In news that is sure to shake up the game as Rex Dickson, Creative Director for the Madden NFL series, has resigned after six years with EA Sports.
Dickson, who was largely responsible for the core gameplay of current gen Madden, has mutual agreed to part ways due to what is being called “creative differences” with those within EA Tiburon. Prior to working on EA Sports’ football titles, Dickson was a lead designer at THQ from 2009 to 2011 as well as a Lead Designer at EA from 2003 to 2009.
Dickson confirmed on Twitter he is moving on from the EA Sports Madden NFL franchise.
Time to confirm the rumors. I have left EA Tiburon and the Madden team. Statement below. pic.twitter.com/4eiJlrkxUU
— Rex Dickson (@Rex_Dickson_) May 3, 2018
Michael Young who many know as the man behind “Longshot”, the story mode that debuted in Madden NFL 18 is looking to be a possible in-house replacement. Young began working for EA back in 2002 as an Art Director for the NBA Street franchise before moving on to Madden in 2007 as the game’s Art Director. In 2011, Young was promoted to Creative Director for the next-generation of Madden games on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
With the critical success of the design and development of Longshot, Young’s reputation within the company quickly rose which made him an easy choice as the next lead on the Madden NFL series.
After Madden 18’s release, the now outgoing Dickson spoke openly about the fact that Connected Franchise needed to not only be changed but completely overhauled.
“Are you asking me have we kept up with depth? Probably not. Immersion? Definitely not. A robust player mode? Absolutely not,” Dickson told the MBL Network.
He added that Madden NFL 19 will feature big updates to its Franchise Mode that is going to make longtime fans happy.
Some community members are already missing the time and hard work that Dickson put into the Madden NFL series.
I want to give a shout out to @RexDEAFootball for his fight for us in the community. His focus on the core gamers of Madden went underappreciated. Some decisions were above his head and down the road I feel like we're gonna miss him.
— Gutfoxx (@Gutfoxx) May 3, 2018
Sports Gamers Online will have more on this story as it develops.
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