Madden NFL 25 News Post

Madden NFL 25: Next-Gen Gameplay Completely Revamped Under the Hood

05:22 PM - October 18, 2013 by Steve_OS

Madden NFL 25 features some big under the hood changes.

For those asking, you have your answer. Madden NFL 25 appears, from what EA claims in four separate blogs today (linked below) to have been completely rewritten under the hood for next-gen consoles. It is likely many of the improvements of next-gen sports gaming will be small and fundamental changes to the gameplay with things like contextually aware players and much improved line blocking.

True Step Locomotion
EA claims that they have completely revamped the way players move on the field with hundreds of new running animations and more realistic player physics and movement.

Player Sense (New AI)
Most of the changes seem incredibly small, but could lead to a much more appealing game of football. Players in Madden NFL 25 will make 50x the calculations each play they did over current-gen. The fruits of this? Contextually aware players who will make better decisions in traffic to avoid hang ups and will make smarter plays on the ball.

War in the Trenches
The biggest gameplay enhancement you'll find in today's announcements is the completely revamped the pass blocking system to compliment the newly rewritten run blocking schemes you've seen in current gen. The videos we've seen look much improved, with better interactions between the OL/DL, especially the OT/DE matchups.

Now players will pre-sort defenders thanks to the enhanced AI. During the play, blockers will be making up to 60 calculations a second to determine who, where, and when they should be blocking. This results in some incredibly realistic player footwork and movement and the best looking pocket in video game football ever from the limited video we've seen. You can check out the deep-dive, which goes into a lot more detail on why the new system is better.

What do you think of the gameplay enhancements EA revealed today?

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

# 41 tnixen @ 10/19/13 12:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UH53


	Ok. So under the hood is all the gameplay improvements we want and expect to have... I get it! Like any successful football team you need to build from the inside out. So with that in mind... Madden 15 should look nothing like Madden 25? We should be getting a game that's as exceptionally eye pleasing as 2K14 right? I'm just glad 2K14 has raised the bar so that we know what we should expect when it comes to Next Gen gaming. Madden may not have any direct competition but the standard of Next Gen gaming has been set.

So true all sports gaming developers will hopefully strive to have there games on par or even better then first year game NBA 2K14! I really do have a good feeling we are gong to see some mind blowing sports games over the next few years on next gen systems! In fact it has already been said by Mark Cerny that it will take about 3 or 4 years before most developers can take full advantage of the PS4 hardware. There is so much untapped power left to be used.

# 42 TeeDogg @ 10/19/13 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	Others expectations might be higher and that's great, but eye candy is lower on the list for me vs how the game plays. Always has been, always will. Madden has been so underperforming in game play the last several years, but has been pleasing eye candy. I'd prefer the pendulum to swing the other way for NG, but that's just me. There are other game play improvements that need to be added, but it's a good start.

Its not just you,In the words of the king of pop, "u are not alone, I am here with you."

I'm sure as next gen moves forward eye candy will be an easy task. I'd rather they start off with getting gameplay advanced and polished. Then hopefully presentation and other things will follow.

# 43 TeeDogg @ 10/19/13 02:06 PM

No amount of graphics or presentation could have saved the game for me during the years of matador blocking and fb/rbs with no CLUE of of what picking up the blitz was. I shudder at the thought of those days

# 44 Lodeus @ 10/19/13 03:03 PM

The eye test tells me this looks better.

# 45 roadman @ 10/19/13 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Afrikan


	I mean its not like the gameplay developers are also the art developers..... EA Tiburon is not some small indie studio. Heck with the NCAA team needing something to do now...I think its fine to expect BOTH gameplay and Graphics to improve...and not one over the other. I would think when it comes to a yearly franchise...it has more to do with Man Power (# of devs) that would be a reason one part of the game would have to get less attention. I just think it should not be an issue going forward. EA Sports has more employees at their disposable...if they choose to give them all jobs at what they have been developing for a while now...football games. then on top of that, EA Tiburon has a game engine that they share with other EA Sports developers...a mighty one in that with EA Canada, with FIFA. They have competition so they have no choice but to go all out. Ignite's art and animation engine will improve...some of which Tiburon should take advantage of, along with their own contributions to it. So along with the option of more man power, if EA Sports chooses....and having less time/increased results thanks to calibration with other devs. I'm expecting BOTH gameplay and graphics to improve exponentially. And don't forget that these consoles are MUCH more easier to develop for...and since are both similar in a sense, much more similar than the 360 to the PS3....then even more reason to see results.

