Madden 23 is fast approaching. Its cover star is John Madden himself, which has apparently inspired a back-to-basics approach from developer EA Tiburon. Complementing that is a new gameplay mechanic called FieldSense, while changes are also afoot in franchise mode. So in this article, we will show you everything you need to know about Madden 23 now!
What's The Madden 23 Release Date?
Madden 23 release date of Friday, August 19, 2022. This lines up with what we'd expected, as the timing is almost identical to the release date used for Madden 22.
Which Madden 23 Edition to Buy?
There are two Madden 23 editions: a standard version and an All-Madden Edition. Each comes with a different set of bonuses. The standard edition is the most basic version of Madden 23. For $59.99 (or less) if you own a PS4 or Xbox One, or $69.99 (or less) if you own a PS5 or Xbox Series X, you get a copy of the game and some bonuses if you order before the game's release in August. Here are the Madden 23 standard edition pre-order bonuses:
Choose 2 Elite Ultimate Team Players (1 offensive, 1 defensive)
Madden strategy item
All Madden gear
As well as boxed and digital standard editions, there's also an All-Madden edition offering extras such as three days of early access, an All-Madden elite player for Ultimate Team, and the option to play on both PS4 and PS5 – or Xbox One and Xbox Series X. It was $99.99/£89.99.
Who Is The Madden 23 Cover Star?
John Madden has been announced as the cover figure for the upcoming release of Madden 23. This year's game edition will be the first time Madden has appeared on his namesake cover since 2000. The game has been released annually since 1990's inaugural John Madden Football.
The All-Madden cover features a young Madden from his Raiders days holding a football, with white letters reading "Thank you, Coach." On the broadcasting edition, Madden is shown in a suit and tie drawing on a telestrator, which became his signature during his announcing tenure. The coaching cover shows Madden being hoisted into the air by his players after winning Super Bowl XI. The former Raiders coach, commentator, and man for whom this series is named passed away in December, aged 85. Placing him on the box makes for a fine tribute to king John.
What is New Features FieldSense?
The most significant new feature in Madden NFL 23 is FieldSense, a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S-exclusive gameplay system that gives players more control over their on-the-field team.
The FieldSENSE deep dive trailer breaks its new system down into four major categories: Hit Everything, Skill-Based Passing, 360° Cuts, and WR vs DB Battles.
Hit everything - a new defensive mechanic, Hit everything allows players to make stops from any position during any play, with the type of player impacting the outcome. A new mid-air tackle system lets the defense disrupt passes in dynamic ways, and the stand-up tackle feature gives players more control over two-man tackles.
Skill-Based Passing - this new mechanic is designed to give passers much more precise control over where the ball is thrown, emulating the high-stakes decision-making of real top-rated NFL QBs.
360° Cuts - giving players more responsive control of the ball carrier, 360° Cuts utilize both the left stick and LT/L2 to allow for more freedom to make precise cuts and gain extra yardage.
WR vs DB Battles - aiming to make the classic position battle much more realistic, receivers now have a variety of release moves and open-field cuts at their disposal, while defensive backs have new press mechanics to employ.
What's being added to Madden 23 Face of the Franchise mode?
The Face of the Franchise is a very popular game mode and Madden 23 will continue to deliver specialized content. In Madden NFL 23, the football series' ever-popular Face of the Franchise is set to return with a theme of "The League." Now, let's check out the specifics surrounding Madden 23 Face of the Franchise. This includes which positions are available to you and some of the new changes：
Positions available: QB, WR, RB, CB, and MLB
Negotiate a one-year "prove-it" contract
Position-specific mechanics by FieldSENSE (next gen only)
Player-focused cameras
New Drive Goals
New Drive Summaries
Performance boosts through weekly activities
Career guided by Madden Ratings Adjustor Chad Johnson who updates your ratings.
Road to 99 Club
Continuing To Madden Ultimate Team
Madden Ultimate Team, the mainstay custom team, earns Madden 23 Coins to collection card mode and pledges several streamlines and improvements to improve the player experience. The ultimate team leans more into the live-service model for this mode, with new, unique, and reactive-to-real-life cards dropped into the mode throughout the title's lifespan.
MUT devotees can also look forward to more streamlined sets, with substantially fewer button presses needed to scrape your inventory for cards you're not using and redeem for a set of cards. On top of that, a season pass-style Field Pass offers you a clear path to building your Ultimate Team through gameplay; EA Sports tells us it has no plans for monetization of the Field Pass at launch.
All these changes feel exceptionally positive both on paper and in action, the new Madden is looking pretty good. So the toughest thing for Madden fans this summer will be the wait.
