EA Sports
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25
The Saquan Barkley spin hurdle is now one of the best signature football plays since Odell Beckham Jr.’s epic one-handed grab, and can now be done in Madden NFL 25.
In its latest Gridiron Notes, EA Sports shared that Madden NFL 25 players will see several new updates in the game following the release of the latest update.
The inclusion of Saquan Barkley’s spin hurdle heads those updates. It has easily taken the lead in being THE PLAY of the 2024-25 NFL season, so it should come as no surprise that the developers at Tiburon went out of their way to get the move into the game, showing off the impressive power of the new physics engine.
Here is a breakdown of how they got the incredible football play into the video game:
The next step was to pore through hours of real-life motion capture and figure out which animations could be combined, adjusted and tweaked to give us Saquon’s surrealism. Spade said the genesis of the animation came from old Superstar Mode motion capture, and with a little “animator magic,” what they concocted conjured the spectacle that is Saquon Barkley.
Madden Game Designer Spade spoke about the move, saying, “It’s rare, this day and age, to see something that’s never been done before. That’s when we knew we wanted it in-game.”
See Saquan Barkley pulling off the move in-game below.
So, how do you pull off the move? EA shared the instructions:
Triggering the Saquon Spin Hurdle – To trigger the spin hurdle the ball-carrier must be Saquon Barkley, the defender must be incoming from a 45 degree angle in front of the ball carrier, the defender must be within a close proximity to the ball carrier, and the user must press the hurdle button with the right timing.
Other Updates Coming To Madden NFL 25
Barkley’s incredible play isn’t the only addition to the game following the latest update. Madden gamers can expect many fixes, quality-of-life improvements, updates to players, game modes, and new gear.
Head here to see the full breakdown of the latest Madden NFL 25 update.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25/ Travis Kelce
No surprise, but Travis Kelce is back in the Madden NFL 99 Club.
Travis Kelce continues to keep winning. The Kansas City Chiefs All-Pro tight end is coming off his third Super Bowl championship and is in one of the most high-profile relationships in the world thanks to hooking up with Taylor Swift.
Now, Kelce can add being the only NFL tight end to earn a spot in the Madden NFL 99 Club three times. Kelce joins former teammate Tyreek Hill, Madden NFL 25 cover athlete Christian McCaffrey, and offensive line Trent Williams.
Along with the announcement that Williams was making the club, EA also dropped the ratings for edge rushers and other offensive linemen.
Edge Rushers Offensive Linemen
Myles Garrett (98 OVR) 1. Trent Williams (99 OVR)
Micah Parsons (98 OVR) 2. Zack Martin (97 OVR)
T.J. Watt (97 OVR) 3. Penei Sewell (96 OVR)
Maxx Crosby (97 OVR) 4. Lane Johnson (95 OVR)
Nick Bosa (96 OVR) 5. Tyron Smith (95 OVR)
Josh Hines-Allen (91 OVR) 6. Tristan Wirfs (94 OVR)
DeMarcus Lawrence (91 OVR) 7. Chris Lindstrom (94 OVR)
Khalil Mack (90 OVR) 8. Laremy Tunsil (94 OVR)
Alex Highsmith (89 OVR) 9. Frank Ragnow (93 OVR)
Trey Hendrickson (89 OVR) 10. Creed Humphrey (92 OVR
Travis Kelce’s Briefcase Had Some Different Swag In It
Like his fellow NFL brethren before him, Kelce was gifted with a briefcase, a golden Xbox controller, and a custom greeting from retired New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
The only thing that made his 99 Club care package different was that he was given a custom podcast microphone instead of the gold chains the other players received.
Here is the complete list of highly-rated tight ends and cornerbacks.
