Madden NFL 25 News Post

Madden Sales Down Significantly This Year

11:33 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

# 141 mestevo @ 09/09/13 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyRu31


	EA should re-think their season ticket. Playing Madden for a couple of days before release has saved me $120 these last two years. Every year of this current gen I'd say I wouldn't buy the next one, only to cave in on release day. But being able to play the game for 3 days beforehand really helped me stay away.

The revenue from season ticket probably takes care of your use case.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2

# 142 Valdarez @ 09/09/13 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaymee13


	The NFL only believes in exclusive deals. If not EA, it will be someone else. You have more control of your image with exclusivities, and that is the most important thing for the NFL. As long as EA can afford the exclusive deal, we will only see Madden.

While the premise sounds good, it was EA that first approached the NFL on the idea of an exclusive deal, not the other way around. Seems some money may have exchanged hands as well with the NFLPA saving EA Sports 1 Million dollars when they are supposed to represent the players, not EA.

# 143 m1ke_nyc @ 09/09/13 02:40 PM

IM sure alot of this is due to next gen consoles. My problem with Madden is the game is targeted to casuals and tourney players. You look at MLB The Show and NBA 2K those games are sim at the core but they give you options as well as slightly tuning the game to make it fun for the casuals. I think first and foremost you must try to replicate the sport THEN find a way to appeal to your casuals who wanna pick up and play. Madden has lacked a true vision, they say its what you see on Sundays but develop the game to play completely different from that.

# 144 Fist Of Kings @ 09/09/13 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tsuki


	Just did this with my madden 07. Did not want to update rosters so I just simmed to the 2013 season with the Bears(not making any roster adjustments through sims) and started from there. Found some pretty good sliders that people posted way back from 09 and BAM best football game. Planning on finding me a copy of NFL 2K5 and doing the same I compare both games figure out which one I like more and play that until either EA gets it together or another developer gets the license. There are options my friends use them!

I got my copy of 2K5 for 99 cents, both are good games. I usually play it after I get pissed and finally sell the last EA football game I bought for the year. But I saw a copy of Madden 05 at work, so I decided to play it since so many people say it's the best game in the series. The biggest adjustment aren't the graphics, but the controls. I don't like juking with the shoulder buttons.

I'm not sure if it's the best Madden, but compared to Madden 13/NCAA 14 it's a breath of fresh air. I mainly watched the ai play and saw a great 6-3 defensive game in the rain, I love stuff like that.

I don't understand why they are going backwards when this old game has actual defense that adapts to what I'm doing, fumbles, punters trying to pin me within the 20 yard line instead of blindly kicking it in the endzone for a touchback and actual penalties being called.

# 145 Demoncrom @ 09/10/13 10:41 AM

Did you guys see what 2K is doing with basketball? They partenered with stats inc to create a livinging roster where the game will constantly update the roster based on what is happening in the league. This is tremendous, so no more waiting weeks for a new update. If a player is hot, any player or team you will get the updates in like weekly or something.

I don't have all the details, but it is that same love that we miss from 2k in Football, innovation and updates. Seriously EA it was clear during preseason that Mills would be the started on the bears o-line and did they update it on time - nope.

Add to the fact that we still need sliders to make the game play sim and you can see why I for one might get it but certainly would recommend it to no one.

Did any of you guys get an email from EA? They wanted me to fill a survey about Madden and I did. I hope you guys did the same.

# 146 Demoncrom @ 09/10/13 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dolphins88


	Bottom line madden has to hand the game over to new developers that can make a game realistic to hard core gamers to get sales. I have not purchased a football game this gen. It's crazy how the 8 and 16 bit gens made more worthy games.

Yes they should hand it back over to 2K

# 147 Smoke6 @ 09/10/13 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demoncrom


	Yes they should hand it back over to 2K

Not that, but just get some people who are actually passionate about the sport they are trying to replicate. U get that we get the best of what we could possibly ask for!

Ever seen how good quality comes from happy employee's who love their job and what they do for a living? Its night and day compared to what we have now!

# 148 Tsuki @ 09/13/13 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fist Of Kings


	I got my copy of 2K5 for 99 cents, both are good games. I usually play it after I get pissed and finally sell the last EA football game I bought for the year. But I saw a copy of Madden 05 at work, so I decided to play it since so many people say it's the best game in the series. The biggest adjustment aren't the graphics, but the controls. I don't like juking with the shoulder buttons. I'm not sure if it's the best Madden, but compared to Madden 13/NCAA 14 it's a breath of fresh air. I mainly watched the ai play and saw a great 6-3 defensive game in the rain, I love stuff like that. I don't understand why they are going backwards when this old game has actual defense that adapts to what I'm doing, fumbles, punters trying to pin me within the 20 yard line instead of blindly kicking it in the endzone for a touchback and actual penalties being called.

Yes running the football is difficult but I actually like not having the "truck stick" since I think broken tackles should be rating based(tacklers ability vs. RB's abilities). I got the juking down now with these games Defense is tough and dont expect many 20yrd runs all game pick your spots when it comes to running but in the end throwing is just a better option just like IRL.

