The first gameplay trailer and Deep Dive Gridiron Notes for Madden NFL 25 dropped today, highlighting some new and improved features in the next series iteration. If you're looking for the gameplay trailer, press the play button in the video above or click the following to view it on EA's YouTube channel. For the Gridiron Notes, Madden's Gameplay Production Director Clint Oldenburg provided an in-depth breakdown of what can be seen in the trailer and more! For the original Gridiron Notes, click here.
Let's recap a few of the features showcased in the trailer and Gridiron Notes (including news on saving audibles in a future Title Update!):
BOOM Tech
EA's latest version of their FieldSENSE animation-branching system, which debuted two years ago, will be called "BOOM Tech" in Madden NFL 25. BOOM Tech integrates real-world physics into the FieldSENSE system to achieve more authentic outcomes and gameplay experiences. Three key components of the enhanced system were highlighted in the Gridiron Notes:
- Physics-Based Tackles: Hit Sticks, Cut Sticks, Trucks, Stiff-Arms and Dive Tackles
- All-new Physics-Driven Ball carrier balance and recovery system
- Reloaded Hit Stick mechanic to make landing that perfect hit stick feel rewarding and more skill-based
A few new things you may notice in the trailer and notes are how a ball carrier braces for impact, more dynamic tackle outcomes, a greater emphasis on a player's balance, how tackling outcomes are affected by timing and impact, and a few new abilities to help support the revamped system:
- Tireless Runner - Stamina reduction has no impact on ball carrier’s ability to rebalance on broken tackles
- Extra Pop - Increased chance to create a fumble with a perfect Hit Stick
- Steamroller - As a ball carrier, significantly harder to be bumped off current path when running at full speed
- Form Tackler - The ideal tackle-timing window is easier to hit
Skill Moves
Hundreds of new jukes, spins, high-steps, and hesi's have been added to Madden NFL 25, as well as a new mechanic called "Setup State" that helps branch these moves together.
To activate Setup State before a move, hold RT/R2 and:
- Back-Right Juke to Spin (Flick right stick down to the right, then roll the right stick down and around the opposite direction)
- Back-Left Juke to Spin (Flick right stick down to the left, then roll the right stick down and around the opposite direction)
Signature Authenticity and Styles
Not all players behave the same way before, during, or after a play and Madden NFL 25 aims to capture the mannerisms that make the game's top players unique. There will be 16 different signature QB sets that include the player's approach to the line, QB stance, and a variety of mannerisms. A few specific examples mentioned were Jalen Hurts' low stance, CeeDee Lamb and Tyreek Hill's approaches to the line of scrimmage, and Dak's signature road-game leg kick.
Smart Pre-Play Adjustments
Instead of generic animations when players make pre-play adjustments at the line of scrimmage, Madden 25 will capture more authentic hand signals and checks. The example Clint breaks down in his notes is changing protection to a ‘5-0’ call vs. 5 rushers on the line, where you will see the center put his 5 fingers in the air to alert the rest of the offense of this blocking change. Other examples included:
- Tackle alert Guard to edge pressure threat
- Center alert guard to join half-slide
- Center re-Mike vs. sub defense
- Center alert line to all-out blitz look
- HB add to base protection
- Tackle alert full slide
- TE alert max protect
- HB empty protect adjustment
- Defense alert to same play ran 4+ plays in a row
- Man coverage DB in a mismatch
- Teammate communication for mismatch
- Defense signals for bunch, trips, jumbo, unbalanced line, etc.
- Low energy/exhausted defense get-to-stance
Catching Innovation
Madden NFL 25 promises more control over the type of catch you would like to perform than ever before (they repeat it in all caps, so you know it has to be true). While there are over 700 new animations, one example provided in the notes was a new animation for aggressive catches (Y/Triangle) on low passes.
A brand new fourth catching option is being introduced called the spectacular (spec) catch mechanic which utilizes the L1/LB buttons and extends a player's catch radius with a small penalty towards making the catch. As with all catch types, the new mechanic will be a risk-reward decision the receiver will have available to them as the ball arrives.
Blocking
For the first time ever, players will be able to see blocking assignments when viewing the pre-play art in M25. Along with the standard 4, an additional 4 blocking protections will now be available: Half-Slide Right, Half-Slide Left, Base, and Empty.
Let's hear directly from former NFL offensive lineman Clint Oldenburg about how these protections work:
"Half-slide is the typical 2 / 3 Jet blocking scheme that every NFL team employs - it has one side of the line in man blocking, and the other side in a slide or zone to protect the QB. The Empty option is meant for a 5-man protection, and will automatically send any running back into a route, while putting the linemen into ‘Sift’ or MDM rules to both sides - meaning they’ll block the most dangerous 2 of 3 or 2 of 4 to their side, with the expectation that the QB will get rid of the ball on time if pressure comes. The Base option reverts any protection change back to the default protection scheme, which is the ‘4-down and the Mike’.... In addition to setting protections globally, you can also modify any existing or new protection by using the ID the Mike mechanic to direct the running back who to block, and the double team mechanic."
