Madden NFL 25 News Post

Madden Sales Down Significantly This Year

10:33 AM - September 6, 2013 by RaychelSnr

It appears, on the surface at least, fans are no longer happy with the Madden status quo.

EA Sports reported sales of just over 1 million copies of Madden in its first week on store shelves. While EA was touting the success of Madden NFL 25, those sales numbers are down significantly from last year's number of 1.65 million in the same time span, a nearly 40% drop in sales.

The obvious culprit does seem to be many gamers are holding out for next-gen Madden, which makes a lot of sense. However, with incentive programs to upgrade to the next-gen game around and being touted by EA, it also does seem a large chunk of consumers simply are tired of Madden's current form and waiting for something new.

This puts even more pressure on the next-gen product to deliver a new and unique experience to the series, as fans are likely looking for that with the new game. However, for a year at least, it is likely the next-gen version of Madden will be a huge seller when the new consoles hit store shelves in mid to late November.

Game: Madden NFL 25Reader Score: 5/10 - Vote Now
Platform: PS3 / PS4 / Xbox 360 / Xbox OneVotes for game: 54 - View All

Madden NFL 25 Videos

Member Comments

# 181 sullydoggy @ 09/18/13 02:05 AM

What is NFL gaming coming to? This year's release of Madden 25 gave me the same conclusion as every other year prior. A big feeling of disappointment, and that I had been robbed of 60 dollars. I puchased the game hoping to have a game that could atleast entertain me for a few weeks, instead I got a game that was not eentertaining, but instead I was done playing it after about an hour. EA, like alot of big corporations are more conserned about their own likes and vision of their games, and the short term revenue rather than making games that everyone can enjoy. They tell you that this is "their vision" and this is how they are going to make their games. The truth is that every year, millions of people that play these games send in ideas of what could make the games better, and over 95% of those ideas are are either ignored or disc arded. Everything in the game is all about the money that they make, not to make the best game they can. Spend their resources making the game just good enough to make people curious enough to buy it again, and on their anti-piracy efforts. The NFL, EA, and the Players Union should all be embarrased for endorsing a game that gets constant backlash from the consumers. The trick to making a successful game is to make a game that makes every single type of football gamer happy, and yes it is very possible. Make a game that EVERYBODY enjoys, and you will be able to make alot more money on it. People will be willing to spend money on a game if they think its justified. More happy customers will equal alot more sales.

How exactly do you make a football game that makes everybody happy? Make a game that completely caitors to every type of fan...
Hardcore fans - The fans that just want to play football... No cutscenes, no tv presentation, no intros, just straight up football. Physics and graphics that make sense, and accurate player tendencies. Nice and simple.

The Enthusiest - The fans that want all the bells and whistles. Player / team intros, cut scenes, authentic tv feel, sharp real looking graphics.

The Nick Pickers - The fans that get annoyed when the smallest of details isn't right. Will point out things that do not change the game but are just a little off.

The Creators - The fans that want to customize everthing. Put their own touch on everything in the game.

The Retro Fans - The fans that love using old / retired players / uniforms /etc... They like playing the game as they remembered watching it when they were kids.

The realists - The fans that are all about the graphic detail, and the authentic look to the stadiums, jerseys, player models, crowd... Authentic everything

The online fans - The fans that only play online and want gameplay to be as smooth online as offline. They want great servers that are secure from being modded or hacked.

The offline fans - The fans that want to have a game that has all the depth as other players even if they never go online.

