EA dropped a new title update on Nov. 16 and there are changes across almost every mode in the game. There are new Ultimate Team features including a 93 overall Michael Vick with exclusive animations.
Digging a little deeper, there is newness to discuss all over the game. Let’s start off with the 4 new X-Factor players and their new Superstar abilities.
Jets – Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner
Cowboys – DeMarcus Lawrence
- Run Stuffer (X-Factor)
- No Outsiders
- Instant Rebate
- Edge Threat
Saints – Marshon Lattimore
- Shutdown (X-Factor)
- Bench Press
Falcons – Jessie Bates III
- Shutdown (X-Factor)
- Pick Artist
The defensive side of the ball definitely saw some love with the new X-Factors. However, offensive players received some upgrades with Superstar abilities.
New Superstar Players and Added Abilities
Rams – Puka Nacua
- Short Out Elite
- Mid In Elite
Texans – CJ Stroud
Cowboys – Tony Pollard
Falcons – Bijan Robinson
Eagles – DeVonta Smith
- Runoff Elite
- Mid Out Elite
Dolphins – Tua Tagovailoa
- Sideline Deadeye
- Fearless
49ers – Brock Purdy
- Gutsy Scrambler
- Inside Deadeye
Vikings – T.J. Hockenson
- Mid Inside Elite
- Short Inside Elite
Jaguars – Foyesade Oluokun
- Tackle Supreme
- Flat Zone KO
Seahawks – Kenneth Walker III
- Arm Bar
- Matchup Nightmare
Eagles – Jalen Carter
- Unpredictable
- Reach Elite
Jaguars – Josh Allen
- Edge Threat
- Strip Specialist
49ers – Brandon Aiyuk
- Mid In Elite
- Deep In Elite
Eagles – D’Andre Swift
Lions – Aidan Hutchinson
The following players have struggled in the first half of the season and have lost their X-Factor abilities.
Downgraded X-Factor Players
- Dalvin Cook
- DeForest Buckner
- Joe Burrow
- Joey Bosa
The following players no longer have Superstar abilities.
Downgraded Superstar Players
- Chandler Jones
- Alvin Kamara
- Calais Campbell
- Tee Higgins
- Fletcher Cox
Gameplay Updates
The Madden development team also made several changes to gameplay. Here are the bullet points from that section of the patch notes.
- Re-Fixed the issue causing the kick meter menu to move after a pause and sometimes cover up the kick meter.
- Fixed an issue with avoidance logic sometimes causing receivers to stop their route when running a slant route.
- Fixed an issue sometimes causing a user-controlled defender to attempt an effort-catch instead of an actual catch attempt.
- Fixed an issue causing the ‘Poor Visibility’ Dynamic Gameday modifier to impact the QB on the home team.
- Fixed an issue causing the kick returner to sometimes warp/slide when catching a kickoff.
- Fixed several issues preventing safeties in man coverage from aligning appropriately to split out running backs in the Dime 2-3 formation.
- Fixed an issue causing the tight end to align offsides when using an audible to go from Gun Empty HB Wide to Gun Empty Chips Quad.
- Fixed a rare issue preventing the ball carrier from being ruled down correctly after falling from a trip/stumble resulting from a low dive tackle from behind.
- Fixed an issue causing a player to freeze after attempting an early lunge tackle out of bounds.
- Tuning to increase interception catch-chance.
Blocking
- Fixed an issue preventing the right tackle from targeting the defensive end when next to a block-and-release tight end.
- Fixed an issue preventing the defensive end from getting targeted after using a hot route to put a tight-split receiver in a block-and-release assignment into a streak route.
- Fixed an issue causing defensive linemen to sometimes get stuck in certain blocking animations for the entire play.
- Fixed an issue causing an elite edge rusher engaged in a double team to shed to the inside, allowing the QB to easily escape the pocket.
- Fixed an issue causing the center and guard to run into each other on the RPO Pin Alert Bubble play.
- Fixed an issue causing the pulling guard to stutter-step after coming out of his stance when running Gun Slot Offset RPO Counter Read.
- Fixed an issue allowing the blitzing nickelback to be unblocked on Dollar DB Fire 2 vs. I-Form Slot Close.
Post Play
- Added new signature walks, stances, gestures, and facial animations for:
- Bills QB Josh Allen
- Vikings WR Justin Jefferson
- Cowboys LB Micah Parsons
- Jets CB Sauce Gardner
- Fixed the chest-pound celebration for 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey so he places the ball in the correct hand.
