Augusta Nationwide returns to video video games in new EA Sports activities PGA Tour

One of many recreation’s most fabled programs is again within the digital world for the primary time in a decade.

And it appears to be like higher than ever.

EA Sports activities, the makers of the favored Tiger Woods PGA Tour and Rory McIlroy online game sequence which was final launched in 2015, introduced Thursday it’s relaunching the enduring online game as EA Sports activities PGA Tour — and with it comes the return of Augusta Nationwide to video video games as a part of EA Sports activities PGA Tour’s roster of 30 programs.

The sport additionally features a “Street to the Masters” profession mode. EA Sports activities PGA Tour would be the solely golf online game to characteristic the 4 males’s main championships, in addition to the LPGA’s Amundi Evian Championship. Augusta Nationwide and EA Sports activities introduced the renewed partnership earlier than the 2021 Masters.

GOLF.com attended a media preview of the sport final week, the place builders mentioned the time was proper for the corporate to convey again the sequence due to the massive increase of curiosity in golf due to the pandemic. Developments to the sport’s Frostbite graphics engine additionally allowed creators to, of their phrases, make “essentially the most spectacular-looking golf recreation ever.” (EA Sports activities additionally has plans to revive its extraordinarily widespread faculty soccer recreation in the summertime of 2024.)

The crew targeted on 4 pillars when creating the sport:

1. The unique dwelling of the majors

EA builders mentioned this was by far essentially the most requested characteristic for a golf online game. Augusta Nationwide debuted in Tiger Woods PGA Tour 12 (2011) and was a staple for the remaining two editions of the sport. It was not featured within the 2015 reboot, Rory McIlroy PGA Tour.

There will probably be distinctive presentation packages for every main, together with an intro for the Open Championship narrated by Nick Faldo.

EA Sports activities’ agreements with golf’s governing our bodies go additional than simply the majors. For the primary time, the U.S. Novice, Augusta Nationwide Ladies’s Novice and different high novice occasions will probably be featured within the recreation.

2. Deep and diversified course roster

The sport will launch with 30 programs worldwide, starting from traditional online game favorites like TPC Sawgrass and Pebble Seashore to extra unique spots like Oregon’s Bandon Dunes or New Zealand’s Tara Iti.

Producer Ban Ramsour mentioned the crew went so far as to work with former geologists to map every course utilizing LiDAR, photogrammetry (the science of extracting 3D info from pictures) and GPS mapping know-how. On floor mapping and images had been performed at each course, together with using helicopters, airplanes and drones.

Augusta Nationwide even gave EA entry to its “tree well being software program” so builders might precisely place each tree and flower on the course.

Ramsour mentioned the info used for the programs was 30 instances extra dense than something publically obtainable for different video games and simulators.

In the course of the preview, the builders performed a dwell demo of the sport on Augusta Nationwide’s thirteenth gap to showcase the brand new gameplay mechanics (extra on that beneath) and course particulars.

Notably, the pair teed off from final 12 months’s again tee. Latest aerial images of Augusta Nationwide have proven a brand new tee on the well-known par-5. Whereas Augusta Nationwide probably received’t make any announcement concerning the tee till nearer to the match, when requested concerning the new tee EA Sports activities lead producer David Baker mentioned that there could possibly be updates down the road.

“The sport crew is working with Augusta Nationwide and is frequently seeking to get essentially the most up-to-date course playable in-game for essentially the most genuine expertise doable,” Baker advised GOLF.com in an e mail. “That features bunkers, fairways and tee packing containers from all programs within the recreation, for instance. The robust partnerships we’ve got cast with every course has allowed us to duplicate every course as precisely as doable.”

Right here’s the complete roster of programs included for the sport’s launch:

-Augusta Nationwide
-St. Andrews (Outdated Course)
-Pebble Seashore
-The Nation Membership
-Southern Hills
-TPC Sawgrass
-Evian Resort
-East Lake
-Wilmington Nation Membership
-TPC Boston
-TPC Southwind
-Tooth of the Canine
-TPC Scottsdale
-Tara Iti
-Whistling Straits
-The Ocean Course at Kiawah
-Chambers Bay
-Wolf Creek
-Liberty Nationwide
-Bay Hill
-Riviera Nation Membership
-PGA West
-Quail Hole
-Torrey Pines
-Banff Springs
-High of the Rock
-Bandon Dunes
-Harbour City

3. Pure Strike gameplay powered by ShotLink

For the primary time in a online game, ShotLink and Trackman knowledge is getting used to precisely recreate ball habits throughout all kinds of various programs. As an alternative of selecting between easy full photographs, punches, chips, and so forth., the sport introduces 20 completely different shot varieties.

“What this implies for you is that while you seize the controller and step behind the ball, your choices are just about limitless,” mentioned Gameplay designer Craig Penner. “Permitting you to assault every course and every gap similar to the professionals you see on TV.”

To raised replicate ball bounces and roll, the EA crew really reviewed video of PGA Tour occasions. They then took the ShotLink knowledge to create correct launch circumstances, carry distances and spin charges.

4. Profession mode

The Create a Participant mode is again, however now you’ll have three choices for the place to begin your profession: Taking part in in novice occasions, the Korn Ferry Tour or on the PGA Tour.

Along with the majors, the sport has licensed a number of PGA Tour occasions and the three FedEx Cup Playoff occasions.

To inform the story of your profession, the sport options a whole lot of hours of commentary from Wealthy Lerner, Frank Nobilo, Notah Begay III, Iona Stephen and Nick Faldo.

There can even be challenges in between tournaments primarily based on real-world occasions.

Along with taking part in as your created participant, quite a few high professionals are included within the recreation. Among the introduced gamers are Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda, Tony Finau, Jordan Spieth, Danielle Kang, Patrick Cantlay and Lexi Thompson. EA mentioned extra will probably be introduced later, and a few will probably be launched post-launch.

Pre-orders for the sport, which is accessible solely on Ps 5, Xbox Collection X | S and PC, begin Thursday whereas the launch date is about for March 24. The usual version will go for $69.99, whereas the Digital Deluxe Version is $84.99.

Jack Hirsh

Golf.com Editor

Jack Hirsh is an assistant editor at GOLF. A Pennsylvania native, Jack is 2020 graduate of Penn State College, incomes levels in broadcast journalism and political science. He was captain of his highschool golf crew and nonetheless *tries* to stay aggressive in native amateurs. Earlier than becoming a member of GOLF, Jack spent two years working at a TV station in Bend, Oregon, primarily as Multimedia Journalist/reporter, but in addition producing, anchoring and even presenting the climate. He might be reached at jack.hirsh@golf.com.