EA College Football 25 was impressive. After my hands-on impression in May, I was excited about playing it over the long haul.
No matter how much you try, it’s impossible not to compare it to Madden.
While we know the cover athlete is San Francisco 49ers star Christian McCaffrey and the release date for Madden 25, we have yet to dig deep into the upcoming NFL product.
After spending quality time with College Football 25, I’m convinced we need to see at least two major features from the rebooted series land in Madden 25.
The Wear-And-Tear System
After playing and experiencing the impact of this new system on gameplay, I’m convinced it could be one of the best features in football video games.
For those who need to be made aware, WAT works like it sounds. During games and seasons in Dynasty, you must manage the punishment your players take.
All of the hits add up, and as the damage accumulates, your players will see decreases in relevant attributes such as speed, agility, throw power, etc.
Your players can also get injured. I saw the most significant impact on running backs and quarterbacks. Running backs take a lot of pounding, so you must have other guys with whom you can get carries.
Quarterbacks can’t scramble and barely release the pass before taking a hit without paying a price. The physical management portion is a pure football element that needs to be in Madden moving forward.
The Team Builder App/Website
One of the most significant areas of opportunity for the Madden franchise to improve is its customization suite. For more than a decade, Madden has been behind the curve in this area.
There are too many limitations in a few customization areas, particularly in the team-creation space. Users have been limited to the overly restrictive relocation system, and you can only choose from a few pre-set logos.
With the Team Builder functionality confirmed for College Football 25, we hope to see this land in Madden. From what we were told, the Team Builder option will have even more depth in College Football 25 than in the old NCAA Football series.
Hopefully, the option makes it to Madden, which is just as deep for creating professional teams.
EA College Football 25 will be released on July 19, and Madden 25 on August 16. Hopefully, things will come together to deliver the most complete virtual football season in over a decade.
