Monthly Archives: October 2020
SEGA 60th Anniversary Steam Celebration Includes Streets of Rage/Yakuza Mash-Up Game and More
SEGA’s 60th anniversary celebration is underway on Steam, with discounts on their in-house franchises and Creative Assembly’s library of Total War games. Most unusually, SEGA has also announced the publication of three new games that include a Yakuza/Streets of Rage mash-up and a playable canceled Golden Axe game.
The Yakuza/Streets of Rage mash-up, appropriately titled “Streets of Kamurocho,” features Yakuza protagonists Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in traditional 2D pixel form brawling their way through waves of street thugs and enemy Yakuza. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sega-60th-anniversary-streets-of-kamurocho-golden-axed-armor-of-heroes-screenshots-ign&captions=true"]The trailer shows a brief glimpse of Kiryu’s adoptive brother Akira Nishikiyama, and with the Steam description mentioning the death of the Tojo Clan’s third chairman, it seems Streets of Kamurocho will follow the events of the first game at least loosely. The Yakuza franchise is already pretty close to a traditional brawler, with its long-running focus on physical combat, so it’s got a lot of familiar brawler trappings, including using traffic cones to whack enemies with.
Streets of Kamurocho is being developed by Empty Clip Studios, which has previously made 2D “demakes” of popular franchises like Dead Island and Final Fantasy 15.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/yakuza-like-a-dragon-next-gen-announcement-trailer"]Streets of Kamurocho is free on Steam starting on October 17, and will become unavailable after 10 am PST on October 19.
SEGA also plans to release “Golden Axed,” a canceled prototype of a new Golden Axe game from the defunct SEGA Studios Australia, which closed in 2013. Golden Axed was originally meant to be one part of a compilation of 2.5D reboots of Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Streets of Rage, and an endless runner version of Shinobi.
Golden Axed, or what remains of it, is just a single level created as a proof of concept, and at times throughout its trailer, it can certainly look it. SEGA and porting studio Eccentric Ape are clearly running with it as a tongue-in-cheek bit of humor.
“Golden Axed may be janky, may be buggy, may be an artifact of its time, but it offers a unique glimpse into the prospect of a project that could have been, and a rare peek behind the curtain at the sometimes tumultuous world of video game development,” the Golden Axed Steam page reads. “We reached out to some of the original development team to bring this dusty gem to light, and they are proud that this project could be revived in some form to be shared with you, the fans.”
SEGA is releasing Golden Axed for free on Steam on October 18, but you only have until 10 am PST on October 19 to grab it.
Finally, SEGA is working with Eccentric Ape again to release Armor of Heroes, a retro tank battle game based on the Company of Heroes RTS franchise. If you ever played those browser-based tank battle games in high school, you probably have a good idea of what to expect, albeit with a modern day coat of paint. In a top-down view, up to four players can drive their tanks around and try to bounce shots around or through destructible environments to eliminate enemies across nine game modes and couch PVP co-op. If your friends aren’t up for tank warfare, it also has a single-player mode with AI opponents.
Armor of Heroes is available from October 15 to 10 a.m. PST on October 19.
SEGA fans in the west are also eagerly awaiting Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the seventh core installment of the franchise which finally introduces a new cast of characters and features a much more turn-based RPG style of combat. You can read our latest preview of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which we played on the Xbox Series X. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/yakuza-like-a-dragon-the-quest-begins-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/brawler for IGN. Hit him with a bicycle on Twitter.SEGA 60th Anniversary Steam Celebration Includes Streets of Rage/Yakuza Mash-Up Game and More
SEGA’s 60th anniversary celebration is underway on Steam, with discounts on their in-house franchises and Creative Assembly’s library of Total War games. Most unusually, SEGA has also announced the publication of three new games that include a Yakuza/Streets of Rage mash-up and a playable canceled Golden Axe game.
The Yakuza/Streets of Rage mash-up, appropriately titled “Streets of Kamurocho,” features Yakuza protagonists Kazuma Kiryu and Goro Majima in traditional 2D pixel form brawling their way through waves of street thugs and enemy Yakuza. [widget path="global/article/imagegallery" parameters="albumSlug=sega-60th-anniversary-streets-of-kamurocho-golden-axed-armor-of-heroes-screenshots-ign&captions=true"]The trailer shows a brief glimpse of Kiryu’s adoptive brother Akira Nishikiyama, and with the Steam description mentioning the death of the Tojo Clan’s third chairman, it seems Streets of Kamurocho will follow the events of the first game at least loosely. The Yakuza franchise is already pretty close to a traditional brawler, with its long-running focus on physical combat, so it’s got a lot of familiar brawler trappings, including using traffic cones to whack enemies with.
