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.
Originally Posted by Dayze:
Franchise as a player.....coach Reid one week telling me he likes what he sees but would like to see a bit more downfield. Next week, he said he needs to see a little more out of me to determine if I’m one of the QBs on the roster come September.
Which is awesome, considering I’m playing as a MLB.
The problem is that Madden has been the only game in town for so long, no other company is even interested in making a game, even if it wasn't exclusive. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mecca:
The problem is that Madden has been the only game in town for so long, no other company is even interested in making a game, even if it wasn't exclusive.
If it didnt cost so much for players rights, 2K coulda have done a roster update from APF2K8 or 2K5 and the gameplay would still blow away the shitty frostbite engine. [Reply]
Back in April EA proclaimed they were "recommitting themselves to franchise mode this year!". And franchise mode is pretty much the same thing. Franchise mode had more features in 2006 than it does now lol. But golly gee they put the Pro Bowl back in the frickin game! [Reply]
Tried "Face of the Franchise", made my QB look like Mr. Spock from 'Star Trek', went through the games and the cut scenes (really should be able to skip those), the combine and the draft only to be picked by....the Denver Broncos. Not sure I can keep this FOTF save file. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KC_Lee:
Tried "Face of the Franchise", made my QB look like Mr. Spock from 'Star Trek', went through the games and the cut scenes (really should be able to skip those), the combine and the draft only to be picked by....the Denver Broncos. Not sure I can keep this FOTF save file.
I would rather watch paint dry than play with the donkey franchise for any means but sabotage. Not worth my time in a videogame to do that. [Reply]
I'm probably gonna have to restart my franchise for that damn OL ability shit (why they have to make you restart is ridiculous if you ask me). Because Schwartz gets instantly beat by any LE or LOLB that has a superstar ability, 100% of the time. Schwartz has never blocked Joey Bosa for example. Plus these sliders are kind of hard and I barely got into the playoffs and I face Luck and the Colts lol. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Imon Yourside:
I would rather watch paint dry than play with the donkey franchise for any means but sabotage. Not worth my time in a videogame to do that.
Tried it again, went through the steps, draft day got the call "Hi this is John Gruden of the Raiders...." DAMMIT!!!!! [Reply]
So there's a pretty broken money defense, even on all madden.
3-4 odd, pinch buck 0.
Pinch D line and have them attack outside, audible lbs to blitz all, secondary press coverage.
User a safety to cover for the 1.2 seconds it takes for the qb to be destroyed.
Darron Lee logged 12 sacks alone in one game, overall team sacked the qb 17 times and forced 5 interceptions. Its pretty hilarious. They literally never adjust playcalling.
If the go empty backfield, you just don't audible the coverage lb to blitz, and you cover that lbs man.
If you suspect the back may leak out, user the audibled blitzing lb, and if the back stays in, rush, and if not, cover. Qb still gets killed or throws terrible passes every time.
I held the opposite team to 9 total yards, -6 total offense. Hilarious. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Wallcrawler:
So there's a pretty broken money defense, even on all madden.
3-4 odd, pinch buck 0.
Pinch D line and have them attack outside, audible lbs to blitz all, secondary press coverage.
User a safety to cover for the 1.2 seconds it takes for the qb to be destroyed.
Darron Lee logged 12 sacks alone in one game, overall team sacked the qb 17 times and forced 5 interceptions. Its pretty hilarious. They literally never adjust playcalling.
If the go empty backfield, you just don't audible the coverage lb to blitz, and you cover that lbs man.
If you suspect the back may leak out, user the audibled blitzing lb, and if the back stays in, rush, and if not, cover. Qb still gets killed or throws terrible passes every time.
I held the opposite team to 9 total yards, -6 total offense. Hilarious.
I'll give you a better one if your just playing vs CPU (which it looks like you are). Come out in FG block middle. When the CPU audibles to a passing set, you audible to punt return safe (its one d-pad click to left in audible menu). The CPU will try to bomb you, just click on the DB guarding the WR and intercept it. [Reply]
Does anyone play MUT? And if so have any of you tried the new O-Line abilities and noticed them at all? I've been get my drum beat by LT and Von. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Iconic:
Does anyone play MUT? And if so have any of you tried the new O-Line abilities and noticed them at all? I've been get my drum beat by LT and Von.
