24 Beta

The Madden 24 Closed Beta has returned and will remain active until July 17th. The release comes with a patch that addresses an issue concerning lag input when playing online. Unfortunately, the only modes available for this beta test are Play Now, Play A Friend, and Mini-Games. Franchise is no longer an option.

Madden 24 is newest installment of EA Sports’ NFL simulation franchise. The game’s cover features Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen, the first Bills player to grace the cover.

The game utilizes SAPIEN Technology to create accurate endoskeletons of NFL players to allow for more tackling animations and realistic player models. FieldSENSE also returns to try and bring a more realistic experience to the game.

To enrich the experience, Mini-Games are returning, as well as improvements to Franchise mode.

How To Sign Up For The Madden 24 Beta

If you previously had access to the beta, then there’s nothing you need to do. Just simply start the app and you can play. Additionally, players can leave their feedback on the official Madden 24 Closed Beta Forums.

For those of you who didn’t take part in the beta’s first run, here’s how to sign up:

  1. Go to EA’s website
  2. Login/Create An Account
  3. Visit Account Settings
  4. Go To E-mail preferences
  5. Under “Manage Your E-mail Preferences” Tick the box that says “Yes, e-mail me about EA’s products, news, events, promotions, consistent with with the EA Privacy and Cookie Policy”

This doesn’t confirm you’ll receive the Madden 24 beta code, but you’ll have a chance. Just keep checking your mailbox and spam folders daily to see if they send you a code.

Once the code is received redeem it on the platform and start playing!

 

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FIFA

Erling Haaland Named Cover Athlete for EA FC 24

Fifa FC 24 Cover Athlete

Manchester City and Norway forward Erling Haaland has been named the cover athlete for the standard edition of EA FC 24.

“Every footballer dreams of this. Proud to be on the cover for the first season of a new era EA Sports FC,” Haaland tweeted after the reveal.

After thirty years of working together, FIFA and EA decided to part ways when the publisher declined to renew its license to use the FIFA name. In response, FIFA revealed its own plans to create and release its own game.

Haaland moved to Man City from Borussia Dortmund last summer and won the treble, the Premier League, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League in his debut season. He crushed several records in the process, scoring 52 goals in one season for City and three more for Norway.

 

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MADDEN

When is the Madden 24 ratings reveal?

Madden 24 Player Rating Release

With Madden 24 now officially revealed, EA has been revealing more and more details about the upcoming release. From the recent gameplay deep dive to the franchise overview, there’s a lot to be excited about. One of the most anticipated releases every year is that of the player ratings.

In recent years, EA has made a week-long event of Madden’s player ratings reveal. For Madden 23 and Madden 22, the publisher teamed up with ESPN for Madden Ratings Week. The sports network offered programming dedicated to the discussion of Madden’s ratings. It’s a big deal, and not just for fans but for the players too.

With Madden 24 set to release in a little over a month on August 18, it’s only a matter of time before EA begins its player ratings reveal for this year. So when can we expect player ratings to start releasing?

When is the Madden 24 ratings reveal?

EA hasn’t announced when they will begin revealing player ratings for Madden 24 but it will take place in July. ESPN’s Madden 23 Ratings Week kicked off last year Monday, July 18, 2022, while Madden 22 Ratings Week started on July 23, 2021.

Assuming EA follows a similar schedule for Madden 24, then the third week of July for 2023 runs from July 17 through July 21. It’s likely that the ratings for Madden 24 will be revealed around then. At worst we should see the ratings reveal coming between July 24 and July 28.

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NBA 2K

Kobe Bryant Names NBA 2K24 Cover Athlete

NBA 2K24 Cover Athlete

Last week we speculated that Kobe Bryant might be the NBA 2K24 cover athlete, this week that prediction came to fruition. Kobe Bryant will grace the cover of NBA 2K24.

Revealed in a tweet from NBA 2K, the Kobe Bryant Edition and Black Mamba Edition will be the two more expensive versions of this year’s game, what add-ons come with it have yet to be announced.

2K has yet to reveal the standard edition cover star which will most likely be a current NBA player.

Bryant’s appearance on the cover of NBA 2K24 was at least partially driven by his number 24 jersey, which he wore for most of his 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. NBA 2K did something similar last year, putting Michael Jordan and his number 23 on the cover of 2K23.

