Video Games

If you preordered either the MVP or Dynasty Editions of Madden NFL 22, then you likely spent plenty of time Tuesday playing the game because of the early access that you paid for. 

The official release date for Madden 22 is Friday, so gamers will be on the virtual gridiron soon enough. This year's edition marks the first available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, and there are some big upgrades and improvements for the game as it enters a new era.

Many of those upgrades are available on all consoles, such as the improved franchise mode, the newest Face of the Franchise career mode, tweaks to Madden Ultimate Team, The Yard and Superstar KO and more. However, there are also some exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X.

For the older consoles, Madden 22 will seem quite similar to last year's game. But the new generation of consoles will get to experience Dynamic Gameday, which includes a momentum meter, home-field advantage perks (one exclusive to each NFL team) and more. So it's clear that EA Sports put in some work to take the series to the next level for these new consoles.

While not everybody owns Madden 22 yet, the ratings for every player in the game have been revealed. That means you can start planning for which teams you may want to try out as soon as the game launches.

Here's a breakdown of some of the top players in this year's game.

      

Top-Rated Player at Each Position

Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs (99)

Running Back: Christian McCaffrey, Carolina Panthers (97)

Fullback: Kyle Juszczyk, San Francisco 49ers (87)

Wide Receiver: Davante Adams, Green Bay Packers (99)

Tight End: Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs (99)

Left Tackle: David Bakhtiari, Green Bay Packers (96)

Left Guard: Quenton Nelson, Indianapolis Colts (95)

Center: Rodney Hudson, Arizona Cardinals (92)

Right Guard: Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys (98)

Right Tackle (tie): Ryan Ramczyk, New Orleans Saints; Tristan Wirfs, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (89)

Left End: J.J. Watt, Arizona Cardinals (94)

Defensive Tackle: Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles (94)

Right End: Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams (99)

Left Outside Linebacker: Khalil Mack, Chicago Bears (96)

Middle Linebacker: Fred Warner, San Francisco 49ers (94)

Right Outside Linebacker: Melvin Ingram III, Pittsburgh Steelers (87)

Cornerback: Jalen Ramsey, Los Angeles Rams (99)

Free Safety: Devin McCourty, New England Patriots (92)

Strong Safety: Tyrann Mathieu, Kansas City Chiefs (95)

Kicker: Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens (87)

Punter: Johnny Hekker, Los Angeles Rams (86)

There are five players in the 99 Club this year, and none of them are a surprise. Mahomes and Kelce have been instrumental in the Chiefs' success in recent years, Adams is the clear top wide receiver in the NFL, and Donald and Ramsey are exciting defensive stars.

Kansas City is going to be a popular team to play with yet again in Madden 22. In addition to Mahomes and Kelce, Mathieu is the top-rated safety in the game. And the Chiefs roster also includes 98-rated wide receiver Tyreek Hill, so there's plenty of star power.

While there aren't any 99- or 98-rated running backs in this year's game, McCaffrey is a 97 and will surely be fun to use—especially considering he's such a dynamic player who can be involved in both the running and passing games, just like in real life.

The Cardinals have two players who are the highest rated at their respective positions, and they're both players who were acquired this offseason, Hudson and Watt. While Watt's rating may not be as high as it once was, he's still among the elite pass-rushers again in this year's Madden.

Linebacker ratings seem a bit down this year, considering Warner (94) is the best in the middle and Ingram (87) is tops among ROLBs. Same with fullbacks, kickers and punters, as there are none who have an overall rating higher than an 87.

Of course, these ratings aren't necessarily permanent. EA Sports will be boosting and lowering players' ratings throughout the season. So how players fare in real life will have a big impact on how good they are on the virtual gridiron.

      

Top-Rated Rookies

Atlanta Falcons TE Kyle Pitts (81)

Jacksonville Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence (78)

Miami Dolphins WR Jaylen Waddle (76)

Denver Broncos CB Patrick Surtain II (76)

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris (76)

Cleveland Browns CB Greg Newsome II (76)

Jacksonville Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. (76)

One of the most exciting additions to Madden each year is the new class of rookies. While you may have used versions of these players from created draft classes in the past, now they're actually in the NFL and have player models developed by EA Sports.

