NASCAR Heat Evolution developer & publisher Dusenberry Martin Racing has announced that it is rebranding to 704Games. Along with the name change, the company has hired Paul Brooks as CEO. Brooks is a former senior vice president of NASCAR and president of NASCAR media group. In 2016 he became an investor in DMR and serves as Chairman of the Board.

704Games will be releasing a NASCAR mobile racing game this spring and a sequel to the console version of NASCAR Heat Evolution this fall. ...

Game update 1.08 is now available for EA SPORTS FIFA 17.

The update focuses primarily on Ultimate Team, visuals/presentation, along with a few gameplay changes.

Continue on to read the patch notes via the PS4. ...

In the final Twitch livestream before the release of MLB The Show 17, the development team broadcasted what they referred to as a "Mega Stream."

In the lengthy broadcast, the devs showcased graphical improvements (including lighting, faces, grass tech, classic stadiums, & more), Road to the Show, and the annual developer tournament.

Continue on to see the archived segments featuring graphical improvements as well as a look at Road to the Show. ...

Game update 1.11 is now available for Madden NFL 17. This update addresses issues in gameplay, Ultimate Team, and also some stability issues.

The most noteworthy fix addresses a bug where the offensive tackle would play a blocking animation without actually engaging a defender.

Continue on to see the patch notes courtesy EA SPORTS. ...

Madden NFL Mobile has received its second update of 2017. The update adds in on the field playcalling, inbox improvements, and Defensive Gameplan tuning.

Continue on to read the blog entry from Madden NFL Mobile Designer Danny Doeberling. ...

Ahead of Thursday's MLB The Show 17 Road to the Show Twitch livestream, Senior Designer Steve Merka has posted a new entry at the PlayStation Blog detailing some of the changes coming to the mode this year.

In MLB The Show 17, RTTS will play out like a RPG (Role-Playing Game) allowing the user to customize the look, playing style, and path of their created player. The ultimate goal is to become a Hall Of Fame player and make it to Cooperstown.

Continue on to read Merka's blog.

(Also, if the name Steve Merka sounds familiar, it should: Merka is a former designer from EA SPORTS' NCAA Football franchise.) ...

March Madness is upon us and that means it is time for the 2017 TGT Tournament Challenge on ESPN.com. It is free to join the group and the winner of the Tournament Challenge group will receive their choice of either a $20 PSN, XBL, or Nintendo card if they are not a site Donator. If a site Donator wins, they will receive a free game of their choosing (up to $60 value). (Must be Donator by March 22, 2017.)

Feel free to invite friends and family to join the group. The more, the merrier! Continue on for a direct link to the Tournament Challenge group and then share your Final Four predictions with the community. ...

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. ...