Madden 18 news, release date, trailer and cover athlete

A new year, a new football season. Madden 18 has RSVP’d for E3 2017 and will be out just in time for the start of the 2018 NFL season. 

Can’t wait to get back on the gridiron? We hear you. But before you head out to play in the big leagues, spend some time here in training camp learning about all of the game’s new features.

• Pre-order Madden NFL 18 on Amazon.com ($59.99)

To that end, we’ve gathered everything we know about the game – including its release date, trailers and cover athlete – all in one spot. Conserve your energy for the big game, son, you’re going to need it. 

Cut to the chase

• What is it? The next annual release of the Madden NFL franchise
• What can I play it on? PS4 and Xbox One
• When does it come out? August 25, 2017

Madden 18 release date

So when can you get your gloves on the latest Madden? For most folks, August 25, 2017 is the time and place for kick-off for the new season. But, if you pre-order the G.O.A.T. Edition of the game, you’ll actually be able to play it a few days earlier on Tuesday, August 22, 2017.

• Pre-order Madden 18 G.O.A.T. on Amazon.com ($79.99)

Should you decide to drop a little extra on the G.O.A.T. Edition of the game – G.O.A.T. stands for Greatest of All-Time, by the way – you’ll receive  one of five Elite G.O.A.T. players, an elite player from your favorite NFL team, 12 Squad Packs, 2500 contracts and one uniform pack in Madden NFL 18 Ultimate Team.

Of course, if you don’t need all the extras of the G.O.A.T. Edition but still want to check out the game early, you can always subscribe to EA Access. 

EA Access subscribers can play up to 10 hours of the game starting on Thursday, August 17 with EA Access First Trial. (You’ll also get a pretty sweet 10% discount on the game for being a subscriber, too.) 

Madden 18 cover athlete

So who’s going to grace the cover of the game this year? Who else but the GOAT – New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady? 

What makes Brady’s nomination particularly exciting is that he follows his teammate, Rob Gronkowski, who was the face on the Madden 17 box.

Check out the box art for yourself: 

Madden 18 new features and mechanics

If you’re just coming out of virtual retirement, a lot has changed since the days of the PS2 and original Xbox era, so try to pay attention while we review some of the basics, and then progress to the new features coming later this year. 

Last year, Madden 17 introduced a simpler way to stop runs and passes called play counters. Instead of choosing specific plays, play counters allowed you to predict what kind of play your opponent would call (a passing play or an inside run, for example) and automatically line your defense up to counter it. 

In franchise mode last year, Madden 17 introduced new “big moments” that shaped your player and your team’s future. Deciding to keep a quarterback in after he’s had a minor injury could cost you season if he gets hit a second time. Substituting a rookie in might mean the difference between a loss against your rivals and another tally in the win column. 

But all that was last year. What’s new in 2018? 

New this year is the Frostbite physics and visual engine that will power the next-gen Madden experience. We’ve seen this in other EA titles before, but this will be the first time seeing it in the Madden franchise. Also new is the Play Now Live! mode that lets you recreate the best real-world NFL matches of the week. 

According to EA, there’s also going to be a new game mode. We haven’t heard too much about it yet, but it’s supposed to be a variation on the traditional franchise / player creation mode that takes an unknown player you’ve created to the top of the league.

Gameplay-wise, a new feature called Target Passing will give you better passing control, allowing you to throw the ball to who you want in the exact spot on the field. If traditional play calling is too tough, Madden 18 is introducing three new play styles: Arcade, Simulation and Competitive. Here’s a description of each:

Arcade: Action packed excitement filled with spectacular plays and scoring with limited penalties. Simulation: True to player and team ratings using authentic NFL rules and gameplay. Competitive: Your stick skills are key, earn big rewards for your skill or receive bigger penalties.

Also new is the Coverage Assignment feature that helps you track which receiver you’re supposed to be guarding when you’re on defense. 

You can also expect the return of Madden Ultimate Team and Franchise modes in 2018.

Madden 18 trailer

When will we find out more about Madden 18? EA has targeted June 10, 2017 for its annual EA Play event held during E3 week in Los Angeles. Check back then to see what else EA has in store for the Madden franchise this year. 

May 20, 2017 at 10:47AM
Nick Pino