When considering everything, Madden 26 has all the potential to be a benchmark entry into the long-running football sim franchise. The series has finally abandoned last-gen consoles, and already, EA seems to be giving peeks into some of the new features that will be present once the game comes out on August 14.
But what are these new features? And what kind of effect can they have on a long-running franchise that, for all the criticism it gets, is the only game in town when it comes to American football? Here are all of the new features that will be in Madden 26 this year.
New Features In Madden 26
QB And Coach DNA
EA is always advertising realism as one of the key reasons players should open their wallets and buy Madden each year. Madden 26 is no different, but this time, they’re advertising much more realistic QB and coaching logic than has previously been showcased.
First up is “QB DNA”, which promises to accurately portray the way each quarterback behaves and moves when in the pocket. For example, EA cites star QBs Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson as players with very distinct playstyles that Madden 26 aspires to emulate.
Elsewhere, the similarly named Coach DNA aims to accurately reflect playcalling tendencies and styles practiced by the NFL’s best minds. Some coaches, like the Detroit Lions’ Dan Campbell, will be extremely aggressive on 4th down. Others, such as the Minnesota Vikings’ Kevin O’Connell, will have an extremely creative approach when it comes to offensive schemes.
Overall, it sounds nice on paper. But how it’s executed remains to be seen.
Weather Plays A Massive Role
As we noticed in the game’s reveal trailer, the weather will have more of an effect on games in Madden 26. For years, weather has factored into the equation in Madden. However, in past years, it didn’t have as much of an effect on the moment-to-moment gameplay as much as it did on the RNG that determined whether or not a play was successful.
To be completely honest, I wish we weren’t in a climate where I was excited about an overhauled weather system being introduced into the game. But, to be honest, anything that makes playoff games in Buffalo or Pittsburgh more interesting could be very fun and add tons of dynamism to the gameplay.
Physics-Based Animations
Maybe it’s just the Backbreaker fan in me, but whenever I see a tagline like “physics-based animations”, my ears perk up. I doubt Madden will go all the way and abandon all of the canned animations it has compiled over the past decade and some change, but it’s a promising development.
To advertise it, Madden 26 promises “updated player movement to reflect the explosive athleticism only the NFL can deliver.” Cover athlete Saquon Barkley is used as an example. All in all, a statement like this means pretty much nothing and seems to be purposefully vague. But if EA can somehow institute an engine that makes movement more realistic, I’m all for it.
The series has abandoned the last generation of consoles after all. So if there’s ever been a year where players can start seeing tangible change, this is the one.
