Follow the jump to view the archived livestream of the MLB The Show 17 Franchise Mode livestream. ...

After learning of Franchise Mode improvements such as Critical Situations, Player Lock, and Quick Manage coming to MLB The Show 17 in Monday's GameStop video, a new entry at the PlayStation Blog provides the first details on Player Quirks.

Based on this early information, Player Quirks appears to be similar to the 'Badge' system utilized in the NBA 2K series - a way to give players specific traits and skills beyond what ratings alone can provide.

More details on Player Quirks, Critical Situations, Quick Manage, and other Franchise Mode improvements are expected in this Thursday's MLB The Show 17 Twitch livestream. Continue on to read the Player Quirks excerpt from the PlayStation Blog. ...

In this week's Gamestop MLB Mondays video, Designer Matt Schaeffer provides a first look at three new Franchise Mode features: Critical Situations, Player Lock, and Quick Manage. As Schaeffer notes in the brief video, the improvements are designed to create quicker, more impactful game experiences while allowing the user to maintain full control over their team.

Critical Situations - As simulating games users can hop into late inning, game deciding moments instantly. Also includes lighter moments such as statistical milestones, including completing the cycle, for example.

Player Lock - Can play controlling only your 'favorite players.' This is similar to Road to the Show and also Player Lock as found in NCAA Football, for example.

Quick Manage - New text-based simulation mode. User can hop in and out at anytime, while having the full managerial decisions at your disposal, including pitching around batter, calling for hit and run, etc.

More Franchise info will come this Thursday during the Twitch livestream. Continue on to see the Gamestop MLB Mondays video. ...

In the latest Gamestop MLB Mondays video, MLB The Show 17 Designer & Script Writer Kirby St. John reveals some of the improvements coming to commentary & presentation.

Full MLB Network broadcast package including announcers, on-screen displays, and theme music. Two new color commentators have been added to the game: MLB Network's Harold Reynolds and Dan Plesac will be joining returning PBP man Matt Vasgersian. Reynolds & Plesac will be replacing Eric Karros and Steve Lyons.

Unique to the MLB Network experience will be Showtrack, a new presenation tool to help analyze and show off the action on the field as it happens, with the statistics behind the athletic feats.

Continue on to see the Gamestop MLB Mondays Commentary & Presentation video. ...

The third installment of NBA 2K17's 'Park After Dark' series takes place tonight at 10 PM CT (Saturday, February 25). This event will feature music 'produced' by DJ Premier and also music from Joe Budden.

The previous two events were highlighted by music from Snoop Doog and Future, respectively, however technical issues kept many from enjoying or even partaking in the activity. Issues including the inability to connect to the server/room and being unable to join or begin games or activities.

Continue on to see info regarding the event straight from 2K Sports. ...

On Thursday's MLB The Show 17 Twitch livestream, Designer/Community Manager Ramone Russell and Live Content Producer Stephen Hass were joined by other game designers to discuss 'the little things' - aspects of the title that are not 'back of the box' worthy, but would aid in game immersion for the user.

Some of the items mentioned in the 90+ minute stream: new legends include Jason Giambi & Luis Aparicio, a look at every uniform combination in the game, improved stadium Jumbotron graphics, improvements to Diamond Dynasty, and much more.

Continue on to see the Twitch archive as well as screenshots from the livestream. ...

The 2017 team update is now available as DLC for NASCAR Heat Evolution.

Currently retailing for $9.99 on XBL & PSN, the DLC includes team & roster updates, 2017 paints schemes and schedule, and more. This is the final paint scheme update and no further updates will be coming for NASCAR Heat Evolution as the next iteration in the series is expected this fall.

Continue on to see a quick look at the 2017 team update in-game, including a preview of the roster and paint schemes. ...

The latest Gamestop "MLB Mondays" feature reveals some of the 'little things' coming to the game; aspects that will aid in the depth, immersion, and presentation for the user.

Some of the aspects disclosed: 500+ Diamond Dynasty cards will be released during the season ("many" of which will be brand new), carryover saves can be used from the cloud or console this year, and the return of classic stadiums such as the Metrodome, Shea Stadium, & Yankee Stadium.

More details will be announced and/or covered in greater detail on Thursday's Twitch livestream.

Continue on to see the Gamestop 'Little Things' video and recap. ...

Game update 1.10 is now available for Madden NFL 17. This update focuses primarily on addressing gameplay issues, but also includes some stability & CFM fixes.

Among the most significant improvements:

- OL/DL interaction tuned to make sure that an elite (or definitively superior) line will be more effective versus their counterparts. [TGT Take: This will help make building a roster in MUT, Draft Champions, & Salary Cap more challenging as now users cannot - for example - compete against a highly rated defensive line with a low rated, patchwork OL.]

- All game modes now run at the same game speed.

- Blocking: Improved pass block targeting, fixed 'players freezing' issue coming out of blocking interactions,and free O-lineman will no longer ignore nearby defender who just beat a block.

The update comes in at just 441.2 MB on PS4, making it a relatively quick download. Continue on to read the patch notes courtesy EA SPORTS. ...

With eSports growing at a rapid pace, NBA 2K & the National Basketball Association have announced the NBA 2K eLeague, which is scheduled to launch in 2018.