Typically, rookies have to prove themselves before being rated too high. But Pitts is already in the 80s and will be one of the most fun tight ends to use in the game. It gives Madden gamers a new reason to want to play with the Falcons, who no longer have wide receiver Julio Jones on their offense.

The Jaguars usually aren't an exciting team to use in Madden, but the additions of Lawrence and Etienne make them more desirable. It's no surprise that Lawrence, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, is the top rookie quarterback in the game and ranks second among all rookies.

Waddle and Harris are also exciting offensive playmakers who should be fun to use in the game. The Steelers may be relying heavily on Harris this season, and if you play with Pittsburgh in Madden, you may want to do the same.

It pays to preorder, and for those who did so for either the MVP or Dynasty Edition of Madden NFL 22, you've likely already dove into this year's game. 

While Madden 22 doesn't release until Friday, those who preordered one of those two special editions of the game could start playing as soon as midnight ET arrived late Monday night/early Tuesday morning. So that means Madden season is here once again.

This is the first edition to be made available for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. And EA Sports made sure to include some notable upgrades and improvements as Madden entered a new era.

For those who are still playing on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One, you weren't ignored, either. Many of the changes to Madden this year were included for both generations of consoles. Sure, the game will look better on PS5 and Xbox Series X, but that's to be expected.

So, how does this year's edition of Madden compare to recent versions of the game? Were the upgrades substantial enough for noticeable improvement?

There aren't many reviews of the game out yet, considering Madden 22 hasn't been available to play for long. But opinions are starting to trickle out from reviewers as they get more time on the virtual gridiron.

Anthony J. Nash of Windows Central gave Madden 22 4 out 5 stars, and he had generally positive things to say about this year's game.

"Madden NFL 22 injects some much-needed improvements into a series that was dangerously close to growing stale," Nash wrote. "Coupled with some big changes to core modes, Madden NFL 22 elevates itself into one of the best from the long-running series."

Nash said that some of the notable positives were the gameplay, broadcast and commentary. And he added the improvements to franchise mode "feel great," which is something that gamers have clamored for in recent years.

Madden 22 continued its overhaul of franchise mode, introducing a new hub, the reintroduction of staff management (along with skill points and talent trees) and better ways to game plan. There will also be a new scouting system introduced to the game via an update, which EA Sports said it hopes will come in September.

Mark Delaney of GamesRadar+ isn't giving Madden 22 a score until Friday, but he also published a review of the game and noted that "as a whole, Madden 22 is an inconsistent game, but franchise is, at long last, the priority."

But Delaney also had some slight critiques of the mode. He shares that the story cutscenes "don't add much and sometimes don't make sense," while the new stamina system has some issues that will likely need to be worked out via a patch.

However, Delaney still believes the franchise mode in Madden 22 is "the best it's been in years."

Because the game hasn't been fully released, there are still some glitches and bugs that EA Sports will have to work out this week. As Brian Shea of Game Informer noted, Face of the Franchise mode is "quite frankly, an unfinished mess at this juncture." But that's likely to improve with a game update.

All in all, the early reviews for Madden 22 seem to be mostly positive and indicate that this edition of the game is a step up from last year's version.

The release of Madden NFL 22 is imminent. And for some who preordered the game this year, it's nearly time to power up your console and hop onto the virtual gridiron.

While the official release of Madden 22 isn't until Friday, those who preordered either the MVP Edition or Dynasty Edition get access three days early. That means if you stay up late Monday night, you can start playing once it's released at midnight ET. Some already got a taste of this year's game with the 10-hour EA Play trial, but this time, there won't be any time restrictions.

Because there are plenty of people who have already gotten to play the game, we know quite a bit about what this year's Madden will look like. And that includes some information that people always want to find out: ratings and achievements/trophies.

Here's a look at the top player ratings and the achievements/trophies available for Madden 22.

