The draft is complete, training camp is starting, and the NFL season is just around the corner. While rookie QBs are dissecting playbooks to earn a starting spot, you’re closer to getting back on the sticks and carving up defenses in Madden NFL 22, launching on August 20. This year’s Madden features both Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes making their triumphant returns to the cover following their battle in Super Bowl LV. As you embark on your own Super Bowl run, you’ll see new features and improvements across the board.
Game Day Makes All the Difference
This time out, the stadium experience is brought right to you, as home field crowds can swing the momentum of each game. Each stadium provides a one-of-a-kind atmosphere to rattle opponents: on key third downs in Seattle, the crowd chaos will disrupt your pre-snap read, and in Chicago, there’s a good chance you’ll join a long list of kickers who have doinked a seemingly easy chip shot directly off the upright in a critical moment. But each team can change the course of a game with all-new Momentum Factors. Nab an interception at the right time or stiff arm a defender right into the ground for a big run to see your new momentum meter increase and unlock a special boost for your team.
Franchise Gets an Overhaul
The team at EA listened to community feedback asking for a deeper, more realistic franchise experience. Now, not only do you control your head coach, but you can build out your coaching tree with an offensive and defensive coordinator, as well as player personnel department to help craft your perfect team. The week-to-week planning has adapted as well; using next-gen stats and AI, you’re able to build a game plan truly specific to your opponent – plan accordingly for Josh Allen to toss the ball almost every down or prep your front-seven for the Ravens’ run-heavy attack. And at the culmination of a championship season, you can also expect to see a new post-Super Bowl victory montage this year, although it remains unknown if the winning quarterback will be seen throwing the Lombardi Trophy from one boat to another in celebration. Franchise will continue to update throughout the course of the season, beginning with a revamped NFL Draft scouting system so you can unlock the next Marques Colston or Rodney Harrison.
A More Realistic On-field Experience
It’s an ever-evolving process, but this year promises to see marked improvements in the ways players interact on the field. Using Next Gen Stats, players present a more lifelike version of themselves and will evolve over the course of the season. You’re now able to play off those tendencies and even make halftime adjustments as you learn more about your opponent. It’s all enhanced by new player movements, from tackle animations to the way receivers fight for the ball against corners. A new tackling system takes into account player size and traits so a larger back drags defenders right into the endzone before going down, while a smaller, speedy back may get stopped right in his tracks when hit by a bigger linebacker.
In addition to all of the above, Madden Ultimate Team, Face of the Franchise and The Yard return with more info on each coming out in the weeks leading up to launch. You can be sure that we’ll be bringing you more information as we’re able. Madden 22 arrives on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC on August 20. See you out in the field!