Not much else has been revealed about NBA 2K24 so far, though the tweet notes that preorders are now open.

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Categories
ESports

When Will NBA 2K24 Reveal The Cover Athlete?

NBA 2K24 Cover Athlete

It’s that time of year when the community is gearing up in anticipation of news of the cover athlete for NBA 2K24. Several candidates deserve a spot, but the developers have remained tight-lipped.

Many fans have been trying to predict when the cover athlete will be revealed, as it marks the official announcement of a new game. Despite the lack of official information until now, few predictions can be made based on the pattern followed by 2K Sports over the last few years.

Since the NBA 2K franchise has an annual release, 2K Sports follows a pretty set routine. A new game typically releases in the first 10 days of September of each year.

Similarly, the first announcement typically occurs a few months before the release. Last year, Devin Booker was the cover icon, and the news was confirmed on July 7, 2022.

If 2K Sports follows the same pattern, we can expect the reveal in the first half of July. 2K Sports will also likely release two editions, one featuring a legend.

Last year’s Legend Edition was dedicated to Michael Jordan, and there’s a good chance for him to retain his spot. Alternatively, 2K Sports could go back to Kobe Bryant again. Hall of Famers like Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlain would also be good choices.

The harder decision for 2K Sports will be selecting the cover star from the current era. This year might be the best chance for Nikola Jokic to be on the cover of NBA 2K24. After winning the MVP award for two straight years, the Serbian has finally won the coveted NBA ring.

If 2K Sports goes in another direction, Jayson Tatum might be another player with a good shot as he has ascended to one of the best handful of young players in the NBA. Tatum will have to play a pivotal role next season if the Boston Celtics are to push for a spot in the finals.

If 2K Sports wanted to be bold, Victor Wembanyama could be the cover athlete. The No. 1 pick from the NBA 2023 draft is touted to be a generational talent. Picking him as the cover star is a decision that would grab plenty of headlines.

Stay Tuned!

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Categories
MADDEN

Madden 24 Release Date & Early Access Info

Madden 24 Release Date

Whether it’s building your dream team or tackling opponents in the game’s competitive multiplayer, Madden 24 aims to deliver adrenaline-fueled entertainment.

For those that can’t wait until the game launches on August 18, there are a couple of ways that enable you to play early.

So, without further ado, here’s how you can join Madden 24 early access and play the game ahead of its worldwide release.

How to get early access to Madden 24

There are two ways to get Madden 24 early access. The first option is by pre-ordering the Deluxe Edition of the game, which will enable you to play the game three days before the worldwide release date. Simply purchase the Deluxe edition and you’ll be able to play on August 15, 2023. Madden 24 Deluxe Edition also comes with a number of exclusive in-game items that are not present in the standard edition.

If you don’t wish to purchase the Madden 24 Deluxe Edition to gain early access, then you can gain entry through EA Play or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. However, it’s important to note, that you’ll only have access to a 10-hour trial. So, if you’re itching to play Madden 24 early, you’ll need to pay for the Deluxe Edition.

Stay tuned for more Madden 24 news!

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MADDEN

Madden 24 Beta Early Impressions

Madden 24 Beta

On June 8 EA Sports revealed the first trailer for Madden 24 along with this year’s cover athlete, Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen. We were fortunate enough to get our hands on a beta code and have been checking this years installment out.

There’s still a lot EA has promised to add to the beta, but here are our early impressions on franchise mode and the return of mini-games.

Franchise Mode

One of the most critical game modes for any sports video game is its franchise mode. If you’ve been following Madden for the last few years, you know that Franchise Mode has arguably been one of the titles biggest disappointments for the series.

One of the most frustrating things, but not a deal breaker, is the lack of customization options for coaches and players. For decades, there have been the same generic faces for coaches and created players. Madden 24 doesn’t seem much different. With how powerful systems are nowadays, there’s no reason why Madden can’t implement face scans for one of its most popular game modes. A minor change like this would make being a coach or GM even more rewarding.

The layout of Connected Franchise is similar to last season. It essentially looks copy and paste.

More options are now available if you’re into trading and improving your team. There are now six trade slots instead of three, and teams can trade draft picks up to three years down the road. It also appears that the trade logic has improved, computer teams seem much more eager to send trade offers. For example, I started my franchise as the Miami Dolphins and had trade offers from three teams for veteran defensive end Malik Reed. Each trade is similar but adds some depth to the experience.