         

Elite Player Ratings (95 and Above)

Los Angeles Rams DE Aaron Donald: 99

Green Bay Packers WR Davante Adams: 99

Los Angeles Rams CB Jalen Ramsey: 99

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes II: 99

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: 99

Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins: 98

Cleveland Browns DE Myles Garrett: 98

Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill: 98

Dallas Cowboys RG Zack Martin: 98

Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey: 97

Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs: 97

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: 97

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers: 96

Green Bay Packers LT David Bakhtiari: 96

Tennessee Titans RB Derrick Henry: 96

San Francisco 49ers TE George Kittle: 96

Chicago Bears LOLB Khalil Mack: 96

Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb: 96

Minnesota Vikings RB Dalvin Cook: 95

Green Bay Packers CB Jaire Alexander: 95

Tennessee Titans WR Julio Jones: 95

Indianapolis Colts LG Quenton Nelson: 95

New Orleans Saints LT Terron Armstead: 95

Kansas City Chiefs SS Tyrann Mathieu: 95

For complete player ratings, check out the EA Sports site

        

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the list of top players in Madden 22 is filled with players from the Chiefs and Packers. These are two strong teams with a ton of star power, and they're going to be among the best teams to play with this year.

Kansas City has four players rated 95 or higher and three are 98 or higher. Mahomes and Kelce are part of the exclusive 99 Club, making them the best quarterback and tight end in the game. Plus, Hill's 98 rating ties him with Hopkins as the second-best wide receiver in Madden 22.

Mathieu may be rated a bit lower than three of his Chiefs teammates, but he's still the highest-rated safety. So Kansas City is filled with playmakers on both sides of the ball.

While there were questions regarding whether Rodgers would return to Green Bay this season, there was no doubt he was going to have a high Madden rating after he won NFL MVP in 2020. His 96 rating puts him behind only Mahomes and Brady (97) among quarterbacks.

With Adams in the 99 club, he and Rodgers again make the Packers offense a fun unit to use in the game.

The Rams only have two players rated at a 95 or higher, but they're both part of the 99 club, as Donald and Ramsey are the best two defensive players in the game.

There aren't really any huge surprises on this list. All of these players are talented and deserving of being among the best in Madden 22. But one interesting note is that Chubb (96) has a higher rating than Cook (95), even though Cook outperformed Chubb last season.

However, both Chubb and Cook are talented running backs, and these ratings aren't permanent. They'll fluctuate throughout the year, and things will change as on-field performance in real life will impact the game.

       

Achievements/Trophies

Although EA Sports hasn't announced the list of achievements (Xbox consoles) or trophies (PlayStation consoles) for Madden 22, the EA Play trial revealed them. 

It's not going to be too hard to get 100 percent completion in Madden 22, as there are actually only 19 achievements/trophies in the game for Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5, and 16 for Xbox One and PlayStation 4, according to Gavin Burtt of Attack of the Fanboy. Burtt even notes that these may be the easiest to complete since Madden 06.

Most of the achievements/trophies are the standard ones you've seen in past editions of Madden. That includes quite a few that have to do with franchise mode, such as relocating a team, conducting a fantasy draft and participating in the Pro Bowl.

It shouldn't take long to knock these out and either add to your Xbox gamer score or collect a platinum trophy on PlayStation.

It's beginning to feel a lot like football season. All 32 NFL teams have been conducting training camps the past couple weeks, and preseason games are well underway.

Fantasy football drafts are taking place. Game tickets are being purchased (and for many, for the first time since 2019). It's almost time to watch another exciting season of NFL action.

Another sign that football is near? Madden NFL 22 is set to be released, as this year's edition of the football video game will come out Friday. And for those who preordered, they will have access beginning Tuesday.

Here's everything you need to know about Madden 22.