Tight Ends Cornerbacks
Travis Kelce (99 OVR) 1. Sauce Gardner (97 OVR)
George Kittle (97 OVR) 2. Jalen Ramsey (96 OVR)
Mark Andrews (94 OVR) 3. Patrick Surtain II (95 OVR)
T.J. Hockenson (91 OVR) 4. Jaire Alexander (93 OVR)
David Njoku (90 OVR) 5. L’Jarius Sneed (92 OVR)
Evan Engram (88 OVR) 6. Charvarius Ward (91 OVR)
Sam LaPorta (86 OVR) 7. Marlon Humphrey (91 OVR)
Dallas Goedert (85 OVR) 8. Denzel Ward (90 OVR)
Dalton Schultz (84 OVR) 9. Trent McDuffie (90 OVR)
Cole Kmet (83 OVR) 10. Marhson Lattimore (90 OVR)
Trent Williams and McCaffrey are the first two 49ers to have joined the club at the same time. But we are optimistic they won’t be the only teammates because Kelce’s favorite quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, will also make the list.
Along with today’s latest 99 Club announcements, EA Sports released another deep dive video for Madden NFL 25 and revealed the new kickoff rules will be in the game.
Below are the reactions from the latest Madden NFL 99 Club members. Click here for the complete list of ratings.
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: EA Sports / Tiburon / Madden NFL 25/ Tyreek Hill
Next to the release of the NFL schedule, learning who will join Madden NFL’s exclusive 99 club and the ratings of star players in the league have become yearly significant events. Like last year, a receiver is the first player to land in the prestigious club.
The first name announced joining Madden NFL 25’s 99 Club is none other than the Cheetah, Miami Dolphins’ speedy wideout Tyreek Hill.
With the announcement, Hill became the first Dolphins player ever to earn the honor.
Last year, Minnesota Vikings star receiver Justin Jefferson got the 99 Club party started this year, so it was only right that Hill got the honor.
Jefferson’s rating took a 1-point hit this year; he is 98, still pretty high, but we are sure he feels he also believes he should still be in the 99 Club.
The Madden NFL official X account shared a video of Hill receiving a briefcase featuring his custom gold chain and custom Xbox Elite controller and a video from Eli Manning welcoming him to the 99 Club.
Also, just like the previous year, EA Sports has launched an official website where you can check the ratings as they are released.
They also revealed the top receivers and safeties in the game.
Wide Receivers Safeties
Tyreek Hill (99 OVR) 1. Jessie Bates III (97 OVR)
Justin Jefferson (98 OVR) 2. Antoine Winfield Jr. (94 OVR)
Ceedee Lamb (96 OVR) 3. Minkah Fitzpatrick (93 OVR)
A.J. Brown (95 OVR) 4. Derwin James Jr. (91 OVR)
Amon-Ra St. Brown (95 OVR) 5. Tyrann Mathieu (91 OVR)
Davante Adams (94 OVR) 6. Budda Baker (90 OVR)
Ja’Marr Chase (93 OVR) 7. Kevin Byard III (89 OVR)
Stefon Diggs (92 OVR) 8. Kyle Hamilton (89 OVR)
Brandon Aiyuk (91 OVR) 9. Talanoa Hufanga (88 OVR)
Mike Evans (91 OVR) 10. Jevon Holland (88 OVR)
EA Sports will team with ESPN to roll out 99 Club members throughout the week and will share that news with you as its announced.
Once Again, It’s Arguing Time
Of course, like every year, there are reactions to these ratings. Some are stunned that Hill is the first Dolphins player to make it in the club.
“First ever is wild seeing that Marino, Jason Taylor, and Zach Thomas,” one person on X, formerly Twitter, wrote.
Another user wrote, “Stefon Diggs rated too high (based on age and canyon of a drop off last year), Jamar Chase rated too low. Jefferson probably deserves 99 based on how he dominated consistently even after missing a big chunk of the season last year.”
We only expect the discourse to get louder when other positions are revealed.
If we had to guess who would be in there, we think Patrick Mahomes will end up in the 99 Club.
[embedded content]
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Lol, now be nice
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: EA Sports / UFC 5
UFC 5 is coming and is aiming to be EA Sports’ best combat sports video game since Fight Night Champion.
