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The Sports Desk – A Conversation On The NHL 18 Online Beta
EA Canada's online beta for NHL 18 is just about to end (August 1), and Kim, Bertz, and I have been putting it through its paces, testing out the new Threes mode, increased deke/defensive stick features, and getting impressions of the multiplayer experience overall.
After playing we sat down and had a chat about the beta, the modes and its gameplay, and included some footage of the title in action.
Missed some of the previous Sports Desk entries? Take a look at the past installments via our Hub page by clicking on the banner below.
Have a suggestion or comment? Put it in the comments section below, send me an email, or reach me on twitter at @mattkato.
BIG CHANGES FOR NBA 2K18'S MYGM MODE 
Stories aren't just for superstar players. NBA 2K18 is making big changes to it's MyGM mode, including infusing it with a story, casting you as a former player-turned GM. This narrative lasts only the first season and offseason, but regardless, the mode also includes a bunch of other important additions, including a revamped free agency, analytics, and more. Check out Bertz's full preview here.
RELEASE LIST 
Madden NFL 18 (PS4, Xbox One) - August 25
F1 2017 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - August 25
Everybody's Golf (PS4) - August 29
Pro Evolution Soccer 2018 (PS4, Xbox One, PC, PS3, 360) - September 12
NASCAR Heat 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - September 12
NHL 18 (PS4, Xbox One) - September 15
NBA 2K18 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS3, 360) - September 19
Project Cars 2 (PS4, Xbox One, PC) - September 22
FIFA 18 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC, PS3, 360) - September 29
THE TICKER
A quick rundown of some of the sports news from the week
Madden 18 Ratings Start To Surface
Madden Devs Discuss Plans To Fix Legacy Issues
You can also check out the dev blogs on blocking and more on the coaching adjustments. I've wanted coaching adjustments since NCAA was still around, and the cat-and-mouse game of finding the free man blitzing is interesting. Given that the series already has enough blocking mixups, however, I'm curious how well all this A.I. logic is implemented and executed appropriately.
FIFA 18 Dives Into Gameplay Features
These changes are welcome visually, but I also want teams as a whole to attack, etc. different from each other and act like they do in real life. Let's hope that FIFA 18 can pull that off too.
NFL Redzone/Sports Package Added To PlayStation Vue
Madden/Xbox One S Release Bundle
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