It would be very simple to make all of these things come together and work in tandom with one another. It would sell record copies, because it would be the perfect game for everybody. Companies just simply do not have the vision or creativity or will to make a game that puts nall of these qualities into it. You have to be a special kind of player in order to really enjoy these Madden, or most sports games for that matter. Its no wonder that the companies that make some of the current games are voted "worst companies in America." They care only about their short term money. Infusing social media with games so they can get free advertising, and making everything to use the internet to prevent piracy because people don't feel their games are worth the 60 dollar price tag. If I had the money and resources that EA has, I could make a game that would make Madden look like a flash game and make multiple times more money. EA is not the only one, just the worst one. The fact is... out of all the sports games out I would give most games a 2 rating out of 10, with Madden 25 getting a .5 rating and NBA 2k14, and MLB The Show getting a 2.5 rating. I think all sports games are an epic fail of teir true potential. Companies rush too much to get the next years game out and dont have time to make a really great game. They want people to expect more so they will be excited to buy the next version, when there are better more lucritive ways to make their money. They just dont see the big picture, or take advantage of whats available to them. Again, they think too small and with short term. People may or may not agree, but this is purely my opinion. I don't like to be told what I should like in a video game. I like to play these games my own way, and be happy with my purchase. Everybody is different, and everyone has their own way of playing these games. Why not caitor to that? Why not think outside the box, do what no-one else has done, and make more money at the same time? Why not have critics and consumers alikle raving over your video game? This is atlking mainly about the Madden series, but is definitely not limited to the Madden series. Its about all video games, publishers, and developers alike. EA / Madden just makes it really easy to use them as an example, but all the other titles / companies are just as guilty of these things.

# 182 JaymeeAwesome @ 09/18/13 07:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sullydoggy


	What is NFL gaming coming to? This year's release of Madden 25 gave me the same conclusion as every other year prior. A big feeling of disappointment, and that I had been robbed of 60 dollars. I puchased the game hoping to have a game that could atleast entertain me for a few weeks, instead I got a game that was not eentertaining, but instead I was done playing it after about an hour. EA, like alot of big corporations are more conserned about their own likes and vision of their games, and the short term revenue rather than making games that everyone can enjoy. They tell you that this is "their vision" and this is how they are going to make their games. The truth is that every year, millions of people that play these games send in ideas of what could make the games better, and over 95% of those ideas are are either ignored or disc arded. Everything in the game is all about the money that they make, not to make the best game they can. Spend their resources making the game just good enough to make people curious enough to buy it again, and on their anti-piracy efforts. The NFL, EA, and the Players Union should all be embarrased for endorsing a game that gets constant backlash from the consumers. The trick to making a successful game is to make a game that makes every single type of football gamer happy, and yes it is very possible. Make a game that EVERYBODY enjoys, and you will be able to make alot more money on it. People will be willing to spend money on a game if they think its justified. More happy customers will equal alot more sales. How exactly do you make a football game that makes everybody happy? Make a game that completely caitors to every type of fan... Hardcore fans - The fans that just want to play football... No cutscenes, no tv presentation, no intros, just straight up football. Physics and graphics that make sense, and accurate player tendencies. Nice and simple. The Enthusiest - The fans that want all the bells and whistles. Player / team intros, cut scenes, authentic tv feel, sharp real looking graphics. The Nick Pickers - The fans that get annoyed when the smallest of details isn't right. Will point out things that do not change the game but are just a little off. The Creators - The fans that want to customize everthing. Put their own touch on everything in the game. The Retro Fans - The fans that love using old / retired players / uniforms /etc... They like playing the game as they remembered watching it when they were kids. The realists - The fans that are all about the graphic detail, and the authentic look to the stadiums, jerseys, player models, crowd... Authentic everything The online fans - The fans that only play online and want gameplay to be as smooth online as offline. They want great servers that are secure from being modded or hacked. The offline fans - The fans that want to have a game that has all the depth as other players even if they never go online. It would be very simple to make all of these things come together and work in tandom with one another. It would sell record copies, because it would be the perfect game for everybody. Companies just simply do not have the vision or creativity or will to make a game that puts nall of these qualities into it. You have to be a special kind of player in order to really enjoy these Madden, or most sports games for that matter. Its no wonder that the companies that make some of the current games are voted "worst companies in America." They care only about their short term money. Infusing social media with games so they can get free advertising, and making everything to use the internet to prevent piracy because people don't feel their games are worth the 60 dollar price tag. If I had the money and resources that EA has, I could make a game that would make Madden look like a flash game and make multiple times more money. EA is not the only one, just the worst one. The fact is... out of all the sports games out I would give most games a 2 rating out of 10, with Madden 25 getting a .5 rating and NBA 2k14, and MLB The Show getting a 2.5 rating. I think all sports games are an epic fail of teir true potential. Companies rush too much to get the next years game out and dont have time to make a really great game. They want people to expect more so they will be excited to buy the next version, when there are better more lucritive ways to make their money. They just dont see the big picture, or take advantage of whats available to them. Again, they think too small and with short term. People may or may not agree, but this is purely my opinion. I don't like to be told what I should like in a video game. I like to play these games my own way, and be happy with my purchase. Everybody is different, and everyone has their own way of playing these games. Why not caitor to that? Why not think outside the box, do what no-one else has done, and make more money at the same time? Why not have critics and consumers alikle raving over your video game? This is atlking mainly about the Madden series, but is definitely not limited to the Madden series. Its about all video games, publishers, and developers alike. EA / Madden just makes it really easy to use them as an example, but all the other titles / companies are just as guilty of these things.

