Electronic Arts releases a new title update forMadden NFL 23that makes a variety of improvements to the football simulation game, including changes to the game’s blocking mechanics. While theMaddenfranchise has by no means shown a dip in popularity, there has been criticism regarding a variety of football gameplay systems. Less than a month after launch, now EA is seeking to add some polish toMadden NFL 23that it may have lacked at launch.To further confirm that today’sMadden NFL 23title update is specifically addressing player feedback, developer EA Tiburon said exactly that in an introduction to the update’s patch notes. The feedback addresses issues withMadden NFL 23that were provided “prior to the world wide launch” and during the football game’s “Early Access” throughEA Play. That’s also a heads-up toMadden NFL 23players that feedback provided post-launch will be addressed in the game’s next patch.RELATED:Kansas City Chiefs Player Criticizes Madden NFL 23As for the patch itself, EA highlights four general changes. First, a change toMadden NFL 23’s gameplay regarding the current blocking system for both runs and passing. Second, a fix for user-to-user trades inOnline Franchise mode. Third, updates to rookie likenesses and alternate helmets. And the fourth highlight is for the dozens of bug fixes and stability improvements made across allMadden NFL 23game modes.
The blocking changes will be an obvious priority for mostMadden NFL 23playerssince it’s the largest gameplay-impacting change in the title update. These changes include “tuning” for systems including pass-block logic so players can handoff rushers to other pass blockers, run-blocker pursuits to improve the blocking path against player-controlled defenders, pass-block movement so pass blockers close to the line of scrimmage target rushers faster, and pass-block prediction for anticipating the direction of rushers moving abnormally. Suffice it to say, the changes to blocking are robust.
It’s now been just over three weeks sinceMadden NFL 23released, or a bit more if taking Early Access into consideration. As far as update turnaround time goes, this is very fast. The issue, of course, isn’t that post-launch support isn’t substantial forMadden NFL 23, but rather that the football games continue to need these title updates routinely year after year. Theannual development cycle forMadden NFL 23, which restricts what each game’s developers are able to add and polish, continues to be the main point of frustration for players.
With that said,Madden NFL 23continues to be incredibly popular and with the NFL season beginning tonight, there is likely to be a wave of players returning to the game. With that in mind, today’s title update couldn’t have been better timed. Here’s hoping the title update delivers enough improvements to keep players content, at least until the next title update arrives addressingMaddenplayers' post-launch feedback.
Madden NFL 23is available now on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