Streets of Kamurocho is being developed by Empty Clip Studios, which has previously made 2D “demakes” of popular franchises like Dead Island and Final Fantasy 15.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/05/07/yakuza-like-a-dragon-next-gen-announcement-trailer"]Streets of Kamurocho is free on Steam starting on October 17, and will become unavailable after 10 am PST on October 19.
SEGA also plans to release “Golden Axed,” a canceled prototype of a new Golden Axe game from the defunct SEGA Studios Australia, which closed in 2013. Golden Axed was originally meant to be one part of a compilation of 2.5D reboots of Golden Axe, Altered Beast, Streets of Rage, and an endless runner version of Shinobi.
Golden Axed, or what remains of it, is just a single level created as a proof of concept, and at times throughout its trailer, it can certainly look it. SEGA and porting studio Eccentric Ape are clearly running with it as a tongue-in-cheek bit of humor.
“Golden Axed may be janky, may be buggy, may be an artifact of its time, but it offers a unique glimpse into the prospect of a project that could have been, and a rare peek behind the curtain at the sometimes tumultuous world of video game development,” the Golden Axed Steam page reads. “We reached out to some of the original development team to bring this dusty gem to light, and they are proud that this project could be revived in some form to be shared with you, the fans.”
SEGA is releasing Golden Axed for free on Steam on October 18, but you only have until 10 am PST on October 19 to grab it.
Finally, SEGA is working with Eccentric Ape again to release Armor of Heroes, a retro tank battle game based on the Company of Heroes RTS franchise. If you ever played those browser-based tank battle games in high school, you probably have a good idea of what to expect, albeit with a modern day coat of paint. In a top-down view, up to four players can drive their tanks around and try to bounce shots around or through destructible environments to eliminate enemies across nine game modes and couch PVP co-op. If your friends aren’t up for tank warfare, it also has a single-player mode with AI opponents.
Armor of Heroes is available from October 15 to 10 a.m. PST on October 19.
SEGA fans in the west are also eagerly awaiting Yakuza: Like a Dragon, the seventh core installment of the franchise which finally introduces a new cast of characters and features a much more turn-based RPG style of combat. You can read our latest preview of Yakuza: Like a Dragon, which we played on the Xbox Series X. [ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/yakuza-like-a-dragon-the-quest-begins-trailer"] [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/brawler for IGN. Hit him with a bicycle on Twitter.NBA 2K21 Uses PS5’s DualSense to Simulate How Tired Players Are
The next-gen version of NBA 2K21 will feature a number of graphical and animation improvements you’d expect from the generation’s first major basketball game, but one significant new change is coming straight to your controller. In a lengthy blog post, 2K detailed how NBA 2K21 uses the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to simulate energy and fatigue levels in your team’s players.
“Something that always excites us as developers is the introduction of new hardware features that come along with new consoles,” NBA 2K gameplay director Mike Wang writes. “When we first heard about the PlayStation 5’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, we immediately began brainstorming ways to use them to enhance the gameplay experience. As soon as we got our hands on the dev kits, our lead engineer experimented with several different prototypes to figure out what made the most sense for a basketball game.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/nba-2k21-next-gen-gameplay-reveal-trailer"]According to 2K’s post, players will begin to feel more and more resistance on the sprint trigger as the character they’re controlling begins to run out of energy.
For players who like to run a strong postgame, the DualSense adaptive triggers will also factor in. Players with stronger postgame stats will feel very little resistance on the L2 trigger when backing down weaker opponents. Players with weaker postgame stats will have to pull harder on L2 if they want to do the same.
2K utilized the DualSense’s haptic feedback to assist with the always challenging issue of making it look realistic when players collide into one another.
