14 DAY TRIAL // Our Incoming 2015 series focuses on the most important game launches of the next 12 months and next up we talk about NBA Live 16.
What we know
NBA Live 16 is the second game in a reborn basketball franchise for EA Sports and that means it represents the moment when the team in charge needs to deliver an experience that has solid core mechanics but also attempts to introduce at least one feature that can make it more attractive than the rival NBA 2K16.
So far, the developers have only said that they will continue to use the same core engine but will be careful to implement a range of changes to animations and physics, in order to make sure the problems that affected NBA Live 15 do not appear again.
NBA Live 15 received a lot of care after it was launched, with gameplay patches and improved player faces, and the commitment to realism is one of the elements that EA Sports needs to focus on even more for its next basketball game.
NBA Live 16 will probably aim to appear in early October and will probably only be offered on the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4, although a PC version would also be welcomed.
Why it matters
NBA Live 16 can compete with the NBA 2K franchise, but it needs to take more cues from the other sports franchises that EA Sports has made into long-term successes.
An Ultimate Team version for basketball fans also needs to offer all the bells and whistles of the mode as seen in the FIFA franchise and could significantly boost player enjoyment and long-term engagement.
Careers in basketball games could also use some work and a clearer separation between management and playing moments would also constitute a competitive advantage.
The nature of the sport and the number of matches played in quick succession means that the Live Season feature can be improved, allowing players to take their teams through a succession of high stakes moments during both the regular season and the playoffs.