                      

Top Player Ratings

Los Angeles Rams RE Aaron Donald: 99

Green Bay Packers WR Davante Adams: 99

Los Angeles Rams CB Jalen Ramsey: 99

Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes II: 99

Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce: 99

Arizona Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins: 98

Cleveland Browns RE Myles Garrett: 98

Kansas City Chiefs WR Tyreek Hill: 98

Dallas Cowboys RG Zack Martin: 98

Carolina Panthers RB Christian McCaffrey: 97

Buffalo Bills WR Stefon Diggs: 97

New England Patriots CB Stephon Gilmore: 97

Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady: 97

For complete player ratings, check out the EA Sports site.

                   

New Features and Preview

Let's start with the game mode that many people wanted to see improved the most: franchise mode.

Before Madden NFL 21 was released, EA Sports had made it clear that it wasn't going to be adding much to franchise mode. The social media reaction was not favorable to that news, and people began pushing for upgrades.

That started to happen with midseason updates, and it continues in a much bigger way in Madden 22. There are a few ways that franchise mode has been improved in this year's edition.

First, everything looks different, as franchise mode has a new hub. It's a much-needed overhaul that gives the mode a fresh feel. And when going through the tabs, you will notice a few different things from last year's game.

Staff management has returned, meaning you can hire offensive and defensive coordinators to serve under your team's head coach. There are also talent trees and a staff points system that allows you to upgrade all of your coaches. A new weekly strategy feature allows players to go in depth to develop offensive and defensive game plans for upcoming matchups.

Franchise mode also has a season engine with storyline moments, cinematics, press conferences and more cutscenes. And it will get even better after the game comes out. EA Sports is working on a significant scouting overhaul, which the company is targeting to add to the game in September.

But that isn't the only component of this year's Madden that has new features and upgrades.

Face of the Franchise career mode is back with the theme of "United We Rise." Your player can now be on defense, with linebacker joining quarterback, running back and wide receiver on the list of positions you can choose from.

One of the biggest new in-game features is exclusive to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, so it won't be included in the previous-gen consoles. It's called dynamic gameday and will feature a momentum meter, which includes home-field advantages called M-Factors. Each team will have an exclusive advantage at its disposal.

The Yard and Superstar KO modes are back, and they are now connected via class progression. So whatever you do in one will carry over to the other.

There are plenty more minor tweaks and upgrades in Madden 22, so make sure to check out all the gridiron notes on the EA Sports website.

The Madden NFL 22 launch date is only one week away, with the game set to be released Aug. 20. If you preordered, you'll get to begin playing on Tuesday. But some have already gotten to whet their appetites with a taste of the new game.

On Thursday, EA Play subscribers could download a 10-hour trial of Madden NFL 22, both on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as well as the last-gen consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One). Even if you don't have EA Play, you could still read articles and watch YouTube videos showcasing the entire game for the first time.

So while the game is still four days away from being able to be played without a time restriction, there's now a clearer picture of how the new features in Madden NFL 22 will impact the game.

Heading into the release of this year's game, there was one big question on many gamers' minds: How much will franchise mode be improved? EA Sports didn't intend to change much prior to last year's game, and the social media reaction caused the company to put more focus on the popular mode.

While some of those upgrades trickled into Madden NFL 21 throughout the year, it was always known that the more substantial improvements would have to wait for Madden NFL 22. And now, they're here. But are they enough?

There's a new franchise hub, staff management has returned with a new points system and talent trees and weekly strategies can be implemented.

However, Madden NFL 22 franchise mode can't be fully graded yet because the upgraded scouting system won't be in the game at launch. When EA Sports released the details of the mode, it shared that the scouting upgrade will be included in a title update "targeted for September."

Patches Chance of RealSport101.com wrote that this year's franchise mode may be better, but there's still room for improvement.

"We'll need more time to get a full overview of how Franchise looks in Madden 22, but so far indications are 'better, but not enough,' and that rings true with the fact that huge additions like scouting aren't even due to land until next month," Chance wrote.

As for the other game modes, there will be some upgrades, but there aren't a ton of new features.

Face of the Franchise career mode is back, and this year's theme is "United We Rise." The most notable difference is that your player can now also be a linebacker if you want, in addition to the returning positions of quarterback, running back and wide receiver.

