Madden NFL 26is set to release in August, coming behind therelease ofCollege Football 26. Expectations are no doubt high for both. Understanding that, developers have set out to make sure that their coverage of the football world is impenetrable.College Football 26may have the most hype behind it due to the rub of it being relatively new, butMadden NFL 26also has so much history backing it that it’s impossible to ignore.
Game Rant recently visited EA Tiburon in Orlando, Florida to get all the details onMadden NFL 26’s upcoming slate of changes and improvements, as well as get to play a couple of games ourselves. What stood out the most in our brief time was how it leverages not only the history of the franchise, but the history of the NFL as well.
The DNA of the NFL in Madden 26
In anannualized franchise likeMadden NFL, it can sometimes be hard to feel the changes, and sometimes it can feel like those changes are made in all the wrong ways. That said, the introduction of QB DNA and Coach DNA inMadden NFL 26makes as palpable an impact as someone could expect across the span of two games. QB DNA and Coach DNA are designed by an AI learning system that utilizes nearly a decade of real NFL data to create authentic, historied interactions. The coach DNA is a standout of the two because, while coach suggestions have always been a thing, they now feel like something the specific coach would call. Layered on top of that is a brief text box that explains why this play should be utilized and also how much faith the coach has in that play.
With the caveat thatMadden NFL 26is still in developmentand I played a pre-final version of the game, I feel the need to point out that I encountered a small bug with coach DNA. There was a short period where the coach would recommend plays that he had 0% confidence in. It seemed to go away when the quarter ended, and it had no bearing on if I chose that play and if that play would actually work. It’s just quite funny to see a coach present a play he had no confidence whatsoever in. That said, for the most part, players can expect coach-accurate calls.
Another benefit of this is how it adds an all-important strategic layer to playing against the AI. Gone are the days of lobbing Hail Mary throws or running the same play over and over because the AI could not counter it. Coach DNA, and thus plays the opponent’s calls, reacts to plays made by the player. If they get too repetitive, they are basically handing the AI the counter-play to run. Combined with QB DNA, the gameplay is tighter and more realistic than ever, and I say that with the full knowledge that “most realistic” is often a repeated bumper sticker phrase forMadden NFLgames. Quarterbacks are going to react how quarterbacks are known to react, thanks to the same system that powers coach DNA. Players can expect them to make calls based on the QB’s history from their signature throwing motions and specific arm slots to how they act in the pocket and scramble.
Game Modes
Football Weather
Caught between the worlds of presentation and gameplay is weather, and to rely on the meme a bit, this is football weather. With a couple of new heavy introductions, players can expect even hardened pros to stumble or slip on the cut. This makes every play a touch more unpredictable. Combining this withfoundational footballbeing a core pillar ofMadden NFL 26, fans can expect football weather to feel like football weather.
Primetime Football
Presentation is important; presentation is football.College Football 26goes a long way in capturing college traditions, andMadden NFL 26has put together packages, chants, and other presentations that make it feel like Sunday…Monday…and Thursday.Madden NFL 26introduces custom broadcast packages that have a distinct feel based on primetime slots for these days. There’s a bit more to it, but the presentation is definitely firing on all cylinders. Players can also expect team-specific run-outs, iconic crowd chants, pre-game traditions, and even dynamic halftime shows as hosted by Scott Hanson.
Madden NFL 26releases on August 14 for Nintendo Switch 2, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. Game Rant was provided travel and lodging for the purposes of this preview.