Thursday, September 7, EA Sports dropped the first trailer for UFC 5 featuring UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya, who is the cover athlete for the deluxe edition of the game, and Alexander Volkanovski and former UFC flyweight champion Valentina Shevchenko, who cover the standard edition.
The Frostbite Engine Is Entering The Octagon
When UFC 5 arrives, it will be the first game in the MMA video game franchise to be powered by EA’s Frostbite Engine. It will introduce the all-new Real Impact System that the developer says will make the game “the definitive MMA experience with authentic gameplay and graphics maximized for modern consoles.”
EA claims the Frostbite Engine will “enhance” the realism in the game thanks to high-speed 60 frames-per-second rendering and gameplay simulation.
“UFC 5 offers an intensely realistic fighting experience, harnessing Frostbite’s power and technology,” said Nate McDonald, EA SPORTS UFC 5’s Lead Producer. “From our Real Impact System that helps maximize the power of the generational hardware leap to the enhanced lighting, detailed characters,strand-based hair, and face animation system, every aspect is upgraded. Our collaboration with UFC delivers an unparalleled and authentic MMA interactive experience.”
“UFC 5 captures all the sweat, blood, and commitment that it takes to be successful in the Octagon,” said Volkanovski. “Trust me, the level of immersion that EA SPORTS has recreated with this game is the ultimate representation of the sport.
The Real Impact System will allow players to experience realistic blow-by-blow damage with hyper-accurate progression as your fighter’s attributes realistically deteriorate throughout a fight.
Thanks to 64,000 possible facial damage combinations, players can feel the power behind each blow. The new fluid physics and particle systems elevate how blood and sweat are shed in the Octagon.
[embedded content]
Other Features Coming To UFC 5
Along with a new engine and the Real Impact System, other features coming to UFC 5 include:
Cinematic K.O. Replay: Cinematic K.O. replays showcase fight-ending finishes with intensified visuals and enhanced excitement. Presented in super slow motion with cinematic angles and lighting, the impact of fight-ending shots represents highlight reel moments recapturing the drama of a UFC fight.
Doctor’s Checks and Stoppages: Suffering a notable injury prompts the referee to pause the fight for a ringside doctor’s inspection. Failure to adapt and protect the injury from further damage can lead to a doctor’s stoppage, which introduces true-to-sport strategic variables for players to navigate under heightened pressure.
New Strikes and Hit Reactions: New Strike animations emulate heavy hitters and professional kickboxers and more coupled with new motion variations for ground and pound elbows, spinning attacks, body punches, and calf kicks. Plus, the Hit Reaction animations and physics during a frenetic fight can initiate clean connection impacts-moments players can feel with next-level immersion during gameplay.
Seamless Submissions: Revamped Seamless Submissions extend the existing grappling system with faster animation transitions and the removal of mini-games. Grapple Assist aids beginners, while veterans can explore deeper layers. Seamless submissions provide a smoother, authentic ground game for grappling enthusiasts.
Fight Week and Alter Egos: UFC 5’s launch includes a revamped live service with features like Fight Week and Fight Picks tied to real-world UFC events. Alter Egos are all new versions of top fighters that capture authentic career-defining moments and provide alternative looks and associated abilities.
Pre-Order Bonuses
EA Sports UFC 5 Standard Edition arrives on October 27 for PS5, Xbox Series S | X. The Deluxe Edition of the game arrives on October 24 for those who pre-order the game, plus grants you access to Mike Tyson, Muhammad Ali, and Pedor Emilanenko as playable characters.
For more photos, hit the gallery below.
—
Photos: EA Sports / UFC 5
1. UFC 5
Source:UFC 5
UFC 5 ufc,ea sports,ufc 5
2. UFC 5
Source:UFC 5
UFC 5 ufc,ea sports,ufc 5
3. UFC 5
Source:UFC 5
UFC 5 ufc,ea sports,ufc 5
HipHopWired Featured Video
CLOSE
Source: EA Sports / Madden NFL 24
Most reviews for Madden NFL 24 have not arrived, but the game is already getting sacked by players who have had early access to the game.
