Madden NFL 2024: What to Expect

EA Sports' latest edition of their fabled NFL Madden series is already raring up to be one of the most hyped sports games of the year, with fans of the popular title now having plenty of exciting new updates to enjoy while watching the latest iteration of the new NFL season.

One of the main reasons EA's yearly release of Madden often garners so much attention worldwide is the endless opportunities that the NFL license offers gamers to utilize or exploit.

Whether you want to completely rebuild the Houston Texans into a contending team that can increase their odds to win the Superbowl or start your pathway to NFL stardom, plenty of excellent modes cater to every NFL fan's needs.

From Career mode to Ultimate Team, some various renowned ways and categories should keep fans engaged for hours as well as the title's familiar gameplay that uses natural and recognizable plays from actual NFL games as well as the various animations that help to increase the real-life factor that an NFL contest so often provides.

With Madden '24 officially out, here are some of the latest changes that differentiate or even improve the newest edition of EA Sports' popular series from its previous titles.

• FieldSENSE 2.0 & SAPIEN:

Every year, EA is always looking for new and ingenious ways to improve the presentation, look, and overall feel of their latest addition to their popular football series, with Madden '24's latest marquee technological advancement being the newly established FieldSENSE 2.0 and SAPIEN.

The role of these two monumental pieces of gaming technology has already helped players gain greater control of each player in-game, as well as highlighting a much more impressive graphical output.

FieldSENSE 2.0 helps to increase the realism factor that has been an integral part of each significant entry into the Madden franchise, with 2023's release focusing on tackling and skill-based passing plays, including several new animations in-game.

Regarding the players' presentation and model design, SAPIEN is now at the forefront of all in-game graphics to help gamers differentiate and recognize some of the top names in the NFL today and prior legends of the sport.

The combination of improved graphics and smoother gameplay animations has helped Madden '24 stand out from its predecessors, improving its broader player base's overall investment, intrigue, and interest.

• Superstar mode:

The previously labelled 'Face of the Franchise' mode in several Madden titles, including '23, is now being rebranded as the Superstar mode on next-gen consoles and PC devices.

This mode has appeared in former Madden titles, and it ultimately differentiates from 'Face of the Franchise' as it allows players to control their pro rather than an entire team as you aim to establish yourself as the next big superstar name in the NFL today.

'Superstar' mode was widely credited as a tremendous addition to the Madden series during its short cameos in previous titles, with fans hoping that they can rekindle their desire to up a roster spot in a position of their choice and become a future first-ballot hall of fame talent in Canton with many Lombardi trophy's also being on the agenda for any aspiring NFL talent.

• Is Madden '24 rated better than '23?

EA has undoubtedly improved the overall feel of capturing the essence of the NFL and its various contests, atmosphere, stakes, and feel, making the sporting league a great attraction in real life. Yet, there remain a few glaring flaws that may hold this title back from being ranked in the upper echelon of the series' many previous releases.

However, many gamers have expressed that Madden '24 is undoubtedly a significant improvement from Madden '23 in its gameplay and familiarity with modes.

The animations have been well documented as some of the best that the series has ever offered, which is only further utilized with the fantastic visuals and graphical output that the latest title provides, as well as the return of some of the fun mini-games that pay great tribute to fan service.

Some significant factors holding Madden '24 back are that the series relies mainly on updating its rosters and needs more new major standout modes, with the aforementioned 'Superstar' mode being previously added to older titles.

Menus also have been somewhat challenging to navigate, with gamers expressing that they sometimes feel too slow or clunky.

While Madden '24 still suffers from some of the main suffers gamers have often expressed a desire to improve on in previous years, this is still a step in the right direction for the once dormant series, with gameplay only expected to improve with further updates and new modes.