News regarding the upcoming release of EA’s NBA Live 18 has been pretty sparse since the company announced the game earlier this year, but today we have a bit of important news. NBA Live 18 will feature a full, updated WNBA roster of teams and players when it launches in September for the PS4 and Xbox One.
EA Sports worked with the WNBA league to motion capture and face scan star players, and to balance the gameplay and skills accordingly.
Have a look at the announcement trailer below, and read on for more details. Oh, and apparently there will be a pre-release downloadable demo ready to go on August 11th, 2017.
The WNBA Joins NBA LIVE 18:
Today, Electronic Arts Inc. announced that WNBA teams and players* will be playable in NBA LIVE 18, launching this fall on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The WNBA will be available in WNBA Play Now, and teams and player skills have been specifically balanced to reflect the unique playstyle of the league and skills of its players. This is the first time the official WNBA?s roster of teams and players will appear in a video game, and will be available only in NBA LIVE 18.
?We are extremely proud to partner with the WNBA and the Women?s National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) on this groundbreaking occasion,? said NBA LIVE Executive Producer Sean O?Brien. ?The WNBA is home to some of the most incredible athletes on the planet, and we?ve been working hard to integrate them into our game in an authentic and meaningful way. This is only a taste of what we have in store, and look forward to working with the league on more great integrations in the franchise in the future.?
?We are delighted to collaborate and make history with EA as NBA LIVE 18 becomes the first video game to feature the WNBA?s full roster of teams and players,? said WNBA President Lisa Borders. ?With EA?s expertise and ingenuity, the game will provide a terrific platform to showcase the players and the league, enabling fans to experience the WNBA in a new, exciting way.?
“On behalf of the players, we believe that combining technology and entertainment is a powerful way to not only recognize and value our brand of basketball but to also increase fan connectivity and engagement,? said Nneka Ogwumike, WNBPA President/LA Sparks.
In order to incorporate the league?s teams and players, the NBA LIVE 18 team conducted head scans of star athletes like Maya Moore, Brittney Griner, Diana Taurasi, Tina Charles, Sylvia Fowles, Alisha Gray, Chelsea Gray, Jonquel Jones, and Alyssa Thomas, and held motion capture sessions with 2017 WNBA Draft first overall pick, Kelsey Plum, among others. Additionally, game creators fine-tuned player ratings and skill moves in order to present the league and its stars in the most authentic way possible. Fans will be able to experience the best of the WNBA when NBA LIVE 18 launches this Fall.
NBA LIVE 18 is developed by EA Tiburon and will be available worldwide this September for Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
*Current teams and rosters as of Saturday, September 9, 2017.