Professional and college sports have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. But sports played on virtual athletic fields and courts have thrived. Video game publisher EA Sports has seen 13% more players taking the field in Madden NFL 21, released Aug. 28 – and that's coming off record activity last year, the publisher says. Now there's another reason for players to keep playing Madden NFL, which is a perennial top-seller. They can help fill out the roster for the Virtual Pro Bowl, which will be played Jan. 31 using Madden video game software and broadcast on ABC and ESPN.

"Madden NFL 21" is getting a midseason makeover for the latest video game consoles. On Dec. 4, versions of the game for the Microsoft Xbox Series X and S systems and the Sony PlayStation 5 will get an update that takes advantage of those new systems' graphic firepower. In the game, which will play out in 4K video, players will look and move more realistically, the stadiums will have improved visuals and sound, and you can more easily call plays for teams' superstar playmakers. With the update, the game's artificial intelligence will drive all the players using real-world data from NFL Next Gen Stats, which includes all of the 2019 NFL season and part of the current one. That data comes from sensors in each player's shoulder pads tracking their movements on the field.

A look at the improvements coming to the popular video game 'Madden NFL 21,' for new consoles such as the Microsoft Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.