- Fixed an issue causing Cardinals QB Kyler Murrary’s feet/body to sometimes twitch after the whistle.
- Fixed an issue causing the ball to flip/warp in the QB’s hands when transitioning into a Pocket-idle animation from an under-center 5-step dropback.
Franchise Mode Updates
I wrote about the closed beta to implement cross-platform franchise mode earlier this week. However, there are more changes coming to the mode.
DEV NOTE: The following changes are exclusive to the Playstation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
- Reworked Franchise Tag Selection Logic for AI Controlled Teams.
- DEV NOTE: AI controlled teams will look into using the Franchise Tag based on a variety of new factors. The AI will factor in the player’s development trait which helps make up his overall player value. They will also look at the player’s desired contract and compare that to the Franchise Tag salary for their specific position as another factor into who they will tag.
- Desired Contract Earnings will now scale relative to the Salary Cap Growth at the end of each Season.
- DEV NOTE: Previously as you would get further along in your Franchise, the overall Salary Cap would go up, but players’ desired contracts at their position would not go up equally.
- Fixed a handful of Franchise News text bugs.
These changes are essentially just light maintenance fixes that aren’t likely to make a major impact on the mode.
Madden Ultimate Team
The EA cash cow aka MUT also saw a few updates. These are mostly user-interface issues and not major fixes or additions to the core mode.
- Fixed an issue where Event specific currencies would randomly disappear from the screen and reappear later.
- Fixed an issue in SSKO that would auto-select the second pick.
- Fixed an issue that caused field passes in the Live Events tab to not have filled progress bars even if the field pass was complete.
- Fix an issue that caused the archetype text on cards to turn gray and become difficult to read.
- Fixed an issue that caused the point balance to visually display 0 after attempting to purchase a field pass level without enough points.
- Fixed an issue where the direct purchase panel on the play tab was not updating how many packs had been purchased.
- Fixed an issue that caused the timer on champions events to disappear after starting a champions game.
- Fixed an issue that caused stats not to populate when comparing players in a field pass.
- Fixed an issue that caused the field pass bar not to update after purchasing a field pass level until the user re-entered MUT.
- Updated Headliners XP items to display proper rarity.
- Removed the sets menu tile if there are no sets present.
- Fixed an issue that caused an error in squads when trying to view a teammate’s lineup.
- Added Rank icons to the Champions leaderboard.
Superstar Mode
Here are the changes made to Superstar mode, which also mostly focuses on UI concepts with the exception of some of the jersey and logo adjustments.
- Fixed an issue where incorrect stats were showing for my CAP during Off Season flow.
- Fixed an issue where the “Lions Roar Back” news portrait had a Panthers player in the background.
- Fixed an issue where Get 2+ Hitsticks progress was shown as 0/1 in game.
- Fixed an issue where the Washington Football Team jersey was being used for Commanders.
- Fixed an issue where Patrick Mahomes’ logo appears as the Raiders on “Opposites Attract” news.
- Fixed various script loss and crash issues related to stability.
- Fixed an issue where REP appeared instead of XP in the Booster Description on the Customize screen.
- Fixed an issue where the 3D avatar was not displayed in the Booster screen.
- Fixed an issue where animations appeared locked after purchase if not equipped during the purchase flow.
- Fixed an issue in Showdown Mode where the player was taken to the hub screen after returning from an event.
- Fixed an issue in Showdown Mode where player hud was overlapping the EGF screen after leveling up in an SD match.
- Fixed an issue causing a broken gameplay camera when attempting to use hurry-up offense on 3rd down.
NFL Authenticity
There were a number of likenesses, logo and equipment updates including a fresh take on the New Orleans Saints’ Derek Carr’s face.
- Fixed multiple gloves with logo-mirroring issues, specifically Jordan and Adidas branded gloves.
- Fixed multiple issues around generic head hair/skin areas.
- Fixed Patriots warning label color on helmet.
- Fixed Melvin Gordon’s skull cap placement.
- Fixed Broncos White helmet side logo to be accurate.
- Fixed issue with Browns front number placement on their 2017 uniforms.
- Fixed issue with Vapor Edge Elite 360 2 cleat appearing black on one side.
- Fixed a number of small clipping issues on coach and player heads.
- Updated Derek Carr’s hair and beard.
You can see all of the updates, including the audio and presentation changes here.
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