EA has until now been one of the only major third party publishers to not have pledged support to Stadia, but the company recently did so, announcing that several of its releases would be coming to Google’s cloud streaming service.

The first of these is Respawn Entertainment’s Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, which launched last year to critical acclaim and commercial success. EA confirms that the single player action adventure title will be coming to Stadia, though a specific release date for the same hasn’t yet been provided.

Meanwhile, two of EA’s biggest sports simulation franchises in FIFA and Madden NFL will also be coming to Stadia this Winter, though EA haven’t specified whether these will be new releases for the year or ports of older ones (it will presumably be the former).

Yesterday’s Stadia Connect presentation featured several other announcements. PUBG and Octopath Traveler are both now also available on the service.

The NPD Group has released its February 2020 report (via VentureBeat) on video game spending in the United States. Due to the lack of major new releases, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare would top the charts, followed by NBA 2K20 and Grand Theft Auto 5. Total dollar sales for video game software amounted to $307 million, a 36 percent drop compared to last year.

Though Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the best-selling game of the month and the best-selling game for the 12 month period ending February 2020, another title dominates sales for this year. It’s Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot which topped January 2020 charts and is currently in fourth place for February. The Division 2 followed in fifth place thanks to its massive price drop in preparation for Warlords of New York.

The only new release for the month was Yakuza Remastered Collection which released physically for PS4 and debuted at 33rd place. Expect March to be significantly better thanks to releases like DOOM Eternal, Animal Crossing: New Horizons, Nioh 2, and Ori and the Will of the Wisps. In the meantime, check out the ten best-selling games for February 2020 based on dollar sales.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
2. NBA 2K20
3. Grand Theft Auto 5
4. Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot
5. The Division 2
6. Mario Kart 8*
7. Ring Fit Adventure
8. Madden NFL 20
9. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
10. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order

*Digital sales not included

The NPD Group has released plenty of new data for video game software and hardware sales in the US for the past month, year, and decade, and some interesting but not-too-surprising details have emerged. Here’s another one- Call of Duty: Modern Warfare was the best-selling game in the US (in terms of dollar sales) throughout all of 2019 (via GamesBeat). It also topped the software charts for the month of December.

In fact, much of the list for the year of 2019 is quite predictable. NBA 2K20 and Madden NFL 20 are right behind Call of Duty, while Borderlands 3 and Mortal Kombat 11 are at No. 4 and No. 5. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order seems to have performed much better than EA would expect of a single player title, and is in at No. 6. It is followed by Super Smash Bros. Ultimate in the seventh spot.

Some other major 2019 releases like Kingdom Hearts 3, The Division 2, Pokemon Sword, Resident Evil 2, Luigi’s Mansion 3, and Days Gone also chart in the top 10. Meanwhile, last year’s Red Dead Redemption 2 is at No. 12, while perennial sellers Grand Theft Auto 5 and Mario Kart 8 are also in the top 10.

You can check out the full list below.

Meanwhile, seven out of ten spots in the best-selling games of the decade list were also occupied by Call of Duty, while the PS4 was the best-selling platform of the decade.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2019
2. NBA 2K20
3. Madden NFL 20
4. Borderlands 3
5. Mortal Kombat 11
6. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
7. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
8. Kingdom Hearts III
9. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
10. Mario Kart 8
11. Grand Theft Auto V
12. Red Dead Redemption II
13. Minecraft
14. FIFA 20
15. Anthem
16. Pokemon Sword
17. Resident Evil 2 2019
18. Luigi’s Mansion 3
19. Days Gone
20. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe

The NPD Group’s report for game sales in the United States for December 2019 is out. Activision’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare topped the charts followed by Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order as total spending on video game software hit $2.984 billion as per VentureBeat. Total dollar sales are down 15 percent compared to December 2018. Video game hardware spending was down 17 percent compared to last year, totaling $973 million.

NPD Group analyst Mat Piscatella stated that, “December 2019 tracked spending across video game hardware, software, accessories, and game cards totaled $3.0 billion, falling 15 percent when compared to a year ago. Full year tracked spending declined 13 percent when compared to 2018, to $14.6 billion.”

