I am enjoying Madden 24’s gameplay, but there is still a void.
Every year since I started the #FixMaddenFranchise hashtag back in June 2020 with a tweet tagging several influencers, EA Sports has appeared to launch a concerted effort to improve the franchise mode experience in Madden NFL Football.
Three days after my tweet and the hashtag soared to trend No. 1 in the United States, EA promised to improve the beloved mode.
The level of satisfaction the community has with EA’s attention to the mode will vary depending on who you ask for feedback.
As a hardcore football fan and franchise mode player, I can see some improvements in trade logic and the AI that provides checks and balances for the player personnel moves. However, the mode still leans too heavily on the user’s imagination to craft a compelling story.
I’m not saying Madden franchise mode needs to go in with a Longshots-like story. I’ll explore the details below, but more must be in place to create franchise-mode immersion.
Furthermore, the tools that are there still have some inexplicable limitations. That said, I’ll add specifics in the list below, highlighting the six main reasons Madden 24’s franchise mode still underachieves.
Mini-Games Are Strong, But…
I can’t applaud the return of mini-games enough.
Most of the mini-games are a blast, and while they may not be ultra-realistic, they are a perfect blend of fun, football, and gaming. That’s the sweet spot every sports video game should aim for when crafting a feature.
However, the impact of the mini-games within franchise mode should be heavier from a presentation standpoint.
Users complete mini-games, get a grade for their performance, and earn XP to upgrade their players. That’s fantastic, but this experience is never discussed in the form of a news tile within the franchise mode menus, by Brandon Gaudin or Charles Davis during commentary, or in some form of mid-week, team-focused, in-game programming.
For many users, the mini-games are our equivalent of practice between games. If you’ve ever followed a football team closely, the stories from the developments in practice are often as prevalent as the ones made on Sundays.
The mini-games and the results of the user’s participation should be a more significant part of the franchise mode presentation, not just a task you complete without another reference until the next in-game week.
Why is NFL Draft Presentation So Difficult in Madden?
I’ve written some semblance of the following sentence at least 50 times over the past five years. The NFL Draft presentation in Madden is still too dry.
The draft is arguably the second biggest day(s) on the NFL calendar, but in Madden, it is still nothing more than some player-selection menus, a few sorting options, a mildly cool player-selected cinematic, and a recycled draft screen that shows the team on the clock with a player photo of the guy selected.
There’s no analysis, personality, very little celebration, or anything that translates the excitement that comes with adding young talent to a roster.
Getting a better draft experience into the game has to be either too involved, devalued with the decision makers on the development team, or a combination of the two.
Are there enough franchise mode fans who also want this aspect of the mode to be improved? I’m not sure, but we’ll find out.
NFL Free Agency Presentation
To a lesser degree, but similarly to the NFL Draft, signing new free agents ought to carry a bit more pop in presentation. What if every time a free agent with an OVR of 85 or above signs a new deal, the game pulled from a handful of cinematic presentations to notify the user of the player’s choice?
That info delivery would add a layer of anticipation and simulate the user joy from Ultimate Team players when they pull a great card in a pack opening. Likewise, you’d be disappointed when a top player signs elsewhere.
An NFL free agency show that runs during the offseason and gives updates on which direction free agents are leaning would also make this vital piece of the NFL story more compelling in Madden. The reports may be accurate, sometimes off base, but it’s all about building the story.
Cinematics are expensive (financial cost and workforce resources), so it’s understandable if EA wouldn’t have the time or be willing to invest in making this a production. They could better present their mock social media thread and use that to check this box.
NFL Trade Presentation
Similarly to the presentation suggested for signing highly rated free agents, Madden 24 needs to sound a louder signal when good players are traded.
In the real NFL, a trade that includes a big-name player can become the biggest story of the week. No deal in Madden 24’s franchise mode feels significant.
The user has to generate their excitement, which leaves a box unchecked.
Madden 24’s Week-to-Week Presentation is Still Weak
The NFL season is one giant, ever-evolving story. There’s always something happening, from injuries to trades, the draft, and free-agent signings.
The Madden franchise mode still largely ignores the stories within an NFL season. Instead, to dig deeper into the experience, users are forced to find excitement in the nuances by using their imagination due to limited, under-highlighted information and presentation.
Due to the lack of a weekly wrap-up, a real halftime show, and takeover presentations to pull the user into the events happening in their franchise mode, it can quickly feel like you’re just playing a list of games while trying to have a good record, make the playoffs and win a Super Bowl.
That’s a barebones franchise-mode concept, and EA is past due for pushing this to the next level.
The Customization Options Are Still Too Limited
Madden 24 takes a few incremental steps to improve the customization options in its franchise mode, but a few areas are locked, leaving me scratching my head.
While you can edit every player in the game, you cannot change their ages or contract details. Users no longer have to wait to relocate a team, but if you build a new stadium before relocating, you lose the option to move the team.
Also, rebranding your team is only available if you relocate. These are the kinds of limitations you only recognize once you begin to dig deep into the options, but they are too confining for a user looking for a sandbox experience.
Offline franchise modes should have the freedom to change everything about every player and team in the league. It’s difficult to understand why EA still prevents users from completely controlling their experience, primarily if it is offline.
There is a lot here, but I’m willing to bet the keys to satisfying the vast majority of franchise-mode fans is in the text above.
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