“Boxouts, body-up rides, off-ball collisions/deny/rides… basically any situation where players make significant contact will vibrate the controller at various intensities depending on the strength of the players involved and the severity of the impact,” Wang writes. “It’s also a great reinforcement tool to understand when you’re making players work too hard on the court, which could hit their energy/stamina levels and potentially cause wear-and-tear on their bodies with our in-depth injury system.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/17/nba-2k21-review"]2K’s blog post also details improvements made to NBA 2K21’s movement, dribbling, and other collision mechanics, resulting in some convincing animations wherein a defensive player gets knocked to the ground. 2K also makes specific mention of rebuilding their foot-planting tech from the ground up, allowing players to take small procedural steps instead of sliding around the court like they’re on ice.
You can play the current-gen version of NBA 2K21 right now if you want to, though. IGN gave it a modest six out of 10 in our review, lamenting its list of mostly minor improvements and continued addiction to obnoxious microtransactions. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of NBA 2K21 will be available on their respective launch dates, November 12 and November 10. Just be prepared to pay $70 for the upgrade, which Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick reflects the "quality of the experience." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/sweatband-wearer for IGN. Dunk on him on Twitter.NBA 2K21 Uses PS5’s DualSense to Simulate How Tired Players Are
The next-gen version of NBA 2K21 will feature a number of graphical and animation improvements you’d expect from the generation’s first major basketball game, but one significant new change is coming straight to your controller. In a lengthy blog post, 2K detailed how NBA 2K21 uses the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback to simulate energy and fatigue levels in your team’s players.
“Something that always excites us as developers is the introduction of new hardware features that come along with new consoles,” NBA 2K gameplay director Mike Wang writes. “When we first heard about the PlayStation 5’s adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, we immediately began brainstorming ways to use them to enhance the gameplay experience. As soon as we got our hands on the dev kits, our lead engineer experimented with several different prototypes to figure out what made the most sense for a basketball game.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/10/06/nba-2k21-next-gen-gameplay-reveal-trailer"]According to 2K’s post, players will begin to feel more and more resistance on the sprint trigger as the character they’re controlling begins to run out of energy.
For players who like to run a strong postgame, the DualSense adaptive triggers will also factor in. Players with stronger postgame stats will feel very little resistance on the L2 trigger when backing down weaker opponents. Players with weaker postgame stats will have to pull harder on L2 if they want to do the same.
2K utilized the DualSense’s haptic feedback to assist with the always challenging issue of making it look realistic when players collide into one another.
“Boxouts, body-up rides, off-ball collisions/deny/rides… basically any situation where players make significant contact will vibrate the controller at various intensities depending on the strength of the players involved and the severity of the impact,” Wang writes. “It’s also a great reinforcement tool to understand when you’re making players work too hard on the court, which could hit their energy/stamina levels and potentially cause wear-and-tear on their bodies with our in-depth injury system.”
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/08/17/nba-2k21-review"]2K’s blog post also details improvements made to NBA 2K21’s movement, dribbling, and other collision mechanics, resulting in some convincing animations wherein a defensive player gets knocked to the ground. 2K also makes specific mention of rebuilding their foot-planting tech from the ground up, allowing players to take small procedural steps instead of sliding around the court like they’re on ice.
You can play the current-gen version of NBA 2K21 right now if you want to, though. IGN gave it a modest six out of 10 in our review, lamenting its list of mostly minor improvements and continued addiction to obnoxious microtransactions. The PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of NBA 2K21 will be available on their respective launch dates, November 12 and November 10. Just be prepared to pay $70 for the upgrade, which Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick reflects the "quality of the experience." [poilib element="accentDivider"] Joseph Knoop is a writer/producer/sweatband-wearer for IGN. Dunk on him on Twitter.Joaquin Phoenix to Play Napoleon in Ridley Scott Epic
Joaquin Phoenix to Play Napoleon in Ridley Scott Epic
The Best Teams In FIFA 21
1 - Liverpool
5 Stars / 89 ATT / 84 MID / 86 DEF
Hot off the heels of their Premier League title win in the 2019-20 season, Liverpool takes the top spot in FIFA 21 thanks to the sheer amount of versatility the team offers. With two 90 rated Wingers in Salah and Mane, the English team has stopping power up front, supported by a tight-knit midfield that strikes a strong balance between defending prowess and Pace thanks to highly adaptable players like Henderson and Wijnaldum.