Other best-selling titles for the month based on dollar sales (and not total units sold) include Madden NFL 20, NBA 2K20 and Luigi’s Mansion 3. Pokemon Sword, Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Pokemon Shield and Minecraft managed to fill out the remaining top 10. For some games, digital sales were not included while others – like Minecraft – only had digital sales from Xbox and PlayStation console included.

Despite the overall drop in spending, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare finished 2019 as the best-selling title of the year and marks the 11th consecutive year that the franchise has topped the annual charts. Meanwhile, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order became the sixth best-selling title of the year and is now Respawn’s best-selling title with regards to dollar sales. This is despite launching in November.

Check out The NPD Group’s top 20 best-selling games (in dollar sales and not units sold) for December 2019 in the US.

1. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019)
2. Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order
3. Madden NFL 20
4. NBA 2K20
5. Luigi’s Mansion 3*
6. Pokemon Sword*
7. Mario Kart 8*
8. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
9. Pokemon Shield*
10. Minecraft#
11. Grand Theft Auto 5
12. Red Dead Redemption 2
13. FIFA 20
14. Just Dance 2020
15. Need for Speed: Heat
16. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
17. The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening*
18. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
19. Super Mario Party*
20. Ring Fit Adventure

*Doesn’t include digital
#Only includes digital on Xbox and PlayStation

August 2019 was the worst August in terms of software sales in the United States, as per the NPD Group (via GamesBeat). Dollar sales fell 22 per cent year-on-year to $257 million, which is the lowest recorded for the month of August since the August of 1998, with the slowdown of hardware sales resulting in the same. That said, year-to-date software sales for 2019 stand at $3.1 billion, which is a 1 per cent increase over last year- driven by growing software sales on the Nintendo Switch.

It’s been a pretty slow month for software sales in the United States all around. Madden NFL 20, which topped software charts last month, has done so yet again. It’s the third best-selling game of 2019 in the US, and this is the seventh consecutive August to see a Madden game topping the software charts. The other two games in the top 3 are considerably older, with Minecraft occupying second place – the highest the game has ever charted on NPD charts – while the evergreen Grand Theft Auto 5 refuses to slow down in third place.

The entire top 10 has only one new August release charting, in fact, which is Astral Chain. Considering the fact that the game’s sales were only tracked for two days for these charts, placing tenth is not too bad. Another game that only tracked for two days is Man of Medan, which comes in at No. 19- though that’s a $30 game, which affects its placement in the software charts, which are based on revenue, and not the number of units sold.

Control was yet another major release in August, but it’s seen a disappointing debut. Charting for five days, it did not even crack the top 20. Meanwhile, Triumph Studios’ Age of Wonders: Planetfall comes in at No. 15, generating the highest launch month sales in the series’ history.

You can check out the full software charts below.

1. Madden NFL 20**
2. Minecraft***
3. Grand Theft Auto V
4. Fire Emblem: Three Houses*
5. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
6. Super Mario Maker 2*
7. Mario Kart 8*
8. Mortal Kombat 11
9. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
10. Astral Chain*
11. Marvel’s Spider-Man
12. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
13. Red Dead Redemption II
14. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII**
15. Age of Wonders: Planetfall
16. Super Mario Party*
17. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order*
18. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
19. The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan
20. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

*Does not include digital sales
**Does not include PC digital sales
***Minecraft digital sales include Xbox One and PlayStation 4, but not other digital sales.

The main appeal of any Madden game is Ultimate Team Mode or MUT in this case. Madden NFL 20 is no different. How do you get ahead though? Let’s take a look at some basic tips here. Make sure to check out our handy guide here for farming up coins as well.

First off, when selecting a team, go with one that has a balanced playbook. Once your Ultimate Team career gets rolling, PowerUp cards will be provided and they be used to level up players. So however your star player is, focus on leveling him first and foremost. Avoid wasting money on card packs in the early going.

You can also level up players in Training Mode. Look for the Missions tab and locate the option for Challenges. Completing enough challenges will net you coins. Solo battles are also available and can be played in three sets for the week. There are 14 difficulty options in total and the harder the opponent, the more the rewards.

Then there’s MUT Champions. Taking place on the weekend, it offers 25 games in total. Depending on your performance, you can obtain better rewards. MUT Squads can be played with friends and offers 3v3 and 2v2 games. Finally, the Draft has choosing a draft deck and competing against others with their own draft decks.