Madden Ultimate Team brings back most of its core features, but it has replaced the chemistry system. Instead of having to go through individual players and add chemistry, there are now strategy items that can be applied to your team. Also, it's now possible to change players' X-factors and abilities at halftime of games depending on how things have been going.

The Yard and Superstar KO are both back in Madden again this year, with class progression now carrying over between the two modes. The Yard has a challenge-based campaign that can be played solo or co-op, while Superstar KO has added the ability to play as complete NFL teams.

For complete information on Madden NFL 22, make sure to read through the gridiron notes on the EA Sports site.

Madden NFL 22 will be officially released on Aug. 20. Those who preorder the game will be able to play it three days earlier, but there's also a way to play the game even before then.

For EA Play members, there will be a 10-hour trial of Madden NFL 22 available on Thursday. It will be found on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. And while there will be a limit on how long it can be played, it will still allow gamers to get onto the virtual gridiron for a taste of this year's game.

Plus, it won't be much longer until the game is fully released. So, another full year of Madden is nearly upon us.

Get on the field first and prepare for the next generation on the gridiron in #Madden22, available with early access for EA Play members on August 12.

Start your season early by joining EA Play and get ready to lead your team to victory.🏈 pic.twitter.com/IFW1Y6rIcS

— EA Play (@EAPlay) August 9, 2021

There appear to be quite a few upgrades and improvements in this year's game. Franchise mode is getting some needed boosts, Face of the Franchise career mode will have a new story and upgrades, and other modes—such as Madden Ultimate Team—will have some noticeable changes.

However, we're going to take a deeper look at what will be different once you're actually into a game.

EA Sports released a trailer breaking down the gameplay improvements last month. And while all consoles will get upgrades, those who play on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X will have some additions that the last-gen consoles won't have.

The biggest upgrade for the PS5 and Xbox Series X will be the "dynamic gameday" integration. This includes upgrades to atmosphere and momentum and the implementation of NFL Next Gen Stats.

There will now be an updated broadcast presentation, which will include superfans, crowd animations, celebrations and more. The game's momentum will impact sideline reactions, and there will also be a meter that determines game events based on how the matchup has been going.

Home teams will get an M-factor that can help shift the momentum in its favor. And it makes sense, considering it should be tougher to win as the road team. In real life, crowds and the environment can have a big impact on a game, and now it can in Madden, too.

NFL Next Gen Stats have improved real-life football broadcasts, and now it will do the same in the game. Ever been amazed at how quickly a quarterback can get the ball out or, on the flip side, how quickly a defense has put pressure on a QB? Those advanced stats will now show up in Madden as well.

As always, there are improvements to player movement. Every year, Madden gets closer to replicating what it's like to watch an actual NFL game, and this year's edition appears to take another step toward making it as realistic as possible.

For more on each of these new gameplay features, check out the EA Sports trailer:

Now, it's almost time to hop onto Madden and check it all out. And for EA Play subscribers, that time is coming very soon.

Many believe Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback of all time. And at this point, it's hard to argue against the three-time NFL MVP and seven-time Super Bowl champion, especially considering he's still playing at an extremely high level entering his age-44 season.

Some think Patrick Mahomes could one day go down as the greatest. He's still only 25, but he's already an NFL MVP and Super Bowl champion who is putting up impressive numbers early in his career. If he continues at this pace for a long time, he'll be in the conversation with Brady.

After Brady and Mahomes went head-to-head in Super Bowl LV earlier this year, they're now both on the cover of Madden NFL 22, which is set to be released Aug. 20 (with preorder access three days earlier).

🏆 Two Super Bowl Champions
🏅 Two @NFL MVPS
🎮 Two 2x Madden Cover Athletes

The Greatest Cover of All-Time #Madden22 pic.twitter.com/ceMI9ouDE3

— Madden NFL 25 (@EAMaddenNFL) June 17, 2021

It hadn't been that long since either was on the cover. Brady was featured on Madden NFL 18, while Mahomes was the cover player for Madden NFL 20. But both are clearly worthy of the honor again for this year's edition of the game.