With world-class defenders in the back four and a superb keeper in Allison, this is the team you want to reserve in a kick-off match against your mates. Liverpool’s super subs include Shaqiri, an easy swap for a tired Salah who boasts five-star skills if you need the extra flair upfront. Oxlade-Chamberlain also makes a fine replacement for Henderson when tired, providing the midfield with a boost in pace.
2 - Bayern Munich
5 Stars / 91 ATT / 85 MID / 82 DEF
Champions League and Continental Treble winners Bayern Munich arrive in second just behind Liverpool in FIFA 21’s team rankings. Bayern played 4-3-2-1 with a lone attacker upfront in Lewandowski, the game’s most powerful striker. With passing wizard Muller slotted behind to feed the Polish attacker opportunities, Bayern is a force to be reckoned with in FIFA 21.
Crucial to the team’s high rating is the speedy young midfield and defense that supports the aging forwards by holding possession and pressuring opponents when mistakes are made. Having the 89-rated Neuer in goal can’t hurt either! Super subs for Bayern Munich include swapping Sane for Coman in left midfield, and Costa for Muller in CAM to get a major boost in dribbling and pace and take advantage of the Brazilian player’s five-star skills.
3 - Real Madrid
5 Stars / ATT 84 / MID 86 / DEF 85
La Liga reigning champions Real Madrid have always been a fixture at the top of the FIFA team rankings over the years, but in FIFA 21 they take a comfortable third place thanks to the staggering amount of talent at the club. The old guard of Ramos, Modric and Benzema form a formidable spine in the 4-3-3 formation, which is complemented by lightning-quick young wingers like Vinicius Jr and Rodrigo, who offer top pace and dribbling skills.
Super subs for Real Madrid include swapping Hazard for Benzema or Vinicius Jr on the left depending on their fitness, replacing Mendy with Marcelo’s five-star skill flair in left-back, and injecting pace into the ageing midfield with young star Odegaard.
4 - Manchester City
5 Stars / ATT 86 / MID 86 / DEF 83
Man City is another excellent choice if you’re planning to play primarily as a Premier League squad in FIFA 21. Like Liverpool, they have consistent stats across the board with head honcho 91-rated De Bruyne controlling play in the midfield. His 93 Passing is a godsend for 93 Pace goal magnet Sterling on the left-wing, their powers combining to create unstoppable counter attacks.
With nimble defenders in left and right back to nurture the attacking supply chain, Manchester City excels in all areas in FIFA 21. Super subs for the English club include the 89-rated Aguero, whose 90 Shooting stat and excellent finishing skills secure goals regularly. Gundogan is also a decent swap for a tired Rodri in defensive midfield, to bolster your passing capabilities.
5 - Barcelona
5 Stars / ATT 84 / MID 85 / DEF 83
The other half of El Classico take fifth place in the FIFA 21 team rankings. But don’t let that dissuade you, Barca is still incredibly dangerous when used properly in-game. With the pace and power of Messi and Griezmann up front, Barcelona’s balanced attacking formation is hard to deal with online and only made more formidable by defenders with high Physical stats like Pique and Lenglet, who are flanked by pace heavy left and right backs Alba and Roberto.
Barcelona’s main super sub is swapping in Dembele for Fati on the left-wing. Dembele’s five-star skill moves and weak foot ability make him a serious problem for defenders, especially if you’re skilled enough to make use of his flair.
6 - Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
5 Stars / ATT 87 / MID 80 / DEF 84
Sixth place goes to Serie A’s Juventus, or Piemonte Calcio in FIFA 21, given that EA no longer owns the licence for the top-flight Italian team. You’re spoilt for choice as far as dangerous strikers go, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Dybala creating a dynamic duo upfront in the unusual 3-5-2 formation that arrives as standard. A lot of pressure is levied on Cuadrado and Kulusevski who hold the wings here, leaving three stalwart defenders at the back in Chiellini, Bonucci and Danilo.
For more physicality and a better weak foot at the expense of pure pace, you can swap out Dybala for Morata upfront, and you may consider bringing all-rounder Alex Sandro off the bench if you want to make the defence as nimble as possible.