There are several types of currencies to manage from Coins to Trophies earned from solo and head to head games. You can also earn currency through training and cards can be sold for the same (which can be used to acquire packs).

Familiarize yourself with the Auction House – it’s a great source for picking up cards but can also be used to flip cards for more coins. Card prices are generally cheaper in the nighttime so browser around then. Also, make sure to be patient with bids – wait for a good offer before giving away a card for coins. Keep in mind that upgrading a player card will prevent it from being sold in the Auction House. Finding the cards you want to keep and upgrade thus becomes more important.

Playing through the game will unlock different cards which you can subsequently sell. The Item Binder is fairly useful in this regard since it keeps track of your cards and other items owned. Visit the Team Bar when you want to change player positions, strategies and whatnot.

Madden NFL 20 MUT Pack Prices

Since Packs are so important for Ultimate Team, it’s important to know what you’re getting. Packs can be purchased with Coins earned in-game or Points which are purchased with real money. Here are all the packs you can purchase in Madden NFL 20:

• Get A Player – Chance for 62+ Silver or better player (500 Coins)
• Get A Gold Player – Chance for 70+ Gold or better player (5,000 Coins or 100 Points)
• Gridiron Pack – Chance for 75+ Gold or better player, three more 70+ Gold or better players, and two more 62+ Silver or better players (500 Points)
• Superstars Pack – Chance for a 77+ Gold or better Superstar player, one more 66+ Silver or better player, and three more 62+ Silver or better players (18,000 Coins or 300 Points)
• All-Pro Pack – Chance for two 75+ Gold or better players, one more 70+ Gold or better player, one more 66+ Silver or better players, and three more 62+ Silver or better players (30,000 Coins or 500 Points)
• Clutch Pack – Chance for one 80+ Elite player, and five more 62+ Silver or better players (40,000 Coins or 700 Points)
• Elite Player Pack – Chance for an 80+ Elite player, two more 70+ Gold or better players, two more 66+ Silver or better players, and two more 62+ Silver or better players (50,000 Coins or 900 Points)
• Legends Fantasy Pack – Choose from three Silver or better players, two more Gold or better players, and one more 83+ Elite player. An 81+ OVR Legend player is guaranteed (120,000 Coins or 1,500 Points)

It’s also possible to purchase bundles of cards. You probably noticed that the packs offer a “chance” at obtaining certain ranked players. What are the odds of, say, obtaining a Gold 72+ player from a Get A Player pack? Let’s take a look at the probabilities below:

• Get A Player Pack Odds: Silver 62+ (100 percent), Silver 66+ (31 percent), Gold 70+ (7.8 percent), Gold 72+ (3.1 percent)
• Get A Gold Player Pack Odds: Gold 70+ (100 percent), Gold 75+ (35 percent), Elite 80+ (9 percent), Elite 82+ (4.3 percent)
• Gridiron Pack Odds: Gold 75+ (100 percent), Elite 80+ (39 percent), Elite 83+ (13 percent), Elite 85+ (5.2 percent)
• Superstars Pack Odds: Gold 77+ (100 percent), Elite 80+ (16 percent), Elite 83+ (15 percent), Elite 85+ (4.9 percent)
• All-Pro Pack Odds: Gold 75+ (100 percent), Elite 80+ (42 percent), Elite 83+ (14 percent), Elite 85+ (5.2 percent)
• Clutch Pack Odds: Elite 80+ (100 percent), Elite 82+ (45 percent), Elite 84+ (18 percent), Elite 86+ (5.8 percent)
• Elite Player Pack Odds: Elite 80+ (100 percent), Elite 83+ (33 percent), Elite 85+ (12 percent), Elite 87+ (3.4 percent)
• Legends Fantasy Pack Odds: Elite 83+ (100 percent), Elite 85+ (20 percent), Elite 87+ (7.2 percent), Elite 88+ (3.7 percent)

A major appeal of EA Sports titles is Ultimate Team mode and Madden NFL 20 is no exception. MUT returns and you need those coins to effectively rank up your OVR. What are the best ways to farm coins? Before we get into that, a special note on Packs: Avoid them. Pack promotions might be worth checking out every now and then but don’t bother actually spending money for packs otherwise.