Weekly strategies are back and that also looks to be essentially copy and paste.

EA has added a ton of new locations and team names for gamers to choose from. Each place has a unique market size and personality that could sway owners on where to relocate to. A ranking system also shows your fan interest in that area. In addition to the laundry list of new locations, EA has added several new team names to this year’s game.

Other changes to franchise mode include contract restructures and a feature that fans have been asking for over the last few years, the ability for all players, not just quarterbacks, to have up to four X-Factor abilities. The NFL Draft still feels underwhelming, but EA promises that draft classes will be more dynamic, with many superstar players drafted out of college. Some may even debut with key stats maxed out. Besides more superstar-quality talent, EA has promised that some players may need to switch positions to maximize their potential. For example, taking a quarterback and moving them to wide receiver could unlock an entirely different set of skills.

Mini Games Are Back!

Mini-games like rushing and passing attacks were part of the reason a lot of us loved the series in the first place.

The good news for those of us who feel that way is that EA not only brought back a bunch of the classics, but have added a bunch of new options that are sure to make some people very happy. This year, there are 14 mini-games ranging from the classic rushing attack to WR/DB battles and everything in between.

More to come!

 

 

 

 

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Categories
MADDEN

Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen Named Cover Athlete For ‘Madden NFL 24’

Madden NFL 24 Cover

As we speculated last week, Josh Allen is your Madden NFL 24 cover athlete. EA Sports announced the move on Wednesday. This is the 35th anniversary of the franchise.

“It’s such a small group of people who have ever been the face of Madden, so now to be on that list, it’s very surreal. It’s very humbling,” Allen told ESPN. “To think about where I was not too long ago and coming out of high school with zero offers, going to junior college and have one offer, University of Wyoming of all places, and then fast-forward to now.

“I don’t know if I would have believed you at that point, if you were to tell me in high school. It’s so surreal. Madden has such a special place in my heart.”

Allen has over 40 combined touchdowns (passing and rushing) in three consecutive seasons, and has passed for 18,397 yards in his first five years in the league. The Bills are 52-24 when Allen starts.

In addition to Allen being the first Bills player featured, this is the first time fans are featured prominently.

Last season, Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes graced the cover. In 2021, it was Lamar Jackson. Mahomes was on the front of “Madden 20,” Antonio Brown on “Madden 19,” and Brady was on “Madden 18.”

“Madden NFL 24” is set to be released worldwide on Aug. 18.

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Categories
NBA 2K

NBA 2K23 Heatwave Pack: New Players Released In MyTeam

NBA 2K23 Heatwave

The new set of Heatwave cards went live on Friday June 2nd for NBA 2K23 MyTeam, and introduced some high end items for players.

Developers 2K Sports also introduced a new pack that has boosted the chance of finding these items, including the Dark Matter variant.

MyTeam has got plenty of special additions in the last month and a half. Some cards can even be called “broken” in their respective positions due to how well they play in the game.

The 2K community has another opportunity to get the new cards and solidify their team as the Championship Finals gain steam between the Miami Heat and the Denver Nuggets.

Complete list of all NBA 2K23 Heatwave promo cards available in MyTeam

2K Sports has introduced a special pack with 20% odds of finding a Heatwave card. While this is the best way of obtaining the new cards, let’s first look at which superstars are part of the promotion:

  • Mikal Bridges – SG/SF
  • Allen Iverson – SG/PG
  • Klay Thompson – SG/SF
  • Jermaine O’Neal – PF/SF
  • Lance Stephenson – SG/PG
  • Ralph Sampson – C
  • Paul Pierce – SF/SG
  • Chris Paul – SG/PG
  • Tyrese Haliburton – PG/SG

There are four Invincible Inserts players can find from the pack as well:

  • Anthony Davis – PF/C
  • Lebron James – SF/SG
  • Stephen Curry – PG/SG
  • Carmelo Anthony – SF/SG

All the cards have an overall of 99.

Ralph Samson could be high on the wish list for players as he’s the only one who can play as a center (Anthony Davis is the only exception, but he’s an Invincible Insert).

The new Lebron James card also appears to be an great item that will be pretty high on peoples wish lists.

 

 

 

 

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