EA Sports has continued to release a new football title each year with the Madden series and at times has attempted to put their own spin on things and stray from the usual formula. Whether these differences were Madden NFL 25 or NFL Head Coach, there is no doubt that gamers will need more noticeable differences and additions in upcoming titles in order for the yearly investment to be worth it. So, it should be no surprise that Madden 20 has finally be announced with a reveal trailer and this year the Kansas City Chiefs’ quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, is taking the spot on the cover.
So what is coming to Madden 20 that will set it apart? One of the new features will be a quarterback mode where players will lead one of ten college teams through the college football playoffs. In what is called the QB1 Mode, the decisions that players make in the college playoffs will affect later progress upon entering the NFL. This is done through the use of what EA is calling the Scenario Engine, which generates personalized events and specific instances that will have to be addressed that will vary depending on the player.
Madden 20 Franchise Mode will, of course, be returning so that players can control their favorite teams from the perspective of coach, owner, and player. The competition in Franchise Mode can be done off or online in connected leagues. Ultimate Team is also back to serve as a player-service mode, where the perfect fantasy building of players on a team from the past or present seasons will be available. However, the other stand out feature in this installment will be Superstar X-Factor. EA has created this system to serve as a new kind of progression. It will make certain abilities available to specific players by completing challenges depending on their position, but EA hasn’t gone into more specific than this. It description implies that these abilities may be used as some form of an ultimate ability or unique move that changes the pace of a game.
Madden 20 hits the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC August 2. For constant updates on the status of the game, EA has created a blog page called the Gridiron Notes to talk about patches and other features throughout the year.