First, partake in as many challenges as possible. Head to the Play section, select some challenges and set about completing them. Challenge difficulty is determined by star ratings so the tougher the challenge, the better the rewards. Set the difficulty to three stars at minimum for a fairly even challenge. Try to avoid higher difficulties because you’ll just be wasting time that could be used to more effectively farm lower rankings.

The Auction House is also worth looking into since you can find some cards at good deals and re-sell them for a profit. Don’t sell your cards immediately or for cheap prices – wait to hear the best offer and then go for it. It’s a good alternative to playing the game especially since you can earn a good amount of coins in a short period of time. Otherwise, stick to challenges and farm up as much as possible at a comfortable pace.

The July 2019 NPD hardware charts were topped by the Nintendo Switch, and software charts for the month were similarly dominated by Nintendo, with six of the top 10 games being Switch exclusives (via GamesBeat). However, the game at the very top wasn’t a Nintendo one- Madden NFL 20 topped the software charts in the US for the month, to no one’s surprise.

This is, in fact, the 20th consecutive year that a Madden game has topped the sales charts in its launch month, with Final Fantasy 8 being the last game to have outsold it at launch, all the way back in 1999. NFL 20 also immediately becomes the eighth highest selling game of the year so far- all of this is all the more impressive when you consider that these sales don’t account for digital sales on PC, or consumers who’re subscribed to Origin Access Premier.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses debuted in second place, becoming the second highest selling game in the series to date immediately and enjoying the series’ best ever launch sales. Super Mario Maker 2, which topped the sales last month, is in at third place, while Marvel Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order comes in at number 4. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild are the other Switch titles in the top 10.

Overall, July 2019 saw total dollar sales of $340 million, which is up 34 per cent from last year. That boost is thanks to Madden NFL 20 releasing in July this year (as opposed to last year’s August launch), and the fact that the game enjoyed strong digital sales. You can check out the full software charts below.

1. Madden NFL 20^**
2. Fire Emblem: Three Houses*
3. Super Mario Maker 2*
4. Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 3: The Black Order*
5. Minecraft***
6. Grand Theft Auto V
7. Super Smash Bros. Ultimate*
8. Mortal Kombat 11
9. Mario Kart 8*
10. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*
11. Marvel’s Spider-Man
12. Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six: Siege
13. Call of Duty: Black Ops IIII**
14. Crash Team Racing: Nitro Fueled
15. Red Dead Redemption II
16. Tom Clancy’s The Division 2**
17. MLB 19: The Show
18. New Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe*
19. NBA 2K19
20. Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey

*Does not include digital sales
**Does not include PC digital sales
***Minecraft digital sales include Xbox One and PlayStation 4

As the classic song sings- the times, they are a’changing. The newest entry in the American football series, Madden NFL 20, is out now, just in time for the season. It’s been successful, as one would expect, but it hit a new milestone that shows just how much the market has changed over the years, with a hard swing toward digital.

As announced via publisher EA, the game scored a big touchdown in the first week with digital sales. It’s the biggest ever digital launch for the franchise. While no numbers were given, it’s undoubtedly a pretty impressive feat. While the physical charts probably won’t be too far off (at least in the US), it goes to show how much digital has become a force in a relatively short time in the gaming marketplace.

Madden NFL 20 is available now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. You can check out our review of the pigskin throwing simulator through here, and don’t forget to take a good look at the best ratings so you can build the team of your dream.

Madden NFL 20

The latest in the Madden series promises a bevy of new features for long-time fans. A new story mode called Face of the Franchise: QB1 is being introduced which sees player-created characters going from playing quarterback in college football to the NFL. The Pro Bowl will also be making a return but gameplay-wise, perhaps the most intriguing new addition are the X-Factor abilities. Each player will have their own signature talents and abilities which can tip the scales – like having an increase on maximum pass distance. Madden NFL 20 releases on August 2^nd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Age of Wonders: Planetfall

Triumph Studios is back at it again with another turn-based strategy title. Except this time, Age of Wonders: Planetfall takes the series’ style of expansion and conquest into the sci-fi genre. The Star Union has collapsed and six factions – each with their own units and traits – vie for supremacy. Battles are turn-based and employ some new mechanics like grazing where shots missed will still deal 50 percent damage. However, the developer is also looking to introduce more destructible environments, more complex economic and diplomatic choices, and more varied gameplay. Age of Wonders: Planetfall is out on August 6^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC so we’ll see how well it fares.

