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Madden NFL 18 MUT Squads Bring Back Online Team Play

Hey Madden Fans!

My name is Jake Stein, a Producer on Madden Ultimate Team, and I have the privilege of writing the first developer blog of the Madden NFL 18 season. It’s such an exciting time as both a developer and a fan of Madden. From the developer side, we can finally see the finish line as all the planning, long hours, and polish are starting to translate into a fun, cohesive game. From the fans side, it’s your time to start getting drops of information about the new game and imagine what your experience will be, come launch night.

It’s also a time where fans love to analyze any officially released information, tweets, or videos in order to predict what Madden might be teasing.

So let’s talk a little bit about what was found by a few internet sleuths – “2-6 Online Competitive Multiplayer.”

No, that wasn’t a misprint. I’m so thrilled to officially announce what many of you have already assumed was true - the return of online team play in Madden with our new feature called “MUT Squads”. MUT Squads brings what you loved about online team from the past and blends it with the team building power and limitless lineup combinations that are offered in Madden Ultimate Team.

Let’s get into some specifics. Every MUT Squads games will start 3 vs 3. You do this by clicking on the MUT Squads tile inside of Madden Ultimate Team and entering the MUT Squads lobby. Here, you can invite your friends to go into game together or by entering matchmaking on your own where we will pair you up with two other players. To be perfectly clear, no matter if it’s just you or one other friend in the MUT Squads lobby, we will find the additional players it takes to enter a MUT Squads game.

There’s also another very important decision to be made while in the MUT Squads lobby, and this is where we really start to differentiate ourselves from previous iterations of online team play, you must choose one of three roles. The three available roles are Offense Captain, Defense Captain, and Head Coach. Each role is uniquely crafted so let’s dive in a little deeper on each one of those.

Offense Captain:

  • Brings in all players from Offense and Special Teams for that user’s MUT Lineup
  • Brings in the offensive playbook and calls every play on Offense
  • When on Offense, you control the QB at the start of every play
  • However they are not player-locked to the QB post-snap. If you call a run play and neither of the other two human-controlled players are on the HB, the player controlling the QB will immediately switch and become the ball carrier
  • Controls all audibles and adjustments on Offense
  • When on Defense, the user can control any of the 11 players on the field not controlled by another user
  • There is no locking into only linebackers, defensive line, or secondary


Defense Captain:

  • Brings in all players from Defense for that user’s MUT Lineup
  • Brings in the defensive playbook and calls every play on Defense
  • When on Defense, the user can control any of the 11 players on the field not controlled by another user
  • There is no locking into only linebackers, defensive line, or secondary
  • Controls all audibles and adjustments on Defense
  • When on Offense, the user can control anyone besides the QB at the start of any given play

Head Coach:

  • Brings in the Head Coach, Stadium, and Uniforms for that user’s MUT Lineup
  • Calls timeouts and determines the results of penalties for the Squad
  • When on Offense, the user can control  anyone besides the QB at the start of any given play
  • When on Defense, the user can control any of the 11 players on the field not controlled by another user
  • There is no locking into only linebackers, defensive line, or secondary


As you can tell, the Head Coach role has a little less responsibility in your MUT Squad on the field. We have found this role is perfect for your friends that may be newer to Madden Ultimate Team or aren’t ready for the challenge of calling plays, but still want to experience cooperative Madden. For your more experienced squads, you can pass around Head Coach responsibilities. While the Head Coach may not be bringing in the players, it will still be important to make sure all three players on a MUT Squad are on the same page and working together to come away with the victory.
 
Now that you understand the roles, you’re ready to jump into game. As I mentioned earlier, each game will start off 3 vs 3. In the event that a player must leave early before the session is completed, the game will continue on and the role of the player who left will be transferred to someone else still left in the game. For example, if your Offensive Captain leaves early, the play call and QB responsibilities will move to the Head Coach and everything else stays exactly the same and the game is still able to be played to completion.

There are quite a few new gameplay mechanics that have been designed with MUT Squads in mind but those details will have to wait for another blog. Just know that it’s never been more fun to play the skill positions like it will be in Madden NFL 18!

Like what you hear but you just can’t wait for Madden NFL 18 to drop on August 22nd? Well you’re in luck. MUT Squads will be fully playable on the floor at EA Play in Hollywood, California from June 10-12. Swing by and grab the sticks and ask one of us any questions about Madden you have. And speaking of answering questions, we’re going to do another Reddit AMA (ask me anything) at 4pm EST on June 2nd. This AMA will specifically focus on MUT Squads and will be an opportunity for us to clear up any questions that may come up after reading this blog.

Free EA Play Tickets: http://bit.ly/2rNWLyU

Thanks for reading all the way to the end but now it’s back to the grind. I have more routes to run and passes to pick off.

-Jake


Member Comments
# 1 R1zzo23 @ 05/31/17 11:10 AM
I've never played Madden online coop but this sounds pretty cool!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
# 2 roadman @ 05/31/17 11:14 AM
This is pretty popular for NBA2k and I'm sure it will take off for Madden.
 
# 3 SIR924 @ 05/31/17 11:36 AM
Will only be interested in this, if the game play is right!
 
# 4 brza37 @ 05/31/17 11:41 AM
I absolutely hate MUT. This could be interesting though. Can't imagine how difficult it may be to pass against 3 good user LBs/lurkers working in tandem.
 