I'm not against having both, all I'm saying it's not high on my priority list.

Heck, I've stated before I played with the ugliest graphics of a baseball game on a PC called HH baseball with burned faces, but all I cared about was game play. And at the time, HH baseball provided the best game play, in my opinion.

As far an NCAA, they laid off a lot of employees too.

# 46 Escobeats @ 10/19/13 03:42 PM

Looks better and animations look smoother but I can't stop getting the impression that this is a port. So far looks like the graphics have been upgraded and that's pretty much it but I stand to be corrected once I try it out. As long as I see improvements in the movement and blocking that'll make me a lot happier for this year.

# 47 hanzsomehanz @ 10/19/13 03:52 PM

No "but's" about it: these clips did enough to appease my disappointment towards the MNF videos.

While I appreciate what I did see, one thing remains unverified: how often will these intricate "60 decisions per minute" play out?

I cannot get a good read on the frequency and variety of these new AI sensors.

Figure 1

The Trench War looks prolonged by script (design) and if this is so: I do not see how we can see a multitude more of trench outcomes if we are rendered to a limit based on ratings?

Figure 2

I see player avoidance through the scope of Marshawn and AP and am left to wonder how the other 30 'backs will interact in their surroundings. Will avoidance intelligence be tiered and or tied to a slider?

I will wait for the Madden devotees to judge the final product - I have no say on the final verdict. I will simply wait and see.

Sent from my SGH-I727R using Tapatalk

# 48 SoxFan01605 @ 10/19/13 08:27 PM

Well, they seem to be focused on the right things at least. The trouble with EA is often execution though, so we'll see. I am encouraged by some of what I've seen, so hopefully 25 really hits on these points so they can really make significant progress by the next iteration (which is likely when I'll be back in the market for a football game).

# 49 friscob @ 10/19/13 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NFL_GREAT


	Guess you didn't see the time in pocket vs. pass rush video? Cowboys vs Eagles? The DE/OLB #93 for Dallas coming off the right edge getting low, using his arms and body for leverage and to rip past the RT? Guess you didn't see the interview posted today talking about coverage AI and more coverage sacks?

Nope, I watched the trailer they released which ignored defense. Coverage sacks are nothing new and they make up the majority of the sacks that take place. I want to see pressure with the front 4

# 50 roadman @ 10/19/13 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friscob


	I want to see pressure with the front 4

And it was shown.

# 51 Purple28Pedestrian @ 10/19/13 09:32 PM

Speaking of Under the hood, I wonder if simulation stats will be any different from current Gen iterations. This is one of the areas where Madden has consistently disappointed. To some it may not be an issue but to me as an avid Offline-only player It's a necessity.

To anyone that has M-25 for 360/Ps3 have the simulation stats in CCM being fixed since release because I saw some terrible stats from users that posted after the game dropped?

# 52 bc21045 @ 10/19/13 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roadman


	And it was shown.

When? Maybe I missed it but at no point in any of those vids did I see the QB in danger of being sacked/forced to leave the pocket/forced to make a throw with pressure in his face.

# 53 bc21045 @ 10/19/13 11:35 PM

Yea, again maybe I'm just being TOO cynical but that de was never close to beating the tackle and based on my past experience with madden I don't see that as a situation where the user has any control. That jumps out at me as the devs saying this LOOKS real so let's put it in and say pass rushing is fixed.

# 54 leathrneck34 @ 10/20/13 12:59 AM

Looks to me like in all these video's that EA is up to it's same ole casual fan tricks and making this game for the tourny players and not the sim player's. Looks like it is all about offense and to hell with an effective defense and useless special teams. We haven't seen anything on special teams or a real focus on defense yet in any of these vids. They may come but somehow I doubt it.