While long-term plans include an eSports team for every NBA franchise, the initial five-month season will feature teams for approximately only half of the league. Each team will have five professional gamers being paid salaries with the goal of making this endeavor their full-time job. Current plans include an 82-game season and playoffs for the eLeague. There has been a lack of a definitive launch timeframe and association with a specific title (to date).

What do you think of this formal eLeague? Are you interested? Will you watch or follow along?

Continue on to read coverage of this announcement from ESPN & USA Today as they have provided the most details thus far. ...

The official EA SPORTS Madden NFL 17 Super Bowl LI Game Simulation predicts that the New England Patriots will rally to defeat the Atlanta Falcons 27-24 in Sunday's match-up.

In a battle going down to the wire, the sim has Tom Brady connecting on a 4th & 4 touchdown pass to Julian Edelman to win the Vince Lombardi Trophy.

Do you think the game will play out like the simulation? How do you see the game playing out?

Continue on to see the simulation and to read the game recap from EA SPORTS. ...

Available this week only (Jan. 31 - Feb. 7) is the Madden NFL 17 Super Bowl LI Edition. For just $20, this digital download provides purchasers with the full game of Madden NFL 17 plus 5 All-Pro Packs for Madden Ultimate Team. This digital download is only available on Xbox Live & PlayStation Network.

Continue on to see the official press release on the Madden NFL 17 Super Bowl LI Edition courtesy EA SPORTS. ...

Game update 1.06 is now available for NHL 17.

Available just one week after game update 1.05 & tuner update 1.02, this patch fixes some smaller issues/bugs. These include, but are not limited to game crashes, HUT Competitive Seasons bugs, & more.

Continue on to read the patch notes published by EA SPORTS. ...

Game update 1.09 is now available for Madden NFL 17. While light on gameplay improvements, it does address an exploit that allowed users to have a high rate of success blocking field goals.

The primary area of focus for this patch is Madden Ultimate Team and more specifically, MUT Seasons. Season progress, playoff presentation, night games, and also a bug fix in this game update all help to improve this mode within MUT.

Continue on to read the patch notes straight from EA SPORTS.

Also, this weekend (Thu-Sat) is Madden Bowl from Orlando, site of the Pro Bowl. The competition will be streamed on YouTube. ...

In their latest development blog posted on the PlayStation website, MLB The Show 17 has released more information on Retro Mode, regional cover athletes, pre-order bonuses, & the 2017 developer blog and Twitch livestream schedule.

- A nod to baseball games of past, Retro Mode allows user to play with simplified controls and old school presentation graphics/UI elements. Pitching in the mode consists of using just one button, X, and the direction analog stick will help adjust pitch type and velocity.

- In Canada, the cover athlete will be Toronto's Aaron Sanchez. In Taiwan, Miami's Wei-Yin Chen will grace the cover.

- The blog/Twitch schedule reveals a new presentation package and two new commentators joining the booth. While details have been edited out with asterisks, it is believed that the intended text is 'MLB Network Presentation Package' and 'Harold Reynolds & Jon Smoltz Join the Booth.' Presentation details will come via a Twitch stream on March 2.

Continue on to read the full blog to read the details of the pre-order bonuses and to view the pre-release content schedule. ...

Content update #3 (title update 1.05) is now available for EA SPORTS NHL 17.

The biggest inclusion is the addition of a new feature, Competitive Seasons, within Hockey Ultimate Team. This mode will allow users to compete in a monthly season format to earn rewards. The better the player fares each month, the better the reward that can be earned at the season's end.

Also included within this update are improvements/changes to gameplay, EASHL, and presentation, along with Tuner 1.02.

Continue on to read details of content update #3 straight from EA SPORTS. ...

Madden NFL Mobile has received a new January update including updating the digital cover athlete to Pittsburgh's Antonio Brown after previously highlighting Rob Gronkowski and then Von Miller in previous updates.

The primary focus of this update includes changes to Defensive Gameplans to help alleviate the severity and harshness of some counters. Other additions within this update include social media sharing, quick selling coin collectibles from the pack opening screen (ala NBA LIVE Mobile), as well as stability fixes.

Continue on to read the blog from developer Danny Doeberling. ...

With the Nintendo Switch now publicly detailed and heading towards its March 3 release date, for those in the sports gaming community the focus has shifted towards game options, both short & long-term.

During the Nintendo Switch Presentation and subsequent release of console and game information, only two sports titles for the console were announced: EA SPORTS FIFA and NBA 2K18. Both are scheduled for a fall 2017 release with 2K18 detailed for a September release.

During the life-cycle of both the Nintendo Wii and Wii U, 3rd party titles were lacking, specifically in the sports realm. While EA SPORTS began making titles for the Wii, they were often considered lacking features, if not watered down ports of the console version(s).

While there is some speculation that EA SPORTS FIFA on the Switch will be built off of the PS3/360 versions of the title (speculation EA denies, by the way), NBA 2K18 will reportedly include many of the same features as the PS4/XB1 version: MyPLAYER, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyLEAGUE, and MyGM. ...

EA SPORTS FIFA 17 Title Update #4 is set for release on PC, with the PS4 & XB1 versions in the near future.

The update includes fixes/improvements across gameplay, FIFA Ultimate Team, Career Mode, and Visuals/Presentation.

Continue on to see the update notes. ...