All of the primary game modes are returning in Madden NFL 22. Franchise mode has gotten some serious upgrades, Face of the Franchise career mode is back with a new "United We Rise" theme, and The Yard and Superstar KO are again in the game.

And of course, there's Madden Ultimate Team, which has the same core structure but also received some upgrades and improvements for the new season.

In MUT, players collect cards and try to create the best possible team by earning rewards and spending virtual currencies on packs and cards from the auction house. But there's a lot more to it than the games that are played against online opponents and the CPU.

Your one stop shop for everything you need to know about #Madden22 Ultimate Team 📝

We Discuss:
- Strategy Items
- Halftime Adjustments
- Stat Tracking On Items
+ MORE!

Full Details: https://t.co/y94W36vmNv

— Madden Ultimate Team (@EASPORTS_MUT) August 6, 2021

EA Sports recently released all the details regarding this year's edition of Madden Ultimate Team. Here are some of the highlights.

First, this year's Madden Ultimate Team will look quite different, as the entire game has a new hub from last year, which includes MUT. It seems like it should be easy to navigate and has all the important information in easily accessible places.

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of strategy items, which changes how chemistries work. It will make things much easier, because instead of having to add a chemistry to each individual player, you can just add strategy items to your lineup that will have the same effect.

Another big improvement is that users can now make halftime adjustments, meaning they can change players' X-factors and abilities midway through the game. However, you'll only have 30 seconds in online games and 60 seconds in offline matchups to do so.

Ever wonder exactly how well a particular card has done for you? Well, there will now be stats tracked showing all the numbers a card has accumulated, such as yards, touchdowns and more. Those playing on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X will also get "Next Gen Stats" on their cards.

And for those who've played MUT in the past, you'll already know that not every card is available at launch. There will be promotions throughout the season in which new cards are released, and they'll continue to get better as we get later into the year.

When Madden NFL 22 comes out Aug. 20 (or Aug. 17 for preorder access), everybody has their favorite game mode they'll jump into first. Perhaps you'll play a quick exhibition game. Or you could dive right into franchise mode. Maybe it'll be time to hop online and start building your Madden Ultimate Team.

Another option will be the Face of the Franchise mode, which returns this year with "Face of the Franchise: United We Rise." And like the first few iterations of this story-driven career mode, this year's edition has built off the previous year and added some improvements to make it better.

Last year, your Face of the Franchise player could be either a quarterback, running back or wide receiver. In Madden NFL 22, you can choose to head to the other side of the ball as a linebacker.

One of the best parts about Face of the Franchise is preparing your player to enter the NFL. This year's mode will feature training at Nike Headquarters, the College Football Playoff, interviews with NFL teams and private workouts, all before your player enters the NFL draft.

As always, you'll want to perform as well as you can in each of those events in order to boost your draft stock before heading into the pros.

Among the biggest additions to Face of the Franchise in Madden NFL 22 is a class progression system. Once you choose which of the four positions you want for your player, there will be classes to pick from, each of which features "three Superstar Abilities and one X-Factor ability for you to unlock as you level up in that class," per EA Sports.

There will also be class rewards, a new career hub, podcast segments, side activities and a season engine in this year's Face of the Franchise mode.

While these additions should make this game mode a more enjoyable experience, the premise is still the same as it was last year, even if the story ends up being a bit different. So if you enjoyed Face of the Franchise in Madden NFL 21, there's a good chance you'll have fun playing it again in this year's game.

Although it isn't clear exactly what the story will entail, EA Sports released a trailer further explaining some of the new features in the mode this year:

Many likely enjoy being on offense more in Madden, and there will still be opportunities for that with quarterback, running back and wide receiver being among the positions for your player. But the addition of linebacker is welcome news that will allow players to experience Face of the Franchise in a different way, making it one of the most substantial additions to the mode for Madden NFL 22.  

Still, many of the biggest changes in this year's Madden will come in other areas, such as franchise mode. But that doesn't mean Face of the Franchise won't be a fun playthrough that should be a step up from last year.