Franchise mode in the Madden NFL games has always been a fan-favorite. The mode allows players to take control of their favorite team and make roster moves, draft for the future, pull the trigger on massive trade deals, and play the season's games hoping to make it to the playoffs and beyond. The changes for Franchise mode in Madden NFL 21 seem a bit lackluster, and fans haven't been particularly happy. But fear not, Madden NFL 22 will be more revolutionary.
That's right, Madden NFL 22 is not a typo. While Madden NFL 21 is right around the corner and set to launch on August 25, 2020, it's the version that is set to release about 13 months from now that will have the advancements in Franchise mode that many want to see.
EA responded to the negative feedback on Madden NFL 21 from the fans, via a tweet, by saying that the team is looking to bolster Franchise mode for Madden NFL 21 and beyond, and the key looks to be the beyond part. In an update posted on EA's website recently, the changes for Franchise mode in Madden NFL 21 and 22 were highlighted. As far as this year's Madden, there will be updates and fine-tuning to commissioner tools, trade logic, UI, customization, presentation, and more. The updates look solid, but some of the things fans have been asking for are being saved for the next iteration of Madden.
As far as Madden NFL 22's franchise changes, fans can look forward to improvements in coaching and staff management, scouting enhancements, an updated team chemistry model, new uniforms and names, and seemingly much more. In the update, EA reiterated that Madden is a live service game, which is why MUT is so popular in Madden. Franchise mode doesn't quite fit in the same realm, which may be why some fans love it so much, and why it's such a bummer that it doesn't get quite the same love from the dev team.
It is a bit unprecedented for a developer to highlight all the great things to come with the game that is coming out a year from now, as opposed to the one that is set to release in just a few weeks. The danger in highlighting how great next year's Madden will be is the idea of downplaying how good this one will be. From a marketing perspective, the goal should always be to make this newest and most available version as enticing as possible. Perhaps this is another move from EA, one of the most hated companies in the United States, to work towards more goodwill with the fans.
EA stays in business and prospers, regardless of some of the flak it gets, and Madden continues to be a popular and loved game series. For fans of Franchise, it is a bit of a bummer that this year's mode still isn't quite up to snuff, but there is hope in the future now.
Madden NFL 21 releases August 28 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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Source: EA