Summary

  • Madden NFL 25 players are disappointed with how the game portrays big events, such as the Super Bowl.
  • Despite being the biggest event of the NFL's year, the EA Sports title doesn't distinguish it from any other match.
  • No special postgame reports or sequences are shown to distinguish the massive game from other matchups, and fans wonder if this can be fixed in the future.

Some Madden NFL 25 players aren't satisfied with how the game handles the atmosphere of certain events, such as Super Bowl games. Despite Madden NFL 25 promising to make its professional football simulator more realistic with improved true-to-life movements and physics, there are still fans who want better immersion from its engine.

Madden NFL 25 is this year's iteration of the annual NFL game from developer EA Sports. NFL 25 launched on August 16 to mixed reviews on Steam, with players taking issue with persistent crashes and console accessories being incompatible on PC, among other problems. Another returning gripe is EA's focus on microtransactions as a way to make more money from the game.

Madden NFL 25 Highest team OVR
Madden NFL 25: 6 Highest Team Overall Ratings, Ranked

Not all the teams in Madden NFL 25 are balanced, some have a much higher OVR than others, which combines with some killer chemistry among players.

By 

A smaller complaint from players is the frustrating fact that the game still doesn't treat bigger matches as uniquely special moments in certain modes, such as Franchise in Madden NFL 25. On Reddit, one Madden fan said they don't feel like the Super Bowl, the biggest game of the year, is a major event, as the event's presentation isn't made distinct from any other match. According to them, the commentators only mention the fact that the game is the Super Bowl a few times, the crowd doesn't sound any louder, and there aren't any special postgame reports or sequences that depict it as a big championship bout.

Madden NFL 25 Fails To Capture The Grandeur of The Super Bowl

Other Redditors agree, comparing how EA depicts bigger events in Madden with 2K Sports' approach to games like NBA 2K. 2K manages to make postseason and championship games feel visually and audibly distinct from regular season matches, even in older titles like NBA 2K13. Some fans pin the blame on the NFL itself, which supposedly controls how the league is presented in Madden.

When it comes to realism, EA Sports focused on making the football gameplay feel natural in Madden 25. The developer's big addition to Madden this year is the BOOM Tech, which makes tackling and ball movement feel more realistic. Whether that has made a positive impact on players' experiences in Madden is yet to be fully established, however, as most of the feedback on the game seems to be more focused on its shortcomings.

Beyond the new physics additions, there are other ways to increase the realism in Madden 25. As a full-featured football sim, players can also adjust the Madden slider settings to make for even more realistic gameplay that evokes the skill level of the most elite NFL players. Fans can also expect EA to release regular stat updates when the regular season gets underway to reflect real-life developments in the league.

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Madden NFL 25 Tag Page Cover Art
7 /10

Madden NFL 25
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Sports
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Systems
PlayStation-1 Xbox-1 PC-1
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Top Critic Avg: 69 /100 Critics Rec: 34%
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Released
August 16, 2024
ESRB
E For Everyone
Developer(s)
EA Tiburon
Publisher(s)
EA
Engine
Frostbite
Multiplayer
Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
Cross-Platform Play
Yes. PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S
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WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

FRANCHISE IMMERSION
Recharged Franchise mode provides a rebuilt NFL Draft experience featuring Roger Goodell, team and rookie records, new environments, personalized storylines, more ways to customize your NFL team and season, a fresh Super Bowl celebration experience, and Franchise Central with simplified league creation tools and more information at your fingertips so you can drive your Franchise to victory.

LIVE UPDATES IN ULTIMATE TEAM & SUPERSTAR
New rewards, feature releases, themed programs, and the ability to customize your style and skills in Superstar bring refreshed experiences across Ultimate Team™ and live game modes.

PLAYBOOK EXPANSION
Evolve your strategy with a brand new set of featured plays, from some of the game’s most inventive team playbooks.

TEAM BUILDER
Create your own NFL franchise using Team Builder, a web-based customization tool that allows you to design a team that perfectly matches your style.

Team Builder content can be used in Franchise mode. Internet connection & EA account required. Applicable platform account may be required. Age restrictions may apply.
 

Franchise
Madden NFL
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unknown
Genre(s)
Sports