Madden 23: Release Date, Top Player Ratings, New Features, Preview and More

It may be mid-August, but football is already in the air. Preseason games are taking place, fantasy drafts are being held, and hype is being built for the 2022 NFL season.

And, of course, another edition of the Madden video game series is coming out. On Friday, Madden 23 will be released, although those who preorder the All Madden edition will get access beginning on Tuesday.

This is the third version of Madden that will be released on the latest generation of consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X). This year, the series is taking more advantage of that technology with some of the improvements coming to the game.

Here's everything you need to know about Madden 23, including the top-rated players in the game and a breakdown of the new features.

99 overall rating

Aaron Donald, RE, Los Angeles Rams

Davante Adams, WR, Las Vegas Raiders

Myles Garrett, RE, Cleveland Browns

Trent Williams, LT, San Francisco 49ers

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98 overall rating

Cooper Kupp, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Jalen Ramsey, CB, Los Angeles Rams

Travis Kelce, TE, Kansas City Chiefs

Zack Martin, RG, Dallas Cowboys

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97 overall rating

Derrick Henry, RB, Tennessee Titans

George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Tom Brady, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tyreek Hill, WR, Miami Dolphins

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96 overall rating

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Christian McCaffrey, RB, Carolina Panthers

DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Arizona Cardinals

Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

T.J. Watt, LOLB, Pittsburgh Steelers

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95 overall rating

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Patrick Mahomes, QB, Kansas City Chiefs

Quenton Nelson, LG, Indianapolis Colts

Stefon Diggs, WR, Buffalo Bills

Tyron Smith, LT, Dallas Cowboys

FieldSENSE is the new gameplay mechanic that is going to make Madden 23 feel like the most realistic virtual football experience yet. It's only going to be implemented in the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions of the game, and that's because the older systems don't have the technology to incorporate it.

There are several ways that FieldSENSE is going to make the gameplay more enjoyable. And it will be incorporated into every game mode, so every time you take the field you'll get to benefit from these added features.

EA Sports lists four main components of the FieldSENSE engine: the "Hit Everything" mechanic, skill-based passing, 360-degree player cuts and wide receiver vs. defensive back battles. The cuts will make players move smoother and improve how they go around the field, while "Hit Everything" will allow users to make a greater impact with their hits in all aspects of defense.

Skill-based passing is an intriguing addition because it will give users more control of where their throws go and make quarterback play much more in-depth. The same will be the case with WR vs. DB battles, as there are new moves and animations that will create a more realistic experience.

FieldSENSE should be a welcome next step to Madden gameplay that will give EA Sports the opportunity to continue building on it in future years.

While FieldSENSE is the most substantial new feature in Madden 23, there are several other notable improvements. And those are coming in various game modes.

The Face of the Franchise career mode will be drastically different from recent years. This year's version is titled "Face of the Franchise: The League," and the college games or draft combine are no longer there like they were in past editions. In this year's mode, your player is entering his fifth NFL season, having just completed his rookie contract and considering which team to sign with during free agency.

Although there will still be some cutscenes and a narrative to the Face of the Franchise game mode, it won't take nearly as long to get into the NFL action. So that should be a positive step in the right direction.

In franchise mode, the most notable improvements will be in free agency. There's a new hub, players will have motives and tags that help decide where they'll be most likely to sign, and contract negotiations will be more in-depth. Also, the scouting system has been overhauled and draft classes have been improved.

Will these additions be enough to make these game modes more enjoyable? We'll find out for sure when Madden 23 comes out this upcoming week.