Metal Wolf Chaos XD

Cult-classic Metal Wolf Chaos is finally coming to the West for…some reason. The remaster Metal Wolf Chaos XD is being handled by General Arcade and will have an improved resolution, better graphics and improvements to the gameplay. As for the story, it’s about Michael Wilson, the president of the United States, jumping into an overpowered mech to stop a coup led by the vice president. What more can we say? If you’re interested in third person mech shooting with corny writing and lots of customization, Metal Wolf Chaos XD might be worth the wait. It’s out on August 6^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Remnant: From the Ashes

Gunfire Games is known for the Darksiders series but will be presenting something completely different with Remnant: From the Ashes. This third person shooter (with co-op support) sees players battling a powerful inter-dimensional evil. The key to defeating it is to travel to other dimensions, scavenge whatever resources are available, upgrading weapons and so on while investigating the enemy’s origin. Levels are dynamically generated with different encounters and events, and there are a number of bosses to battle on the way. Remnant: From the Ashes is out on August 20^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey

Ancestors is very different though – it’s a survival game where players control an ape clan as it evolves through the ages. That means exploring new areas, hunting, bonding, controlling other clan members and of course, evolving (with various skills unlocked in the process). Ancestors: The Humankind Odyssey is out on August 27^th for PC via the Epic Games Store.

Control

Step into The Oldest House, a surreal location that serves as the headquarters for the Central Bureau of Control. An entity called Hiss has overrun the facility and killed the acting director. As a result, Jesse Faden, a woman with supernatural powers, must take up the shape-shifting Service Weapon and fight back. As players explore the constantly shifting walls of The Oldest House, they’ll come across different side quests and NPCs, learn new abilities and even unlock different secrets. Control arrives on August 27^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

Life is Strange 2: Episode 4

Dontnod Entertainment’s epic saga of Sean and Daniel Diaz is slowly winding down with Life is Strange 2: Episode 4 releasing on August 22^nd. The duo have come a long way since the horrific incident in Seattle and have met a range of challenges. While the final episode releases in December, Episode 4 might be a good time to hop in for the appropriate amount of tears and cliff-hangers.

Hunt: Showdown

Originally Hunt: Horrors of the Gilded Age, Crytek restructured this title into Hunt: Showdown, a co-op PvEvP game where bounty hunters embark into the Louisiana swamp to hunt monsters. The catch is that after snagging a monster’s bounty, you become marked by other hunters in the area and must successfully escape to reap the benefits. With support for up to 10 players, solo queue and new monsters since first entering early access, Hunt: Showdown is shaping up to be a unique experience when it launches on August 27^th for Xbox One and PC.

Astral Chain

PlatinumGames is known for its combination of genres but Astral Chain is on another level. Taking place in the future in the last bastion of humanity Ark, the story sees the forces of Neuron using Legions to battle evil. There’s a bit of everything here – investigations, exploration, side quests, NPC interactions, puzzle solving…and that’s not even mentioning the combat. Players use a variety of Legions in battle to quickly attack, bind foes or execute powerful sync attacks. Astral Chain releases on August 30^th for the Nintendo Switch and we can’t wait to see what else it holds.

Blair Witch

Bloober Team’s Blair Witch is a first person horror title that takes place a few years after the first film as former police officer Ellis and his trusty dog Bullet investigate the Black Hills Forest in Maryland. The developer’s penchant for reality-warping environments and horrors in Layers of Fear and Observer could the Blair Witch mythos well. Then again, this could be yet another horror title that fails to capture what made the first film great. We’ll have to wait and see how when Blair Witch releases on August 30^th for PC and Xbox One.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan

The other major horror offering next month is The Dark Pictures Anthology: Man of Medan from Supermassive Games. It sees five tourists traveling to the South Pacific Ocean and encountering a ghost ship. Obviously fun and happy times ensue. Much like the developer’s previous horror game Until Dawn, players can partake in different quick time events and ultimately decide who lives and dies. There’s even co-op and four-player support, making the journey for survival that much more perilous. Man of Medan is out on August 30^th for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.