EA Sports has announced they’re following up the inclusion of women’s national teams in FIFA 16 with the addition of WNBA teams and players in this Fall’s NBA Live 18.
This is the first time that WNBA players and teams will be included in a video game, and WNBA matchups will be available through the WNBA Play Now mode. EA Sports is looking to recreate the league’s signature style, and they’ve promised that “player skills have been specifically balanced to reflect the unique playstyle of the league.” The publisher also “fine-tuned player ratings” to ensure the most authentic recreation of the players is included in NBA Live 18.
“We are extremely proud to partner with the WNBA and the Women’s National Basketball Players Association on this groundbreaking occasion,” said Sean O’Brien, the Executive Producer of NBA Live 18. “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.”
EA Sports recruited several WNBA players, including Kelsey Plum, the first overall pick in the 2017 WNBA Draft, to provide motion capture for the WNBA Play Now mode.
NBA Live 18 will be available for the PS4 and Xbox One this September.