# 149 bkrich83 @ 09/13/13 01:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demoncrom


	Yes they should hand it back over to 2K

Yeah, they did a bang up job with their baseball franchise.

# 150 GisherJohn24 @ 09/13/13 12:10 PM

2k did all pro this gen and I found it only to be just OK. They tainted baseball and NHL. They should stick with one game, basketball. This is working just fine for them

# 151 TeeDogg @ 09/13/13 12:54 PM

2K is just a brand name. Visual Concepts is who you want your sports games in the hands of. I may be wrong but I think they only have done the FB and BB games. From what I remember they are a small team and usually do well until they stretch themselves too thin.

# 152 lyleman222 @ 09/13/13 01:11 PM

i think its easy if your getting a PS4 or XBOX1 just wait for madden 25 but for us less fortunate or live in the real world who cant afford a next gen console you are left with an EA subpar effort!

# 153 ryan36 @ 09/13/13 02:23 PM

I think it's random. The every other year thing. The SIM games come out in the off years, sales drop-they switch back to arcade sales are up.

Let me say this. If Madden went SIM the casuals would still buy it. And so would the hard core. The hard core won't buy arcade...Madden has it all wrong. Besides I remember even super Nintendo games had learning curves.

# 154 kjcheezhead @ 09/13/13 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GisherJohn24


	2k did all pro this gen and I found it only to be just OK. They tainted baseball and NHL. They should stick with one game, basketball. This is working just fine for them

This isn't working fine or anyone but the NFL. Madden 05 sold 5.86 million copies when 2k5 was at its peak. They signed an expensive exclusive license and are on pace to sell less this year without a true competitor.

EA won't spend a ton on development when they aren't getting a return in sales so Madden stagnates every year.

2k can't survive forever only selling a basketball title.

Fans are left with no alternative if they don't like EAs representation of football.

The NFL flips all three groups the finger, sits back and counts its $.

# 155 kjcheezhead @ 09/13/13 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkrich83


	Yeah, they did a bang up job with their baseball franchise.

2k baseball also had an exclusive license, so there was less money to spend on development. Also, no MLB game sells over 1 million copies, not even the Show so it was less opportunity to get a return on the exclusive in the first place.

They also made the mistake of allowing consoles makers to produce games. 2k baseball was built for the 360 and ported to the ps3 like most games. The Show was built for ps3 specs, on a blu ray disc. SCEA doesn't have to pay as much for licensing, theirs is one console and non-exclusive.

Basically, the Show was set up in every aspect of development to be a better game, it's no surprise it crushed 2ks game.

# 156 Willy Bill @ 09/13/13 04:08 PM

I am convinced EA is simply not the man for the job. They really need to think about hiring some techs that actually know something about football. It seems that right now they just have some eggheads that actually are not even very good at writing code or doing their research.

Time for someone else to get a shot at this.

# 157 bkrich83 @ 09/15/13 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kjcheezhead


	2k baseball also had an exclusive license, so there was less money to spend on development. Also, no MLB game sells over 1 million copies, not even the Show so it was less opportunity to get a return on the exclusive in the first place. They also made the mistake of allowing consoles makers to produce games. 2k baseball was built for the 360 and ported to the ps3 like most games. The Show was built for ps3 specs, on a blu ray disc. SCEA doesn't have to pay as much for licensing, theirs is one console and non-exclusive. Basically, the Show was set up in every aspect of development to be a better game, it's no surprise it crushed 2ks game.

Did you really try to excuse that abortion of a baseball series? There is none. I like the 2k guys as well (some are actual friends ) but I won't blindly defend their work. MLB series was awful.

# 158 je_2512 @ 09/15/13 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bkrich83


	Did you really try to excuse that abortion of a baseball series? There is none. I like the 2k guys as well (some are actual friends ) but I won't blindly defend their work. MLB series was awful.

So, basically, what you're saying is that your OPINION is FACT?? I played several iterations of MLB baseball, never thought it was "awful". In fact, I think it's a finer representation of it's sport than Madden is of it's!! While it certainly wasn't on the level of "The Show", it was alright. Yeah, it had bugs and glitches, but it was certainly a more realistic playing game than Madden is. And the atmosphere was really quite good!

# 159 TexasFan2005 @ 09/15/13 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrikan


	(imagine all the XPs after each completion and TDs...lol..jk)

At this point I'm open to pretty much anything.

# 160 bkrich83 @ 09/15/13 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by je_2512


	So, basically, what you're saying is that your OPINION is FACT?? I played several iterations of MLB baseball, never thought it was "awful". In fact, I think it's a finer representation of it's sport than Madden is of it's!! While it certainly wasn't on the level of "The Show", it was alright. Yeah, it had bugs and glitches, but it was certainly a more realistic playing game than Madden is. And the atmosphere was really quite good!

If you say so. And talk about a game not supported by its developers. More realistic than Madden? That's certainly debatable.

The things people will say. Lol.

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 789 10 Next »

More Links

Madden Sales Down Significantly This Year