7 - Atletico Madrid
5 Stars / ATT 84 / MID 82 / DEF 82
Atletico Madrid take seventh place in the FIFA 21 team rankings after consistent La Liga success in recent years, only bolstered by recent attacking acquisitions like Suarez and Carrasco. Madrid play a flat 4-4-2 in FIFA 21, with 80+ rated players across the board, protected by the game’s best goalkeeper, 91 rated Jan Oblak.
Super subs for the Spanish club include swapping out Felix for Costa up front to take advantage of his Physical prowess and high attacking work rate. Llorente is also a great swap to fight fatigue at half-time, as he boasts green skills across the board and an incredible work rate in midfield.
8 - Paris Saint-Germain
5 Stars / ATT 86 / MID 82 / DEF 79
With Mbappe being this year’s cover star, it’s no surprise that French titans Paris Saint-German have made it into the top 10 teams in FIFA 21. With Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria applying constant pressure up front with their five-star skill moves and nifty pace, you shouldn’t have any problem scoring multiple goals with PSG.
However, the team’s lacking defence make them a little more tricky to play as, especially against teams who are keen on the counter-attack. Super subs for PSG include swapping in Bernal for Bakker at left-back, and Pereira for Verratti in midfield to bolster physicality and stop attacks before they get dangerous.
9 - Tottenham Hotspur
4.5 Stars / ATT 85 / MID 82 / DEF 81
Spurs find themselves at place number 9 in the FIFA team ratings, arguably making them the best 4.5-star team in the game. With Bale back at Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid, the team’s attacking potential is startling, with crack shot Kane leading the charge. Star player Son sits in left midfield with high pace, shooting and dribbling skills, and players can expect to utilise his high work rate to supply Kane with plenty of easy goals.
Super subs for Tottenham include swapping in Bale for Moura on the right-wing to take advantage of his Shooting stats and Alli for Lo Celso or Winks in midfield to add some more aggression and pace to the core of the squad.
10 - Borussia Dortmund
4.5 Stars / ATT 85 / MID 81 / DEF 81
Dortmund is one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting teams, and thanks to the remarkable roster of talent that powers it, the club rounds off our list of the top 10 teams in FIFA 21. With exciting future stars like Haaland, Sancho and Brandt in the squad, they’re tons of fun to develop across a Career Mode as you battle to clinch the title from Bayern. Dortmund’s chevron formation allows for a wide midfield which protects incredible defenders like Hummels who hold back the tide.
Super subs for Dortmund include swapping Schulz for Akanji in left-back to prop up the defence with more pace, and replacing a tired Brandt with Reus at centre-attacking-midfield to achieve more clinical finishing and create chances.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
The Best Teams In FIFA 21
1 - Liverpool
5 Stars / 89 ATT / 84 MID / 86 DEF
Hot off the heels of their Premier League title win in the 2019-20 season, Liverpool takes the top spot in FIFA 21 thanks to the sheer amount of versatility the team offers. With two 90 rated Wingers in Salah and Mane, the English team has stopping power up front, supported by a tight-knit midfield that strikes a strong balance between defending prowess and Pace thanks to highly adaptable players like Henderson and Wijnaldum.
With world-class defenders in the back four and a superb keeper in Allison, this is the team you want to reserve in a kick-off match against your mates. Liverpool’s super subs include Shaqiri, an easy swap for a tired Salah who boasts five-star skills if you need the extra flair upfront. Oxlade-Chamberlain also makes a fine replacement for Henderson when tired, providing the midfield with a boost in pace.
2 - Bayern Munich
5 Stars / 91 ATT / 85 MID / 82 DEF
Champions League and Continental Treble winners Bayern Munich arrive in second just behind Liverpool in FIFA 21’s team rankings. Bayern played 4-3-2-1 with a lone attacker upfront in Lewandowski, the game’s most powerful striker. With passing wizard Muller slotted behind to feed the Polish attacker opportunities, Bayern is a force to be reckoned with in FIFA 21.
Crucial to the team’s high rating is the speedy young midfield and defense that supports the aging forwards by holding possession and pressuring opponents when mistakes are made. Having the 89-rated Neuer in goal can’t hurt either! Super subs for Bayern Munich include swapping Sane for Coman in left midfield, and Costa for Muller in CAM to get a major boost in dribbling and pace and take advantage of the Brazilian player’s five-star skills.
