Franchise Mode Details For ‘Madden 21’

EA Sports released their latest Gridiron Notes for Madden 21, diving deeper into the upcoming game’s franchise modes. The focus was on the Face of the Franchise game mode, which follows a storyline and forces you to play quarterback as you look to work yourself into a Pro Football Hall of Famer.

 

The college football portion of the Face of the Franchise mode allows you to play up to two college seasons, and you’ll be given an ultimatum to either switch positions from quarterback (to running back or wide receiver) or leave school and head for the NFL draft.

 

Madden 21 again has the NFL Scouting Combine with on-field drills and a press conference, and they’ve also added an old feature that was in previous Madden games but was taken out years ago: the 40-yard dash. After you are drafted, there are multiple NFL storylines with “numerous twists and turns”:

 

Franchise Savior

You’ve entered the NFL as one of the most highly touted prospects in your draft class, and that means an entire organization is putting their Super Bowl hopes and dreams on your shoulders. All-time greats were able to deliver on those championship hopes. Now it’s time to prove that you’re cut from the same cloth as those legends.

 

Next Man Up

After being selected in the NFL Draft by a team with a solidified starter at your position, it’s clear that even if your time isn’t now, it will come soon enough. How will you win over the veterans in the locker room in the meantime? And if the time comes that you’re thrust into action sooner than expected, will you be able to prove you’re the man for the job, like Russell Wilson did so seamlessly in Seattle?

 

Understudy

Following an up and down college career, you were selected in the later rounds of the NFL Draft by a team in search of additional depth at your position. Even though it’s unlikely that future plans include you, these odds aren’t necessarily insurmountable. Tom Brady made the most of his opportunity to step up back in 2001. Can you make the most of yours and earn yourself a starting job?

 

Bitter Rivals

Whether it’s team versus team or player versus player, the best rivalries are forever etched in the NFL’s long, illustrious history. Now in the social media era, it’s possible for rivalries to become more contentious and public than ever. When you and a defensive player on a division rival get into a war of words on social media, it’s only the beginning of the rivalry to come.

 

Dream Team

Teams with great talent are forced to face great expectations … Super Bowl expectations. Countless teams have fallen short of these expectations, like the 2007 Patriots, the 2001 Rams, and the 1998 Vikings. Can you and your Dream Team come together and complete the dream season, or are there too many obstacles in the way of once-in-a-generation greatness?

 

The Comeback

The struggle of coming back from a serious injury is too much for many players to overcome. But a handful of legends have been better than ever after making their returns. In 2012, Adrian Peterson finished first in MVP voting after suffering a career-threatening injury the previous season. After an injury forces you to sit out most of the year, can you regain your form and reestablish yourself as one of the NFL’s best?

 

Turf War

After a subpar performance last season, you’re suddenly facing competition for your starting position. But a good old position battle could end up bringing out the best in everyone involved. Can you hold off the in-house opposition and come out even better than before, or is your job in serious jeopardy?

 

Into The Sunset

After a long and storied NFL career, it’s just about time to hang up your cleats. That doesn’t mean your final act can’t be your greatest act yet though. Your team has declined and your best days may be behind you, but it’s time to prove you still have what it takes to right the ship one more time and end your career as a champion.

 

Face of the Franchise features six characters, including Rich Eisen, Snoop Dogg, and actor Robert Patrick as Coach Red O’Brien.

 

EA Sports is now calling the typical franchise mode “Classic Franchise”. The changes to the mode are basically just fine-tuning things, with the highlight being the addition of X-Factors. The second bullet point listed is that expansion of the Wild Card Playoff round to add a third game, which was a given after the NFL expanded the postseason months back; so there isn’t much to get excited about for Classic Franchise, and many fans are rightfully angry.

 

‘Madden 21’ will be available on August 28 for Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.