Is Madden NFL 24 fumbling the ball already? The annual football video game franchise was already reportedly a “make or break” release for management, according to an Insider Gaming report, and it’s looking like the game is already letting some players down like Matt Ryan constantly did for Atlanta Falcons fans.
Type Madden NFL 24 in the X (formerly Twitter) search bar. In that case, you will be greeted with videos of insane glitches and what is becoming the usual dissatisfaction with the iconic sports video game.
In one clip, a player looks like he dies after celebrating a kick return for a touchdown.
In another hilarious video with the caption “MADDEN 24 JUST GOT RELEASED AND I ALREADY UNINSTALLED”, a player has his pass tipped, and it somehow bounces off the back of one of his offensive linemen leading to a pick 6.
In another video, a player can be seen spinning around in circles after his team scores a touchdown.
And this is supposed to be a more polished game this year.
What Are The Critics Saying?
As of this writing, there are only three reviews on Opencritic. Sam Watanuki of SVG gave Madden NFL 24 a 7 out of 10, writing, “Madden 24″ is an enjoyable, polished ride that will please newcomers and veterans alike, but it doesn’t necessarily deliver a transformative experience.”
XboxEra’s Genghis Husameddin gave the game a 6 out 10 writing in his review, “Madden NFL 24 is made for the returning fans,” adding, “But technical issues compounded with an unintuitive user experience and unhelpful tutorials make it difficult for someone new to the sport to really sink their teeth into American Football. Still, the core gameplay is solid and fun to play—I just wish it were easier to get to.”
So basically, it’s the same old Madden NFL.
Madden NFL 24 has a lot of making-up to do, especially after Madden NFL 23 players lost their connected franchise saves due to an update pushed out by EA Tiburon.
The game developer gave players a 50% discount to ensure no goodwill was strained. Based on these early reactions, it’s looking like Madden NFL 24 is more break than make.
We will be debating forever how to restore Madden to its championship form or if the NFL needs to let 2K get its hands on the NFL license, but as of right now, Madden NFL is all we got.
You can see more reactions to the latest installment in the Madden NFL franchise hit the gallery below.
—
Photo: EA Sports / Madden NFL 24
2. Howling
3. Man wanted his money back.
4. What is this?
12.
HipHopWired Featured Video
Source: EA / EA Sports FC
All good things eventually come to an end. When it comes time for EA to roll out its annual soccer video game, it will have a new name.
After 30 years, EA Sports, the video game studio, has moved on from FIFA and unveiled its soccer video game franchise’s new name, EA Sports FC.
The new black and white logo is simple with an EA Sports bubble next to FC, which is in the shape of a triangle, a symbol synonymous with the sport of soccer as it is the makeup of the formations on the soccer pitch and the pixels that make the game come to life.
The new logo is a product of EA and FIFA failing to reach a new licensing agreement to extend their 30-year partnership. As a result, EA will no longer use the FIFA branding in its video games.
The iconic video game studio has been using the FIFA branding since the release of the inaugural FIFA video game for the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis console in 1993.
When Will The New Logo Officially Debut?
In a press release, EA says the rebrand is “a new Football Club for the future of football we want to build together.”
“From passing techniques to set plays, the [triangle] shape has also been woven into the DNA of EA Sports football experiences for decades,” EA wrote. “From the isometric angles of our very first 8-bit experiences and the triangular polygons that make up every pixel of our most modern games, as well as the iconic player indicator symbol that appears above every athlete in every match.”
The new branding will debut this weekend during matches from the biggest soccer leagues, including the Premier League, La Liga, German Bundesliga, Ligue 1, the Women’s Super League, and the National Women’s Soccer League.
We hope this rebrand does not affect the quality of the games. EA’s soccer video games are a model of consistency.
—
Photo: EA / EA Sports FC
-
Pages