We've reached the Madden 25 release date, and while EA College Football 25 takes the Gridiron spoils this summer, it's still a highly playable addition to the series. You can read more about it in GR's Madden 25 review. If that's enough to convince you to give it a go, we have all the guides you need right here – from the best players and teams to newly added signature celebrations, and sliders that improve authenticity. Here's everything you need to know about Madden 25.
Madden 25 trailer
The first Madden 25 trailer reminds us that while it's from the same studio, this is no College Football 25. Moments of note include some pretty snow effects in Green Bay, and a spectacular one-handed grab by Justin Jefferson. Tap the button to see for yourself.
Madden 25 release date confirmation
Madden 25 is here at last. The Madden 25 release date was August 16, 2024, with the new NFL sim landing on PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. As has become traditional, pre-ordering enabled you to play it three days early, on August 13, 2024. The real NFL season kicks off on September 5 when the Chiefs play the Ravens, giving you three weeks of gameplay to whet your appetite for the real thing.
Madden 25 pre-order bonuses
Inevitably, Madden 25 pre-order bonuses came in a selection of flavors, including the option to purchase it bundled in with new sister game EA College Football 25. We’ve listed what’s in each edition below. As for pricing, Madden 25 costs $69.99 / £69.99 for the Standard Edition, $99.99 / £99.99 for Deluxe Edition, and $139.99 / £139.99 for the Deluxe MVP College Football 25 bundle.
Standard Edition
- Christian McCaffrey Elite Player Item
- Choice of two Strategy Items
- Superstar Drip Gear
- Legendary XP Boost
Deluxe Edition
- Christian McCaffrey Elite Player Item
- Choice of two Strategy Items
- Superstar Drip Gear
- Legendary XP Boost
- 3 days early access
- Early access Ultimate Team Challenges
- 4,600 Madden points
- AKA Player Item
Madden 25 & College Football 25 MVP Bundle
- Madden 25 Deluxe Edition
- 3 Day Early Access
- 4,600 Madden Points
- Early Access Ultimate Team Challenges
- AKA Player Item
- Christian McCaffrey Elite Player Item
- Elite Player Item
- Choice of 2 Strategy Items
- Superstar Drip Gear
- Legendary XP Boost
- College Football 25 Deluxe Edition
- 3 Day Early Access
- 4600 College Football Points
- Alma Mater Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 134)
- Cover Athlete Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 3)
- Heisman Hopeful Ultimate Team Pack (Choice of 1 player item out of 5)
- Bring Glory Home Ultimate Team Uniform Item
Madden 25 cover star
The Madden 25 cover star is monster San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey – and, breaking with the norm, he gets all three editions to himself, in unique poses. “Christian’s electrifying, dynamic and physical play style perfectly represents the gameplay innovations we’re bringing to Madden NFL 25 and made him the ideal fit for this year’s cover,” says senior production director Mike Mahar.
Madden 25 guide hub
With the EA's latest instalment of sacks and TDs now in the wild, GR has produced a suite of guides to help upgrade your skills. Toast first downs like a pro with Madden 25 celebrations, or adjust your on-field experience using Madden 25 sliders. The Madden 25 X-Factors list reveals which players stand out beyond their stats, while Madden 25 tips and the Madden 25 best playbooks list offer key gameplay help, whatever your experience level.
Madden 25 ratings
Continuing the above theme, we have three specific guides dedicated to Madden 25 ratings. Reigning Super Bowl champs Kansas City are the top side in the game, and you can see the main contenders to their crown using the Madden 25 best teams list. Our Madden 25 best players guide hones in on individual numbers, while Madden 25 rookie ratings will introduce you to the best new blood found across the league this year.
NCAA Madden 25 tie-in
Rumors swirled of an NCAA Madden 25 tie-in during the winter, and now we have one – sort of. EA has brought back the likes of Michigan, Ohio State and Illinois for the first time in a decade in College Football 25 – but it isn’t officially an NCAA game. That’s because of a legal dispute over player likenesses, which triggered the demise of the original series following NCAA Football 14. Now we can once more recruit and play as the sports’ best young athletes, before they reach the NFL. Read all about it in GR’s College Football 25 review.
Madden 25 gameplay details
The big new Madden 25 gameplay feature is Boom Tech. This physics-based tackling mechanic has taken two years to develop, and uses timing, momentum, weight, speed, strength, and player ratings to determine the outcome when you try to take down a ball carrier.
"This system is not organic physics, or ragdoll, but rather dynamic animation selection informed by real-world physics," says director – and former NFL player – Clint Oldenburg. "While not every tackle-type in the game is driven by physics, BOOM Tech will make Hit Sticks, Cut Sticks, and Dive Tackles more authentic and more unpredictable."
Before release, EA expressed a desire to make everything “look, feel, and sound different”, with fresh details added to key events such as the annual NFL Draft, and Super Bowl trophy presentation. Tied into that are two new commentary crews. Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis are back, alongside two pairs of alternate voices. The pairings of Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen, and Kate Scott and Brock Huard, deliver 42,000 new dialogue segments – and add welcome depth on the presentation front.
Madden 25 franchise mode overhaul
While gameplay tweaks are incremental, Madden 25 franchise mode gets a more detailed makeover. Dynamic off-field storylines see you deal with player and staff personalities on the sidelines and in meeting rooms, press conferences and coaching offices. The AI’s competency at building rosters through free agency and the draft has been reconfigured, as has aged-based player progression.
Also getting a fresh look is the all-important NFL Draft. This key annual event has been reworked to incorporate shots from within team war rooms and player green rooms, to go with a cleaner prospects board. Also brand new is Team Builder – where you can create an entire team online, with customisable logos and helmets, then import them into a new Franchise save.
The Madden 25 2024 name explained
Those active on social media may have seen this year’s version of the game referred to as Madden 25 2024. It’s an unofficial nickname, but there is a degree of sense behind it. Amazingly, there’s already been a game called Madden 25. Released back in 2013, EA went with that curious naming convention to celebrate 25 years of its popular Gridiron sim. The ‘original’ Madden 25 came out on PS3 and XBox 360, and meant that we never got a series entry called Madden NFL 14.