# 5 Datninja619 @ 05/31/17 11:43 AM
Does this article or any where else state that team play is available for off line use? Or friends vs CPU?

I LOVE the concept, but I've steered far away from my heavy MUT days.


At work and haven't been able to investigate.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Operation Sports mobile app
 
# 6 outkaz79 @ 05/31/17 11:50 AM
Next...... I hate MUT
 
# 7 Datninja619 @ 05/31/17 11:54 AM
I actually read somewhere (maybe here) that they wouldn't bring team play back, unless they could monetize it. That "Inexperienced" MUT player joins his 2 "experienced" MUT players with all elite cards and is more likely to buy packs to compete with friends.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Operation Sports mobile app
 
# 8 XtremeDunkz @ 05/31/17 11:55 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Datninja619
I actually read somewhere (maybe here) that they wouldn't bring team play back, unless they could monetize it. That "Inexperienced" MUT player joins his 2 "experienced" MUT players with all elite cards and is more likely to buy packs to compete with friends.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Operation Sports mobile app
Yup, which is why we will never see a big investment in CFM again. It can't make them extra money. I fear for the year where online CFM is removed completely.
 
# 9 DeuceDouglas @ 05/31/17 11:56 AM
I'll never touch it but OTP has been one of the biggest requests I've seen on Twitter for years. I'm also going to guess that this is going to be the predominant game mode that we see in released videos similar to the year they released Draft Champions.
 
# 10 Datninja619 @ 05/31/17 12:03 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by XtremeDunkz
Yup, which is why we will never see a big investment in CFM again. It can't make them extra money. I fear for the year where online CFM is removed completely.
I would not be opposed to having an integrated currency system like MLB Show or NBA. Any mode you play earns you in game currency. Then you can spend that currency on team builder packs, Career modes, or Franchise mode.

I could care less if I could earn more currency playing online games, at least I have the option to not play it.


Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using Operation Sports mobile app
 
# 11 Cowboy008 @ 05/31/17 12:07 PM
I will never play it but its cool for the people who have been asking for it.
 
# 12 roadman @ 05/31/17 12:09 PM
So far, in the Twitter Community:

1/3 of the % don't care about MUT Squads, the other % is somewhat to very excited for it.
 
# 13 N51_rob @ 05/31/17 12:12 PM
Nice to see this feature return, I know lots of people that used to play this mode. Not something I see myself getting tons of use out of, but if it makes other games happy, then good for them.
 
# 14 jmurphy31 @ 05/31/17 12:15 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeuceDouglas
I'll never touch it but OTP has been one of the biggest requests I've seen on Twitter for years. I'm also going to guess that this is going to be the predominant game mode that we see in released videos similar to the year they released Draft Champions.
I tried draft champions one time. Do people still play it? Was it even in 17. I play 17 still, but only franchise.

But youre right, i bet most of the videos we see will be Squad based
 
# 15 jmurphy31 @ 05/31/17 12:24 PM
Not a huge online guy so i never played this mode before. If they are bringing it back, how was it in the past? Also, why was it removed? Any chance of getting franchise co-op in the future?
 
# 16 Datninja619 @ 05/31/17 12:38 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmurphy31
Not a huge online guy so i never played this mode before. If they are bringing it back, how was it in the past? Also, why was it removed? Any chance of getting franchise co-op in the future?
In the past, you'd go to the game mode and invite two other friends. Select a real NFL team and you each would play as a player on the field. Every aspect of MUT Squads, except the Ultimate Team cards being involved.

In a interview prior to Madden 17, I believe it was Rex, said that after looking at the statistics of used game modes, Team Play was used the least. But was more difficult to keep up and running.

If they finally figured out a way to stabilize 2-3 players on the same home/away team, I would think that opens doors to Draft Champion Co-Op. And possibly Franchise Co-Op. Just need enough people to voice their opinion.
 
# 17 SpyPirates @ 05/31/17 12:41 PM
It could be cool if they do a good job witth making other positions fun to play, which they've hinted at. WR became less fun to play in the last cycle because you just press one button to make a catch (it's a great system for single player, but not if that's your only job). SO they'll need to make catching more interesting and make route running fun/more variable (like maybe double tap turbo at the perfect time in your in route and get off a good cut; do it too late and you might stumble or not juke your guy).

I'd probably play it some IF they dont do anything with CFM this year and if i had a couple of friends committed to the mode. Otherwise i'll try it once and quit when my two random 12 year old teammates cuss me out for running a sim offense :-p
 
# 18 Clappington @ 05/31/17 01:23 PM
I would like to know is your regular MUT team going to be the same team you can use in MUT Squad?
I'm not really an Ultimate team player but I will play MUT Squad so just curious.
 
# 19 XtremeDunkz @ 05/31/17 01:24 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Clappington
I would like to know is your regular MUT team going to be the same team you can use in MUT Squad?
I'm not really an Ultimate team player but I will play MUT Squad so just curious.
Yes. If you are the offensive captain, your offensive lineup goes in. If you are the defensive captain, your defensive lineup goes in.
 
# 20 TDKing @ 05/31/17 01:29 PM
Imo i don't think co-op works for football but i really don't think this is going to be very successful at all in mut. Better chance at succes if it was in cfm or play now or implemented like EASHL. I could be wrong so we'll see.

Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
 

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