As part of its reveal on Wednesday morning, EA Sports has given insight into what’s coming to the Madden 22 franchise mode this year.
After being teased earlier in the year, the game’s reveal trailer confirmed that staff management will be a part of the game. In addition to that, the mode features a new skill tree progression system as well as an updated weekly strategy engine.
“Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 22 will make players feel more connected and in control of their team,” EA Sports said in its announcement.
Part of that connection involves the progression of everyone on your staff. There are four coaching positions to manage. Players can upgrade each member of the staff using a new RPG-like skill tree where XP is earned as you play through your franchise. In addition, there will be over 60 talents available for coaches with more to come after Madden 22’s launch.
While talking to Game Informer for a preview of the mode’s features, it was also revealed that practices have a new impact on your team moving forward.
“Now, when you set up the practices for the week,” the preview reads, “you can manage each player’s practice intensity and if they’re donning full pads the whole week in a careful balancing act of getting them the fullest benefits while also making sure they’re healthy when they suit up on Sunday.”
In that same interview, per-game strategies also play a big part in the mode this year.
“Now, before every game in Franchise, you can set your strategy heading in. Using a new interface, you can study your opponent’s strengths, weaknesses, and tendencies, then shape your gameplan around that.,” it says.
Lastly, a new franchise hub for players will make things more streamlined. The most important information and options will be easier to find, leading to less frustration for players.
In addition to what will be in the mode when the game launches on August 20, Madden 22 will see updates throughout the year via Live Service updates. The first update will be available in September and focuses on changes to player scouting. That update will allow you to manage and assign national and regional scouts. Players that you scout can gain and lose value based on the research done throughout the season.
More Madden 22 franchise mode features will be detailed as the build up to the game continues. But there’s no doubt that fans of the mode have to be excited about the direction of the mode.
Madden 22 launches August 20 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, and Google Stadia. Those who pre-order the game get access three days early on August 17.
What do you think about the franchise mode updates announced for Madden 22? Let us know in the comment section below, and stick with Sports Gamers Online for more information.
Them adding staffing (and mind you, they hinted they’d do this A WHILE AGO for M22) but not taking the time/spending the money to get actual coordinators in the game is the most EA thing I’ve seen in a while, especially when you consider a lot of the coordinators that are active were head coaches in Madden not too recently.
I also still think they need to scrap or completely retool the XP system and also add at least the option to have fog of war with ratings. Maybe the fatigue and health being re-worked is a start, but every online CFM I’ve played in has a stacked team well beyond what it was at the start and that’s really just not how progression vs. setbacks work in the NFL.
Do I think this is all progress? Sure. But overall I’ve still seen smaller sports franchises in terms of sales, resources, budget, etc. do more with their franchise/GM modes in a year-to-year span and I’m personally tired of them continuing to miss finer details.