# 55 infemous @ 10/20/13 07:56 AM

"Pass rushers now force QB�s to step up into the pocket and throw the ball on time � or pay the consequences. All of the new animation coverage, which also includes engaged interactions, really bring the physical nature of the trenches to life and make the offensive and defensive lines a real key to success just like in the NFL."

I hope this is the case. I really hope that the interior get way more pressure than these videos show.

The passing lanes and space for the QB to step up into are enormous and are every QBs dreams. Tom Brady would be envious of them.

I need to see the C and Guards get pushed back into the QBs face while the ends close in much tighter, forcing the QB to take small careful steps to give the space to throw.

Personally I feel that these new pockets are far too clean and are used to mask the long standing fundamental issues of QB movement in the pocket and the absence of QB footwork animations.

I really wanna see every QB get a rating for their footwork which would work as a tiered system separating guys like Manning who are slow as hell but can move very carefully, accurately and smoothly in the pocket, as opposed to a Blaine Gabbert who doesn't move much differently than madden QBs do currently.
This would also separate 'fast' QBs from QBs with great footwork and would make the marriage of the two deadly, allowing them to move I. The picket quickly and then once a rushing lane presents itself exploit that hole with their speed.
Currently a fast QB can be used to sprint to a lane, either stop and throw (if not knocked over by an OL) or run full pelt and try and get yardage. Tom Brady and Manning are just complete statues currently and that needs to be addressed.

I also hope footwork will impact drop back speeds, helping QBs get set quicker and helping then get the ball out before the pass rush destroys them.

If this new system and AI makes 10 yard drop backs a thing of the past though, I'll be happy. I do need to see EA progress on these advancements though and really work on all the elements that are impacted by these apparent improvements.

# 56 TombSong @ 10/20/13 07:57 AM

The defensive line pass rush looks really good. If the AI behaves "as advertised" and the player movement has improved. The game will at least be interesting.

They need a trailer on what they have done for defensive pre snap looks (Have they added anything ?)

Do we have defensive hot routes that let us blitz a specific gap instead of having to micro manage everything ?

Is there still warping in the game ?

Have they done anything to the practice mode to mke it more like a real football practice ? ( Like practice with my offense againts a set of random plays that use specific coverages I may be having trouble against)

Does the offense still dictate how my defense behaves pre snap ? I think its stupid that the offense can fake a audible and it resets your defense.

When you press the protect the ball button when running does the ball carrier immediately cover up or is there a big delay before he does it like current gen ? That delay is causing a lot of fumbled balls.

Is that force field around the hb where you cant run towards him fixed in next gen ?

Because of the way they have defense programmed. Recievers with high agility can run away from their route and then move back to the spot where the ball is being thrown while the ballmis in the air. This causes the defender to run away from the area that needs to be defended and take itself WAY outnof the play. Has that been addressed ?

Are defenders aware of the first down marker and goaline so that they are not tackling ball carriers in such a way that HELPS the ball carrier get a first down or cross the goalline ?

Can we call stunts for the defensive line seperate fro the play call ?

# 57 bc21045 @ 10/20/13 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NFL_GREAT


	You can't be serious. If Vick did not STEP UP into the POCKET he was going to get crushed by #93. I don't know about you, but I have never seen DE edge rush, and overall line play where hands, arms, guys getting low for leverage, none of that, ever in the madden series. Both sides of the ball too. For the first time in this franchise the trenches LOOK like the STRUGGLE it's supposed to be. I'm looking forward to seeing more and more of this.

He was going to get crushed by a guy who had already been pushed to the ground? The only reason it looks like he got pressure is the falling animation takes so long. He was nowhere near Vick when he got pushed and he didn't impact the throw in any way.

# 58 LBzrule @ 10/20/13 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bc21045


	He was going to get crushed by a guy who had already been pushed to the ground? The only reason it looks like he got pressure is the falling animation takes so long. He was nowhere near Vick when he got pushed and he didn't impact the throw in any way.

I agree with this. It looked good him getting out of his stance and exploding up the field like he did, but he did not sniff Vick. And that's one of the concerns you have to have if you really like playing defense. Will this animation play out ALOT? We know EA is notorious for having certain animations happen way too much.