3 - Real Madrid
5 Stars / ATT 84 / MID 86 / DEF 85
La Liga reigning champions Real Madrid have always been a fixture at the top of the FIFA team rankings over the years, but in FIFA 21 they take a comfortable third place thanks to the staggering amount of talent at the club. The old guard of Ramos, Modric and Benzema form a formidable spine in the 4-3-3 formation, which is complemented by lightning-quick young wingers like Vinicius Jr and Rodrigo, who offer top pace and dribbling skills.
Super subs for Real Madrid include swapping Hazard for Benzema or Vinicius Jr on the left depending on their fitness, replacing Mendy with Marcelo’s five-star skill flair in left-back, and injecting pace into the ageing midfield with young star Odegaard.
4 - Manchester City
5 Stars / ATT 86 / MID 86 / DEF 83
Man City is another excellent choice if you’re planning to play primarily as a Premier League squad in FIFA 21. Like Liverpool, they have consistent stats across the board with head honcho 91-rated De Bruyne controlling play in the midfield. His 93 Passing is a godsend for 93 Pace goal magnet Sterling on the left-wing, their powers combining to create unstoppable counter attacks.
With nimble defenders in left and right back to nurture the attacking supply chain, Manchester City excels in all areas in FIFA 21. Super subs for the English club include the 89-rated Aguero, whose 90 Shooting stat and excellent finishing skills secure goals regularly. Gundogan is also a decent swap for a tired Rodri in defensive midfield, to bolster your passing capabilities.
5 - Barcelona
5 Stars / ATT 84 / MID 85 / DEF 83
The other half of El Classico take fifth place in the FIFA 21 team rankings. But don’t let that dissuade you, Barca is still incredibly dangerous when used properly in-game. With the pace and power of Messi and Griezmann up front, Barcelona’s balanced attacking formation is hard to deal with online and only made more formidable by defenders with high Physical stats like Pique and Lenglet, who are flanked by pace heavy left and right backs Alba and Roberto.
Barcelona’s main super sub is swapping in Dembele for Fati on the left-wing. Dembele’s five-star skill moves and weak foot ability make him a serious problem for defenders, especially if you’re skilled enough to make use of his flair.
6 - Piemonte Calcio (Juventus)
5 Stars / ATT 87 / MID 80 / DEF 84
Sixth place goes to Serie A’s Juventus, or Piemonte Calcio in FIFA 21, given that EA no longer owns the licence for the top-flight Italian team. You’re spoilt for choice as far as dangerous strikers go, with Cristiano Ronaldo and Dybala creating a dynamic duo upfront in the unusual 3-5-2 formation that arrives as standard. A lot of pressure is levied on Cuadrado and Kulusevski who hold the wings here, leaving three stalwart defenders at the back in Chiellini, Bonucci and Danilo.
For more physicality and a better weak foot at the expense of pure pace, you can swap out Dybala for Morata upfront, and you may consider bringing all-rounder Alex Sandro off the bench if you want to make the defence as nimble as possible.
7 - Atletico Madrid
5 Stars / ATT 84 / MID 82 / DEF 82
Atletico Madrid take seventh place in the FIFA 21 team rankings after consistent La Liga success in recent years, only bolstered by recent attacking acquisitions like Suarez and Carrasco. Madrid play a flat 4-4-2 in FIFA 21, with 80+ rated players across the board, protected by the game’s best goalkeeper, 91 rated Jan Oblak.
Super subs for the Spanish club include swapping out Felix for Costa up front to take advantage of his Physical prowess and high attacking work rate. Llorente is also a great swap to fight fatigue at half-time, as he boasts green skills across the board and an incredible work rate in midfield.
8 - Paris Saint-Germain
5 Stars / ATT 86 / MID 82 / DEF 79
With Mbappe being this year’s cover star, it’s no surprise that French titans Paris Saint-German have made it into the top 10 teams in FIFA 21. With Neymar, Mbappe and Di Maria applying constant pressure up front with their five-star skill moves and nifty pace, you shouldn’t have any problem scoring multiple goals with PSG.
However, the team’s lacking defence make them a little more tricky to play as, especially against teams who are keen on the counter-attack. Super subs for PSG include swapping in Bernal for Bakker at left-back, and Pereira for Verratti in midfield to bolster physicality and stop attacks before they get dangerous.
