NHL 21 can now be downloaded as a timed trial with EA Play on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The EA Access subscription service was rebranded as EA Play back in August.
Subscribers to the base service will get 10 hours of playtime after which it will expire requiring a second EA Play account to get 10 more hours or the game to be purchased come release. The timer ticks down whenever the game is loaded regardless of whether it is being actively played, menus navigated, or if there is any activity taking place at all. Because of that make sure to exit out and close the application from the respective home screens when not in use.
The 10 hours are there to play immediately but can continue to be used even beyond release. Any progress made in the various modes and online results will carry over if a full copy is purchased. The complete game is available during the trial period.
EA Access launched July 2014 on Xbox One and later was joined by Origin Access on PC. After being prevented by Sony from releasing the service on PS4 it was finally cleared to launch on the system last year. EA Play includes the “Vault” which offers unlimited play with nearly every game from the company’s catalog this generation, 10% off all digital purchases, and the ability to play games up to five days before they release with a limited timed trial. EA Play is $30 for a full year or $5 month-to-month. Later this year EA Play will be included with Xbox Game Pass.
NHL 21 will not be releasing dedicated Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 versions however the current-gen title will be playable on those systems. Those who pre-order the game will receive ‘NHL 94: Rewind’ which features updated rosters for the throwback game.
2K Sports today unveiled the first trailer for the next-gen (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X) versions of NBA 2K21. It’s just a little over a month now until those consoles release and promotion for the upcoming games will now be picking up. While expectations for the sports games are generally low in the transition – some visual improvements and elimination of load times – 2K21 has the most potential for a significant leap and have promised more from it than EA.
Specific improvements to expect with next-gen NBA 2K21 gameplay have been highlighted below, however more on MyCareer, MyGM, MyLeague, and the Neighborhood will be shared in the weeks ahead.
♦An eye-popping leap in graphical advancements: next-gen lighting, textures, physics, animations, and more that push NBA 2K21’s visual presentation to the bleeding edge
♦Rebuilt player movement and player impact, driven by new on-court animation and collision engines that make for a smoother, tougher game
♦The entire arena comes to life, with more than 150 unique AI-driven characters interacting seamlessly to create a groundbreaking Lower Bowl experience
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Latest big issue for NBA 2K21 are modded controllers guaranteeing green releases.
♦Patch that affects gameplay and adds new abilities went out for Madden NFL 21.
♦That introduced a pass-catching bug that had to be fixed in a follow-up patch.
♦Details on roster update following week two with ratings changes in Madden NFL 21.
♦Changes that have been made to FIFA 21 following beta feedback received in August.
♦Developer blog goes into what’s new for the Volta Football mode with FIFA 21.
♦Complete list of all the leagues/clubs and the stadiums found in FIFA 21.
♦EA Sports introduced a new mode called HUT Rush for Ultimate Team in NHL 21.
♦The incredibly popular Rocket League has now converted into a free-to-play game.
♦Details on latest patch updating gameplay and adding fighters to EA Sports UFC 3.
♦Football Manager 2021 will be released on Xbox Series X but not PlayStation 5.
♦Season update is out turning PES 2020 into 2021 instead of regular annual release.
♦Details on the weekly roster update with ratings changes out for MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on the latest content program for Diamond Dynasty in MLB The Show 20.
♦Out of the Park Baseball 21 is being offered on sale for just $10 until October 8.
Among the best sports games of 2020 is Super Mega Baseball 3 and it’s about to get a new feature with immense potential. A free update on September 29 will introduce Online Leagues which notably can involve users from all different platforms. That means it won’t matter whether someone owns the game on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch or PC as everyone will be able to play together in a league. Read more
2K Sports has just rolled out a major patch for NBA 2K21 that addresses community feedback across various modes in the game as well as gameplay. Most notable are the dramatic changes made to shooting which have been roundly rejected by consumers and a fix to 2K Share which had not worked at all since release.
Putting in a mechanic that changes maybe the most fundamental element of a basketball game without actually telling players about it or how to use it was a huge unforced error on the developer’s part. That along with the game feeling almost unnecessary with over three months before even the new season will begin has resulted in the lowest rated 2K game in series’ history and early indications are sales numbers are lagging behind 2K20 also. Read more
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦Patch details with some minor fixes and content adds for Madden NFL 21.
♦Patch details fixing some uniform and stat issues for Madden NFL 21.
♦First roster update primarily handling transactions went live in Madden 21.
♦Amazon selling the deluxe edition of Madden NFL 21 for $17 off launch price.
♦Gameplay patch addressing community feedback in the works for NBA 2K21.
♦NBA 2K21’s Metacritic score is 15 points worse than previous series low.
♦The 2K Share feature has not worked at all since the release of NBA 2K21.
♦EA Sports unveiled the top 100 rated players for the upcoming FIFA 21.
♦The EASFC catalogue has been removed with FIFA 21 redistributing items.
♦Promised update adding Custom Pennant Race to Super Mega Baseball 3 is near.
♦Details on latest roster update with ratings changes for MLB The Show 20.
♦New content for Diamond Dynasty mode this week in MLB The Show 20.
♦Microsoft announced the price and release date for Xbox Series S and X.
♦Additionally Microsoft revealed EA Play will be included in Game Pass subs.
♦Games optimized for new Xbox consoles include Madden, FIFA, NBA 2K.
Despite the current NBA season still ongoing and the next one several months away from tipping off NBA 2K21 has just released and to the lowest review scores in series’ history. But it’s the changes that have been made to shooting that have caused the biggest disruption. What’s been done, why it was messed with in the first place, and how it can be fixed are all discussed on this episode of the Press Row Podcast.
Rich, Pastapadre, and Mills also go over the latest patch news for Madden NFL 21 and go into the surprising announcement of Colin Kaepernick being added to the game in an unprecedented and controversial fashion.
Check out the podcast through Apple Podcasts for iOS, on Android with the Stitcher app, or with Pocket Casts on iOS, Android, and Windows. The show can now also be found on Spotify! Subscribe and give the podcast five star reviews to help support the show. You can also listen with the streaming player found below.
The Line Drive is a weekly collection of news, links, deal alerts, and updates that didn’t necessarily warrant their own postings.
♦NBA 2K21 is now the lowest rated in series’ history with a current 67 Metacritic score.
♦Adjustments are being made to shooting in NBA 2K21 after changes led to poor results.
♦Even the cover athlete has been confounded by the shooting as it stands in NBA 2K21.
♦The mobile companion app is out for iOS and Android devices for NBA 2K21.
♦The first patch for Franchise in Madden NFL 21 has been laid out and will arrive mid-Nov.
♦Despite headlines EA Sports did not actually claim Madden NFL 21 sales are up 20%.
♦The metric they used allowed them to spin it as a sales win but is a meaningless one.
♦A look at some of the player data statistics from the first week playing Madden NFL 21.
♦New lawsuit against EA over lootboxes as gambling joins others faced by various pubs.
♦Details on a patch that addressed some early issues with PGA Tour 2K21.
♦EA Sports has removed pop-up ads from UFC 4 after widespread backlash.
♦Details on the latest patch affecting gameplay and more in EA Sports UFC 4.
♦EA Sports laid out what to expect from World of Chel in the upcoming NHL 21.
♦Rewards are being offered for NHL 20 players that will appear in NHL 21.
♦Full schedule of when to expect news drops on other features for NHL 21.
♦Details on latest roster update with ratings changes made for MLB The Show 20.
♦Details on a minor audio update that has gone out for MLB The Show 20.