Update 6/7: EA has since confirmed that the ad was posted in error and Madden NFL 23 will not be available on Game Pass.
Original story follows.
While the Madden NFL series has been criticized by even its most diehard fans in recent years, there's still no denying that it's a juggernaut franchise for the industry. Madden NFL games are consistently some of the top-selling titles every year, and that will most likely hold true for the upcoming Madden NFL 23. But according to a new rumor, some gamers will be able to see everything Madden NFL 23 has to offer without actually having to pay full price for it.
As spotted by Danny Pena on Twitter, an online ad has seemingly confirmed that Madden NFL 23 will be available with Xbox Game Pass. The ad is for Madden NFL 23 pre-orders, promoting the All Madden Edition, but it includes a note that the game is included with Xbox Game Pass.
Of course, it's entirely possible that the ad is inaccurate, but if it's not, Madden NFL 23 should be a big get for Xbox Game Pass. It should be pointed out that the ad only mentions Xbox Game Pass and not Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which is the more expensive version of the service and the one that fans usually have to sign up for to get access to EA-published games.
It's possible the ad is referring to the fact that Madden NFL 23 will come to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate at some point after launch. An Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription gives fans access to all the titles available through EA Play, and some months after launch, that inevitably includes EA's annual sports titles. However, one would think that the language in the ad would be different if that were the case.
Ultimately, Xbox Game Pass subscribers will just have to wait for more official information to find out one way or another if Madden NFL 23 will be a day one Xbox Game Pass game for August 2022 or not. Nothing to that effect has been announced by an official source, but luckily, fans may not have to wait until August to find out. The Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase is currently scheduled for June 12, and if Xbox has secured Madden NFL 23 for Game Pass, one has to imagine that it would be a big enough announcement for Sunday's showcase.
While it's unclear at the time of this writing if Madden NFL 23 is actually coming to Xbox Game Pass, subscribers should still have plenty to check out regardless. Xbox Game Pass just added four new games, and there are more new games coming to the service later this month as well.