Just ahead of EA Play and E3, EA SPORTS has released two lengthy blogs on the improvements coming to Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 17. Part two of the Franchise blogs focuses on Big Decisions, a methodology that surfaces important decisions the user must make, and some of the top community requests added to the game, such as an in-game score ticker, full player editing, and practice squad.

As Franchise Mode has underachieved - and been underdeveloped - in the eyes of many the last few years, M17 aims to change that by satisfying some of the biggest community requests. An in-game score ticker will help keep users connected to other games that week in the Franchise, even updating other user scores (if game is completed) during the action. Commissioners have the ability to fully edit rosters, including player ratings, appearance, and even contract terms. Highly requested, each team now has a practice squad, allowing them to develop ten players but be careful - as in real life, these players are essentially free agents and can be poached by other squads.

Big Decisions surface the major options and choices a user must make during the course of a season that, if they existed prior, were previously hidden or buried in menus. Now, they are brought front and center.

Continue on for part two of the Franchise Mode improvement blogs by Senior Designer John White. ...

Just ahead of EA Play and E3, EA SPORTS has released two lengthy blogs on the improvements coming to Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 17. Part one of the Franchise blogs focuses on features that help to streamline the experience/playing time within the mode and also changes to the weekly Game-Planning feature.

To help users play through more games at a faster pace (or avoid getting bored by full games), Play The Moment will allow users to hop in and play the game-defining or manually selected situations. As the game simulates towards each possible Moment, the user can select from variable simulation speeds. SuperSim has been improved both visually and behind the scenes. The engine will now try to always reach the NFL-average of 120 snaps regardless of quarter length.

Oft-criticized in the past, Game-Planning is now more efficient and helps to prepare the user for their foe each week. Game-plans can be selected that can take away the opponent's strength, highlight the user team's strength, or give XP to positions of need. Users will see Tendencies for their foe each week that they can practice for with specific drills. If the user completes/masters those goals, they can receive in-game boosts when calling those particular plays.

Continue on for part one of the Franchise Mode improvement blogs by Senior Designer John White. ...

Madden NFL 17 continues to innovate by becoming more accessible to those with vision issues with options to enlarge graphics, colorblind support, and brightness/contrast controls. Similar options have become common in major titles, but sports franchises have been slow to adjust until now.

Continue on to read the full blog from designer Karen Stevens and learn how to suggest additional accessibility features for the future of the franchise. ...

With many Madden NFL fans becoming tired of the long-time commentary from Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, M17 will feature a new commentary team of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis.

Gaudin has recently covered Georgia Tech athletics while also working for Westwood One and the Big Ten Network. He is most recently recognized for his radio call on the Miracle on Techwood; Georgia Tech's improbable last-second victory over Florida State last season. Davis is an analyst for the NFL Network and Fox Sports. Both men have spent several days each week recording lines at EA Tiburon leading to unprecedented depth in game commentary. In addition, this access will include the ability for additional commentary to be recording during the season and implemented into the game.

Continue on to read the full blog from Designer Christian McLeod. ...

The feature overview has been released for NHL 17.

- Two new features include the World Cup of Hockey and Draft Champions.

- Franchise Mode has expanded the aspects a user can control for a team, all while the user must satisfy the watchful eye of the owner who will have goals that must be met.

- EASHL returns with a uniform and arena creator.

- The ECHL has been added to the game featuring all 27 teams and accurate uniforms & rosters.

Unfortunately, the popular GM Connected mode from NHL last-gen does not return this year.

Continue on to read the released NHL 17 feature list courtesy EA SPORTS to learn about some of the gameplay improvements, including goal-tending play and Net Battles. ...

Ahead of EA Play (EA's new standalone event during E3), the company has released a teaser trailer for FIFA 17 entitled 'Football has changed.' The video confirms the inclusion/switch to the Frostbite Engine and it is believed that all EA SPORTS titles will be changing to Frostbite in the immediate near-future.

Disclosed as part of the trailer reveal are four new football ambassadors: James Rodriguez of Real Madrid C.F., Anthony Martial of Manchester United, Eden Hazard of Chelsea FC, and Marco Reus of Borussia Dortmund.

The full FIFA 17 trailer will be available June 12. Continue on to see the reveal trailer as well as the press release from EA SPORTS. ...

Similarly to last year, fans who pre-order NBA 2K17 will receive/be able to play the Early Tip-Off Edition; this year on Friday, September 16. (Presumably the game will be available for those who do not pre-order on Tuesday, September 20.)

This year, NBA 2K offers three different versions of the game: the Standard Edition, Legend Edition, and Legend Edition Gold. Each varies in price and content. Continue on to see the known items included for each version. ...

The fourth content update for EA SPORTS UFC 2 is now available for download worldwide on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. This content update adds two new fighters, UFC Ultimate Team features, and gameplay updates.

The two new fighters added are Women's Strawweight Karolina Kowalkiewicz and men's Featherweight Thiago Tavares. Ultimate Team improvements include Fighter Showpieces (think Collections) that can unlock new rewards.

Continue on to read the full blog from EA SPORTS. ...

Officially announced during the finals of the NBA 2K16 Road to the Finals championship livestream, Paul George will be the NBA 2K17 cover athlete for the standard ($60) version of the game. The cover is very similar in design to that of NBA 2K16 (which featured Curry, Harden, and Davis) in featuring several images of George. One background image is of him in his Team USA jersey, which could infer the inclusion of Olympic squads in NBA 2K17.

The Pacers' star suffered a compound fracture of both bones in his lower right leg in August 2014 during a Team USA scrimmage. He would return to play the final six games of the 2014-15 season. This season he helped the Pacers to a 45-37 record and a playoff appearance while averaging a career high 23.1 PPG.

George is no surprise given he is already the digital cover athlete for the NBA 2K App and also with his prominence in the "Legends Live On" trailer/commercial for the Legend Edition of NBA 2K17 with Kobe Bryant as the cover athlete. ...