When talking and listening to players, we kept hearing that being a star of their own football story would be fantastic. With that in mind, we crafted Face of the Franchise: QB1, where the story is not only about you, but one where the choices you make matter.
It kicks off with creating yourself as a quarterback – even using “face editing” to get an improved likeness. Once you have your player, you begin in college, choosing from top schools to attend, then competing for a national championship in the college football playoffs. Be the BMOC and take home the title, but bring your A-game, because your performance in college – just like on the real collegiate gridiron – has an impact on your capabilities and your draft stock.
The NFL draft doesn’t just happen, though – the combine comes first. Ever-increasing in importance and scrutinization, the combine is a key part of the process. And here, if you want your stock to soar, you’ll need to focus on every rep and decision you make to keep your name rising on draft boards. Where will you get picked, and where will your NFL career start? You’ll find out on draft day!
IN THE LEAGUE
No matter where you get drafted – from first round to last – once a team picks you, you’re going to have to show you belong playing with the pros. Whether you’re a first-rounder who needs to prove you were the perfect high pick, or a seventh-rounder busting your ass to make the roster, if you want success you have to work hard and make each opportunity count.
In the NFL, start building your legacy and taking your franchise to winning seasons, expanding your legend with each snap. It’s not about the cash your contracts rack up, but about how many Super Bowls you win as your legend grows. Give your all – and have fun – as you play your way into memorable moments. When you celebrate your career at the end, will you be remembered among the greats, placed alongside them in the Hall of Fame?
As you live your superstar story, Madden’s new Scenario Engine generates personalized playable scenarios, events, and dynamic challenges that tell the tale of a unique NFL career. Adding to it, in Face of the Franchise: QB1, like in Franchise mode, you choose your Archetype: Strong Arm, Scrambler, Improviser, Field General. Superstar abilities are tied to the Archetype you pick. Levelling up your archetypes unlocks different abilities.
It’s time for you to take your place as the face of the franchise.
OTHER MADDEN FRANCHISE IMPROVEMENTS
While we heard fan feedback for a superstar experience, we also dove deep into the forums and reddit and worked with Gamechangers to round out Franchise mode in other ways, too. With that, here are a few more things to get you ready to break the huddle.
Pro Bowl Returns to Madden NFL 20
The first thing you’ll see while Madden NFL 20 sets up is the Pro Bowl. You can play the pro bowl while the game installs, and you will also have the opportunity to qualify for the Pro Bowl during your Franchise seasons. It’s another opportunity to gain valuable experience and add to your Legacy.
Ratings Spread
We’ve adjusted the range of ratings that you’ll see on players. What does this mean? As examples:
The ratings difference between a 90 OVR player and an 89 OVR player is now larger
Each skill point you spend will be more impactful, and you can earn more skill points over the course of a career
In some cases, you will now see a starter with an OVR in the mid-50s.
New Scenarios
We’ve added an all-new in-game system that generates personalized playable scenarios featuring interactions with characters via a variety of ways including branching dialogue, dynamic events that reflect your performance and choices, challenges that build the story of your unique NFL career (from the moment you sign your rookie contract to you Hall of Fame induction), and more.
Development Traits
We’ve made large updates to our Development Trait system to support Superstar and Zone abilities. The Development Traits in Madden 20 are: Normal, Star, Superstar, and Superstar X-Factor. Both Superstar and X-Factors players can earn Superstar Abilities, but only X-Factors can earn Zone Abilities. We’ve also addressed one of the communities’ biggest complaints: players dropping down in Development Trait. In Madden 20, players can no longer go down in Development Trait at the end of a season.
Coach Mode
Coach mode is also getting scenarios. And the changes to Development Traits have a big impact on Coach mode. Coaches will want to build up their teams with Superstars and X-Factor Superstars via Trades, free agency, and the draft. We’ve also added an overhauled lineup UI to make Franchise mode even smoother.
Contract Updates
We’ve taken a meticulous pass on existing player contracts to ensure they match the NFL. This will not only be more authentic, but it will also make managing your roster’s cap space more realistic.
Progression Updates
We’ve overhauled our progression tuning, including making changes to XP gains from weekly training, actions on the field, and goal completion. These changes should ultimately lead to users being able to increase the OVR of more players on their team meaning they have more option in how to develop their roster.
Draft Updates
We’ve taken a full pass on our Rookie Generators. People familiar with draft classes from the past few years are in for some new surprises, from names, to bodies, to ratings, and more.
One more draft surprise is that rookies with a Superstar Development or higher trait will have their development trait hidden until they’ve played through at least half of a season. These players have their abilities hidden until you reveal their Development Trait. This means that if you draft either a Superstar or an X-Factor Superstar you won’t know exactly what you’ve drafted until later in a season – use your preseason wisely.
Gameplay Effects Updated
We’ve implemented a ton of changes, like Throw Power overhauls to change QB trajectories. But that’s just one example! Tune in to our gameplay stream on 5/23 for more of the inside scoop on additions and changes you’ll find in Madden NFL 20.
:-) so apparently in your mind I can't comment on the myriad of game breaking glitches at launch, animation bugs, and barren franchise mode because the game hasn't actually been in my system yet. Eat shit, Clay. [Reply]
EA hasn't gained the benefit of the doubt with me.
Madden hasn't earned my $60 for the past 2 years and I'll wait until I get a thumbs-up majority from the player base before I reinvest.
Hell, I've run an online EA NHL league the past 12 years and I'm already starting to see cracks in that franchise as well. Shockingly, there's also no other competition for EA to pit themselves up against it on yearly basis as well.
I've accepted the fact that EA gets lazy because there's no competition.
It is what it is. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Superturtle: :-) so apparently in your mind I can't comment on the myriad of game breaking glitches at launch, animation bugs, and barren franchise mode because the game hasn't actually been in my system yet. Eat shit, Clay.
frankly you are exaggerating things you have read
i have played for six hours and it is a rock solid game - i am sure a bug will pop up every now and then, that is not game-breaking
especially compared to last year's game, which was legit broken [Reply]
The game won't end after the clock hits 0:00 even though there's a winner. Only way out is to restart the game, losing all progress in the process. It is not an exaggeration to say this is a game breaking bug. [Reply]
I've put in about 20 hours since its premiere launch on PC (last week). I've only played H2H in MUT, CFM and regs, haven't had any issues other than the zones playing like 6th graders and the broken 'arm bar' superstar ability which will be fixed. Unfortunately EA caters to the online competitive modes because that's where they make their extra money with the lootbox card packs. I can't remember the last time they put out a proper solo player superstar mode. [Reply]
I know Clay will defend this game like a sow bear protecting it’s cub, so I got his answer already. What about the rest of you guys, is it with my $60?
Got to give you shit Clay, you crack me up [Reply]
I dunno if it's worth the purchase. If you have a PC and have 5 bucks to spare you can do a free trial on EA access for 10 hours and try it before you buy it. [Reply]
Originally Posted by New World Order:
gameplay is a lot better than last year.
I dunno if it's worth the purchase. If you have a PC and have 5 bucks to spare you can do a free trial on EA access for 10 hours and try it before you buy it.
This is what I did.
I enjoyed the shit out of Madden 18 and I am going to enjoy this even more.