I know the game caters to me and I love it. I'm the type who just wants an NFL licensed product that will allow me to pass to receivers and run the ball in a franchise style mode.

I would enjoy it even more if MUT was just a card collecting thing without playing with the team to earn more coins.

# 183 je_2512 @ 09/21/13 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymee13


	I know the game caters to me and I love it. I'm the type who just wants an NFL licensed product that will allow me to pass to receivers and run the ball in a franchise style mode. I would enjoy it even more if MUT was just a card collecting thing without playing with the team to earn more coins.

And therein lies the problem with what EA feeds us these last 9 years

# 184 MantiMania @ 09/21/13 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thesubmittedone


	First time in over ten years that I didn't buy the new NFL video game that came out. First time in ten years. Can't believe it. Can't believe that Madden has made me so disillusioned with video game football that something I've looked forward to every year since I can remember is now this insignificant. It's heart breaking.

It has taken you THIS long? Most have shed their last video game football tear 5+ years ago.

A man values nothing more than 1. his family, 2. his career, 3. his hobby.

EA successfully crapped all over #3, and that is why so many people hate EA so passionately.

# 185 Multi @ 09/21/13 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MantiMania


	It has taken you THIS long? Most have shed their last video game football tear 5+ years ago. A man values nothing more than 1. his family, 2. his career, 3. his hobby. EA successfully crapped all over #3, and that is why so many people hate EA so passionately.

06 was the last one I bought. After 2K5 I just couldn't go back.

# 186 KingV2k3 @ 09/22/13 04:01 PM

To be "Devils Advocate":

Is it POSSIBLE that a significant number of those lost sales are people simply waiting a couple / few months before next gen drops?

Outside of guys around here, not many people (I'd guess) can justify buying the same game for 2-3 platforms / consoles?

That being said, I'm as guilty as anyone of "staying in the bad marriage" with EA for the sake of my / our virtual 2D (Franchise / CCM Mode) "kids"...

# 187 hanzsomehanz @ 09/22/13 08:28 PM

Really, it comes down to three possibilities:

A) Consumers are holding out for Nex Gen

B) Consumers are holding out completely

The third possibility is that consumers will simply wait and see.

It's 50/50 whether it's related to the current state of Madden or people are simply fed up with Madden all together. There is a higher chance that people simply want to dedicate time to other games and are not so much fed up with Madden but have found a greater appeal in other games.

Is it also possible that consumers cannot afford Madden this time around? IT is but it still could be related to investments into the Next Gen platforms and saving up for those costs.

It will be interesting to see where MAdden sales are around Christmas time and Black Friday. I would write it off as a competition strike - Madden is losing sales to their video game competitors.

# 188 mestevo @ 09/30/13 05:53 PM

Funny how that nearly lines up, 64% not buying next gen, 40% drop in Madden.

# 189 lisinas @ 10/01/13 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mestevo


	Funny how that nearly lines up, 64% not buying next gen, 40% drop in Madden.

You do realise not 100% of people who buy next gen will buy madden ? Just stop making excuses .

# 190 mestevo @ 10/01/13 03:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisinas


	You do realise not 100% of people who buy next gen will buy madden ? Just stop making excuses .

Of course not, but if you're going to be spending several hundred dollars on a console, some things are going to be trimmed out of your budget, like the game you might re-buy in a few months for your shiny new box.

The way the two figures fit is funny is all, nothing more.

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 910Next »

More Links

Madden Sales Down Significantly This Year