Headlines

The NFL season is upon us! Think you can pick the winners each week? Join the 2016 TGT Pigskin Pick 'Em group at ESPN.com.

The season-long winner will receive their choice of a $20 PSN/XBL/Nintendo card. The group is free to join, so you are welcome to invite friends and family. The more the merrier!

Continue on to read full details on joining the TGT Pigskin Pick 'Em group. ...

In a journey covering thousands of miles, the NBA 2K development team visited all 30 NBA arenas to gather accurate arena sounds and details for NBA 2K17.

Briefly detailed via a YouTube video, the 2K team visited each arena to microphone and/or record the rim & net as the ball hits/goes through, basketballs dribbling on the court, crowd audio, team specific details, and arena specific sounds such as each's unique shot & game clock buzzers.

Continue on to watch the video from 2K Sports. ...

Following Spike Lee's involvement with the storyline for the MyCareer mode in NBA 2K16, many wondered how the franchise would follow that up in NBA 2K17. Wonder no more as 2K17 Senior Producer Ben Bishop has written a lengthy blog detailing the changes coming to the mode.

Actor Michael B. Jordan (Creed, Fantastic Four, Friday Night Lights, The Wire) will play Justice Young, a teammate with the user's MyPLAYER. Other recognizable faces include Hannibal Buress (Neighbors, Secret Life of Pets) as Ice the Barber and Matt Walsh (Veep, Hung) as your college coach, Hemsley Adson.

The MyCareer story was written & directed by Aaron Covington (Creed) and will focus more on the on-the-court action versus Lee's linear off-court storyline in 2K16's "Livin' Da Dream."

Continue on to read the blog from Bishop. ...

As the game continues to improve graphically, a new NBA 2K17 trailer (entitled "Kicks Matter") highlights the 3D scanned shoes that will be coming to the game which will more accurate, if not nearly photo-realistic. This type of scanning has seemingly become commonplace in game development on Gen 4 consoles for player faces, uniforms, shoes, textures, and more.

Some of the shoes spotlighted in the video include the adidas Yeezy Boost 350, D Rose 7, Air Jordan XXXI, and the entire Kobe Bryant collection, featuring 24 pairs in total.

Continue on to watch the "Kicks Matter" trailer, see screenshots from the video, and then share your thoughts with the community. ...

The first post-release game update (1.03) is now available for Madden NFL 17 for both PlayStation 4 and X-Box One.

The most significant fix includes elimination of an exploit that allowed the user on defense to determine if their opponent would run or pass the ball. In Franchise Mode, users are no longer able to see the ratings of the upcoming draft class prior to the NFL Draft, however in doing so this has removed the ability to edit the draft class, prior to the draft.

Continue on to read the published list of items addressed, fixed, and included in this update. ...

NBA 2K17 keeps the foot on the gas pedal when it comes to gameplay improvements as noted in a gameplay blog from Producer Mike Wang.

This year the primary focus of gameplay changes center on making the skill(s) of the user matter more. Except for dunks, all shots now have a timing mechanism tied to them. Along with this, the shot meter has also been revamped. Users who prefer the shot button can default to that instead of the shot stick. Ball-handling and steals have also been improved along with post-play and improved physicality.

These changes have all been made with the goal of rewarding the player with the better user skills, however through options (such as difficulty and settings) and an improved 2KU (in-game tutorial), players of all skill sets can play the game how they want and improve.

Continue on to read the lengthy blog from Gameplay Producer Mike Wang. ...

Similar to the mode of the same name in the Madden NFL franchise, NHL 17 will be adding the popular Draft Champions mode.

Utilizing a 12-round draft, users will pick from current and former players to build their team. Following the draft, the player can compete offline or online head-to-head where winning four games will help them unlock Draft Collectibles. These Collectibles can them be redeemed as part of sets for top-tier packs and items.

Continue on to see the Draft Champions trailer and to also read the blog entry with additional details from Associate Producer Jesse McLean. ...

The college football season is upon us! Think you can pick the winners each week? Join the 2016 TGT College Pick 'Em group at ESPN.com.

As is TGT tradition, the season winner will receive their choice of a $20 PSN/XBL/Nintendo card. The group is free to join, so you are welcome to invite friends and family. The more the merrier!

Continue on to read full details on joining the TGT College Pick 'Em group. ...

On September 9, XBL & PSN users will be able to download - for free - The Prelude for NBA 2K17. In The Prelude, users will be able to created their MyPlayer and begin the MyCareer experience playing through college. The trailer for the mode seemingly suggests the mode will end with the user getting an invite to play (or tryout) for Team USA, perhaps aiming to be the impetus for users to buy the full retail version of the game and continue the mode, with the goal of representing the United States. It remains to be seen how detailed or fleshed out the international competition aspects will be, though some national squads have been added to the game.

Available colleges in NBA 2K17 are: Kansas, Georgetown, Arizona, Louisville, UConn, Illinois, Oklahoma, Georgia Tech, Michigan State, and Wake Forest.

The Prelude is a similar pre-release downloadable experience to NBA 2K10's Draft Combine that allowed users to create a prospect and compete to improve their draft status. With the MyNBA2K mobile app releasing on September 8, users can scan their face for inclusion into The Prelude the next day.

Continue on to see the trailer and then share your thoughts with the community. ...