Sports sim roundup: What Super League means for FIFA video game

April 20, 2021

by Mitch Reames

Sports simulation titles are some of the best selling video games in the world but they can also be controversial at times. Loot boxes and user review bombs have caused both legal and community issues over the last few years. Still, these titles regularly appear on best selling lists and esports leagues have been built around them with the support of the actual sports league they model. Here’s a roundup of some recently intriguing stories around some of the more popular sports sims.

FIFA might have a Super League-sized issue

FIFA is the most popular of all the sports sims by a solid margin thanks to the global popularity of the sport. But international soccer was thrown into turmoil this week as 12 of the top teams in Europe banded together to announce plans to form a “Super League.” The teams who joined are some of the world’s best including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City and Manchester United. Although on Tuesday some of the teams were already starting to back out of the Super League, throwing the viability of the new league into question.

In response to this league, both UEFA and FIFA have said that players who take part will be banned from other competitions including domestic leagues like the English Premier League and La Liga and international competitions like the Champions League and possibly the World Cup.

For fans of FIFA the video game, it could mean the title will be without all Super League clubs. This is a huge blow as FIFA players enjoy playing with the best teams and players in the world. As of right now, the plans for the Super League are merely plans; it hasn’t been set in stone. But if this were to happen, FIFA 22 would be missing many of the top clubs and players.

While FIFA is by far the most popular soccer game in the world, there is a competitor to it already in eFootball PES, formerly Pro Evolution Soccer, made by Konami. The game has been released for two decades and has sold well. With the Super League being created, if eFootball PES can grab the gaming rights to the new league, that could be the deal that pushes eFootball PES past FIFA.

The NBA 2K League welcomes two women ahead of fourth season

Operating since 2018, the NBA 2K League has reached a level of consistency in esports that no other sports sim has reached when it comes to sustaining a full league. Even with the pandemic causing issues, the 2K League ran a fully online season that aired on ESPN2 about 30 times over the course of the season as traditional sports were on hiatus.

With that momentum, the NBA 2K League enters its fourth season with increased representation as well. In 2018, the first woman was drafted to the league in Chiquita Evans. In the most recent draft, two more women were added to rosters. Alaina “DJLayyy” Haney was drafted by Celtics Crossover Gaming and Ziah “Ziah” Minor was drafted by Mavs Gaming.

Players are stacking cows in MLB The Show

In MLB land, players are having a lot of fun with Stadium Creator, the new stadium customization feature. The game officially comes out Tuesday, and some players already have gotten a sneak peak and created the content nobody knew they wanted but everyone enjoyed. Cowl Poles:

With cross-platform play coming to the series for the first time and the game being available on Xbox Game Pass, MLB the Show is making a run for increased status in the world of sports sims. According to the review from Screen Rant, there is a lag spike when playing online after pitches are thrown, which could cause some big issues on the competitive side of the game. But you can also put T-Rexes in the stands so it seems like that evens out.

NHL 21 is added to Xbox Game Pass and EA Play

NHL, or Chell as many players call it, is much like the actual sport in that it’s obscenely popular in some regions and an afterthought in many others. For people who haven’t played it, the fast paced and fluid action of hockey actually makes for a really entertaining game. Plus, you get to check people into the boards at full speeds.

On April 12, NHL 21 was added to Xbox Game Pass, allowing subscribers to get a look at the game without committing to buying it outright. With sports sims often breaking gamers’ banks, the rise of Game Pass and subscription-based models could be a huge win for fans of these titles.

Madden gets roasted by NFL players (again)

When Madden 21 was released, fans of the series coordinated an effort to share how unhappy they were. The result was the all time lowest user score in Metacritic history with a 0.2/10. Although that review was clearly manipulated, critics didn’t exactly disagree with the community, going with a 63.

When that campaign was going on, many NFL players spoke out about their own issues with the game. Some of those complaints are still coming out. Over the weekend, Kerryon Johnson, a running back for the Detroit Lions, tweeted this out:

That play, a Hail Mark interception that somehow ended up as a safety to lose the game by one point, is so hilariously far-fetched it’s hard not to laugh. Other people responded with their own glitched out Madden plays as well.

The main complaint from players about the Madden franchise is that the game isn’t changing much year to year despite a price of $59.99. Or $79.99 or $99.99. When Reddit user balloonslayer47 found the Madden 19 banner in Madden 20, those critiques were all but confirmed.

Lead image credit: EA