9 - Tottenham Hotspur
4.5 Stars / ATT 85 / MID 82 / DEF 81
Spurs find themselves at place number 9 in the FIFA team ratings, arguably making them the best 4.5-star team in the game. With Bale back at Tottenham on loan from Real Madrid, the team’s attacking potential is startling, with crack shot Kane leading the charge. Star player Son sits in left midfield with high pace, shooting and dribbling skills, and players can expect to utilise his high work rate to supply Kane with plenty of easy goals.
Super subs for Tottenham include swapping in Bale for Moura on the right-wing to take advantage of his Shooting stats and Alli for Lo Celso or Winks in midfield to add some more aggression and pace to the core of the squad.
10 - Borussia Dortmund
4.5 Stars / ATT 85 / MID 81 / DEF 81
Dortmund is one of the Bundesliga’s most exciting teams, and thanks to the remarkable roster of talent that powers it, the club rounds off our list of the top 10 teams in FIFA 21. With exciting future stars like Haaland, Sancho and Brandt in the squad, they’re tons of fun to develop across a Career Mode as you battle to clinch the title from Bayern. Dortmund’s chevron formation allows for a wide midfield which protects incredible defenders like Hummels who hold back the tide.
Super subs for Dortmund include swapping Schulz for Akanji in left-back to prop up the defence with more pace, and replacing a tired Brandt with Reus at centre-attacking-midfield to achieve more clinical finishing and create chances.
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Jordan Oloman is a freelance writer for IGN. Follow him on Twitter.
PS4 Firmware Update 8.0 Changes Party and Messages Features
For those who love to give their Profiles a little more personality, Sony will be adding more pre-set avatars for players to choose from, including Bloodborne, Journey, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, The Last of Us Part 2, The Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and many more.
There are other quality of life features being added with version 8.00, including the ability to mute all microphones in the Quick Menu, an enhanced 2-step verification system that will support third-party authenticator apps, and simplified and more flexible Parental Controls.
To speak a bit more about the parental controls, Sony is now combining the ‘Communicating with Other Players’ and ‘Viewing Content Created by other Players’ into one setting – ‘Communication and User Generated Content’ - and this will cover both areas of communication and user-generated content sharing. Furthermore, children can also send a request to their parents to use communications features in specific games.
While many things are being added, version 8.00 will remove Event Creation and Private Community Creation. For those who already have existing private Communities, however, they will still be accessible.
[ignvideo url="https://www.ign.com/videos/2020/07/30/the-best-ps4-games-summer-2020-update"]
Lastly, Sony is also updating the PS4 Remote Play app alongside version 8.00 to add the option to connect to PS5 when it is released. It will also be renamed to PS Remote Play.
This very well may be the final big update before the PlayStation 5 launches on November 12, 2020. For more, check out all the confirmed launch games, everything you need to know about backward compatibility on the PS5, and what PS4 games won't be playable on PS5.
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Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.
Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.PS4 Firmware Update 8.0 Changes Party and Messages Features
For those who love to give their Profiles a little more personality, Sony will be adding more pre-set avatars for players to choose from, including Bloodborne, Journey, Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, The Last of Us Part 2, The Last of Us Remastered, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End, and many more.
There are other quality of life features being added with version 8.00, including the ability to mute all microphones in the Quick Menu, an enhanced 2-step verification system that will support third-party authenticator apps, and simplified and more flexible Parental Controls.
To speak a bit more about the parental controls, Sony is now combining the ‘Communicating with Other Players’ and ‘Viewing Content Created by other Players’ into one setting – ‘Communication and User Generated Content’ - and this will cover both areas of communication and user-generated content sharing. Furthermore, children can also send a request to their parents to use communications features in specific games.
While many things are being added, version 8.00 will remove Event Creation and Private Community Creation. For those who already have existing private Communities, however, they will still be accessible.
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Lastly, Sony is also updating the PS4 Remote Play app alongside version 8.00 to add the option to connect to PS5 when it is released. It will also be renamed to PS Remote Play.
This very well may be the final big update before the PlayStation 5 launches on November 12, 2020. For more, check out all the confirmed launch games, everything you need to know about backward compatibility on the PS5, and what PS4 games won't be playable on PS5.
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Adam Bankhurst is a news writer for IGN. You can follow him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.