A new NFL season means that ESPN has debuted a brand new scorebug. It’s already divided fans.
During a preseason game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Houston Texans marked the first game that ESPN produced this season.
When fans tuned in, they were greeted by a new graphics package that comes the year that ESPN will broadcast its first Super Bowl.
Included in that package was a new scorebug, which ESPN says will improve the game for the viewer. The theming of the bug, featuring a sharp red and black color scheme, is in line with the company’s re-brand from last year.
‘As part of our ongoing commitment to elevate our fan experience, we are excited to soft launch a brand new graphics and animation package that will culminate with our first-ever Super Bowl,’ an ESPN spokesperson told Awful Announcing in regard to the new bug.
Meanwhile, fans were split on their thoughts for the new graphic.
ESPN debuted a new graphics package for their first NFL game of the season
Fans were divided on the new look during the Las Vegas Raiders and the Houston Texans
The company said this was a ‘soft launch’ and they will work to tweak it through the season
Fans who were in favor of the new look said, ‘I like it, it’s simple and clean.’
Another shared a similar sentiment, saying, ‘Pretty clean.’
On the opposite side, fans against the new look said, ‘Lazy and uninspired.’
A similar comment read, ‘Seems pretty bare bones. You would be forgiven for thinking it was a preseason bug from a local broadcaster.’
There were also those in the middle of the road on how the new scorebug looked.
‘If it was like 20% smaller, it would be fantastic,’ read one critique
Another said, ‘The gradient’s not my favorite, but pretty good overall.’
According to Awful Announcing, ESPN described the Thursday broadcast as a ‘soft launch’ with the idea that they could re-design or tweak the graphics throughout the season ahead of Super Bowl LXI.
