After teasing some Madden NFL news during April’s Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, EA unveiled the next mainline entry in the series, Madden NFL 26, that same month. Although the announcement of a new installment in an annualized franchise like this one didn’t surprise many fans, there was one aspect of its reveal that did come as a bit of a shock. EA confirmed that Madden NFL 26 will be the first-ever game in the series to be developed exclusively for ninth-generation consoles. This, in other words, meant that it will be launched on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, but not PS4 or Xbox One.
The fact that Madden NFL is moving on from last-gen hardware may disappoint gamers who are still playing on those platforms, but it will potentially allow the series to take full advantage of modern technology. Judging by what EA has shared about Madden NFL 26 so far, it seems like this will indeed be the case. Madden NFL 26 is not just going to be a simple roster update, like many of the other NFL games before it. Instead, the title will have a bunch of new features, systems, and graphical mechanics that will refine the series’ tried-and-true formula.
Madden NFL 26 is Refining the Series’ Formula in a Bunch of New Ways
Although EA isn’t going to reinvent the wheel with Madden NFL 26, it will change up the Madden series’ flagship game modes in a bunch of different ways. In Franchise Mode, for example, players will now have the ability to choose between hundreds of new heads and gear when creating their own coach, thus ensuring that no two coaches will ever be the same. Additionally, they can select one of four coach archetypes when starting out with this mode. These archetypes can gradually be upgraded, similar to how they can in EA’s other recent football title, College Football 26.
EA is Shaking Up Madden’s Game Modes With Some New Features, Such As The Sphere of Influence
Madden NFL‘s Ultimate Team and Superstar Mode (which is sort of the story mode of the series) are getting some changes in Madden NFL 26, as well. Superstar Mode will now feature something known as Career Chapters, which will give players a greater sense of progression throughout their playthrough and make them feel the consequences of their actions. The Sphere of Influence, a new feature in this particular mode, will let players see the relationships that they have built with both coaches and fans. On the Ultimate Team side of things, meanwhile, EA has confirmed that Madden NFL 26‘s version of the mode will be modified specifically to enhance solo play. Players can expect to see leaderboard campaigns and all-new live events in the mode, among other things.
Madden NFL 26 is Getting More Realistic Features, Like an Improved Weather System
In addition to these adjusted modes, EA is going to make some general gameplay changes in Madden NFL 26, as well. According to the company, the game will feature an all-new AI-powered machine learning system that will adapt plays from roughly a decade of NFL data into “more explosive gameplay.” The traits, play-styles, and strategies of NFL quarterbacks and coaches will be more accurately reflected in the game, as a result. To improve realism even further, Madden NFL 26 will also feature a more realistic football weather system, hundreds of new animations, and an improved player movement system.
Madden NFL 26 is Coming Out in Just a Few Days
Madden NFL 26 is going to be released worldwide on August 14, 2025, just a few months after the launch of College Football 26. Players who want to play the game early, however, can pre-order its Deluxe Edition for $100 on all available storefronts. This way, they can check Madden NFL 26 out as soon as August 7, exactly 7 days before its official release.
Like with most of EA’s other games, though, Madden NFL 26 will also be available at no extra cost to all EA Play Pro subscribers at launch.
Madden NFL 26
- Released
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August 14, 2025
- Multiplayer
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Online Multiplayer
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