Also, my question concerning the OL identifying the Mike. Well what if I have two rushers that will not be in the box, will the OL still automatically identify them? I like what I'm hearing about the OL, but this thing has to be balanced to where you can be deceptive in your pressure package and get to the QB. Or will pressure simply be about numbers?

And like what was said above, every OL is going to be the same. They will all block the same, which we all know is just not the case. I'm not sure how they do it, but going forward they need to develop a system of miscommunication. Maybe one of the ways that can happen is you attempt to run plays that your OL are just not good at. So you are trying to get them to run a blocking scheme they are not fitted for. This is what's wrong with the Ravens right now. Juan Castillo has completed confused these guys by trying to get them to run an outside stretch zone scheme. As a result, Ray Rice is averaging 2.7 ypc I believe. Absolutely atrocious.

They need something like this in the game to cut out everyone using the same playbook, and to cut out everyone getting the money plays out of the custom playbook editor. Sure go ahead get the plays you want. Some of them your line can execute well, but for the ones they can't, try to run them and you are F'ed. Same thing with the passing. They need to start implementing pass plays in the game that use Big on Big and others that use Zone. If your line is better at one scheme vs the other and you try to run what your OL is not good at, you should be F'd.

# 59 wordtobigbird @ 10/20/13 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TombSong


	The defensive line pass rush looks really good. If the AI behaves "as advertised" and the player movement has improved. The game will at least be interesting. They need a trailer on what they have done for defensive pre snap looks (Have they added anything ?) Do we have defensive hot routes that let us blitz a specific gap instead of having to micro manage everything ? Is there still warping in the game ? Have they done anything to the practice mode to mke it more like a real football practice ? ( Like practice with my offense againts a set of random plays that use specific coverages I may be having trouble against) Does the offense still dictate how my defense behaves pre snap ? I think its stupid that the offense can fake a audible and it resets your defense. When you press the protect the ball button when running does the ball carrier immediately cover up or is there a big delay before he does it like current gen ? That delay is causing a lot of fumbled balls. Is that force field around the hb where you cant run towards him fixed in next gen ? Because of the way they have defense programmed. Recievers with high agility can run away from their route and then move back to the spot where the ball is being thrown while the ballmis in the air. This causes the defender to run away from the area that needs to be defended and take itself WAY outnof the play. Has that been addressed ? Are defenders aware of the first down marker and goaline so that they are not tackling ball carriers in such a way that HELPS the ball carrier get a first down or cross the goalline ? Can we call stunts for the defensive line seperate fro the play call ?

Great post. Can we show defense the much needed love it deserves!

And the only reason it looks like that DE got pressure on Vick is because Vick's "play sense" had him take one step forward because HIS tackle was about to bump into him. That DE was not a threat. That would be considered pretty good pass blocking if you can push your DE pass the QB and knock him off his feet at that.

# 60 bc21045 @ 10/20/13 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NFL_GREAT


	Did you or did you not see Vick FORCED to step UP and INTO the pocket? The only reason the pass rusher "fell" is because he got low and ripped under the OT. Had Vick not stepped up and into the pocket, yes, he was a second from getting crushed. That has never been a factor in madden. DEs in current gen, and in every other EA football game ever would run into the OT and play paddy cakes. QBs with speed would always wait for the pre determined engage, the sprint out. What we saw in that video has never been in the madden series. Go back and watch every individual defensive lineman vs offensive lineman battle. I'm seeing the defensive line use their hands and body and fighting. There was actual struggle there from both the offensive lineman and defensive linemen. What I'm seeing is light years better than anything we've seen yet. Some of you guys just want to hate and be negative for the same of it now. No way anyone can watch those videos and not see clear improvement and difference to what we have been playing up until now.

I see at 18 seconds the OT push the DE when he's about 3 yards away from Vick. At that point the DE has zero chance of sacking Vick or influencing the pass because he spends the rest of the play in a falling animation then on the ground. Are you saying that after the push you would still have complete control of the DE, be able to avoid falling and turn upfield to get a sack on Vick? I would hope so but I sincerely doubt it.

Nobody is saying it doesn't LOOK better, the question is if it ONLY looks better. I'm not going to give EA the benefit of the doubt because they haven't earned it and if you're showcasing o-line AND d-line interaction then we should see videos of the defense winning as well.

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