Keep an eye out for the fire symbol 🔥 above a defender's head in the pre-play screen. This symbol indicates a player that would be unaccounted for if they decided to blitz and require your QB to get the ball out FAST. Clint also mentioned over 500 new blocking animations and changes to QB dropback speed that should result in a more natural pocket formation.
Playbooks
EA has a new playbook tool for Madden NFL 25 that allows them to build plays faster and easier than before, which should result in more frequent updates to team playbooks with plays the team is actually running in NFL games. Some specific examples mentioned in the notes included the Miami Orbit Motions, the Texans' variety of deep crossers, and the Chiefs' Super Bowl-winning Corn Dog play.
However, the most exciting news has to be the promise of saving audibles with a future Title Update! More details will be shared when it's ready, but here is the exact quote from the Gridiron Notes:
"The future release of ‘Saving Custom Audibles’ will be coming to Madden NFL 25 post-launch, allowing players similar capability that is more authentic to NFL Team Playbooks. Yes Madden gamers, you read that right - we are planning to add the ability to save custom audibles that will carry-over from game to game in an early title update."
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Special Teams - New NFL Kickoff
If you've been following football recently, you're probably aware of the massive changes to the NFL Kickoff Rules. With the changes being made so recently and no NFL games played under the new rules, it will be interesting to see them play out for the first time in Madden NFL 25 this year, but EA has announced the new rules have been added to the game!
Additional Updates
Here are some additional updates taken directly from EA's Gridiron Notes:
- Hot Route Update - The basic route tree will now be available by default, including post and corner, as well as custom stems (below). Hot Route Abilities will now only be needed to unlock exotic routes.
- X-Factor and Superstar Ability Updates:
- KO Abilities - These abilities are now far less likely to force knockouts late in a catch, or after a catch has already been secured.
- Secure Protector - This ability is no longer guaranteed to counteract competing pass rush abilities.
- Unstoppable Force - This ability now performs better vs. Play Action.
- Inside Stuff and No Outsiders - These abilities will no longer function if the defensive team uses Pass Commit.
- Set Feet Lead and Pass Lead Elite - Reduced pass velocity bonus.
- Pass Coverage Improvements:
- Improved ‘rally’ to the flats to make them react quicker to check-downs
- New Cover 3 Match check vs. non-bunch trips formations called ‘Skinny’, which focuses on the backside hook/curl to help on crossing routes coming from across the field
- Improvements to base Cover 2, Cover 3 and Cover 4:
- Tampa 2 has a new zone that does not match called the ‘Curl Zone’, and is used on base Tampa 2 plays that don’t include a blitz, meant to avoid underneath defenders from matching and getting cleared out as easily.
- Improved the drop-depths and locations for Curl/Flat and Hook/Curl players to better carry vertical routes on Cover 3
- Man Coverage tuning to improve how defenders read WR cut-moves
- RPO Defense Improvements:
- Defenders aligned over receivers (i.e. Slot & Flat defenders) will read their keys and prioritize pass responsibilities over playing the run.
- Perimeter defenders will be more aggressive in shedding blocks by receivers
- Defensive Read-and-React was tuned to increase box defenders' awareness and reaction to the handoff.
Shared Features between CFB25 and M25
If you've been playing College Football 25, you've probably noticed some cool new features. Some of those cool features will also be included with Madden NFL 25 (taken directly from EA's Gridiron Notes):
- 15 new Mini-Game Experiences, including an all-new Gauntlet experience
- Some of the new minigames include:
- Pocket Presence - A returning classic that tests your ability to throw the ball accurately while responding to threats in the pocket.
- Pitch Party - A lateral laden trek down the field to confuse defenders and reach the end zone.
- Backfield Survival - Fan-favorite Backfield Survival is getting a new twist, where you only earn points from celebrating in your pursuers’ faces.
- Bucket Drop - Practice your Skill Based Passing by smashing as many scattered targets as possible before the time expires.
- Two Minute Drill - Control the full team, utilize all your playbook has to offer, and try to simultaneously clinch the game and drain the clock.
- Some of the new minigames include:
- The return of The Gauntlet
- The Gauntlet returns inside of Minigames! This brand new Gauntlet will put your minigames prowess to the test with over 100 different challenges, each with their own variability, including Bonus Challenges, Boss Levels, and an ever-increasing difficulty. The Gauntlet is about more than just survival now, it's also about Points. Precious precious points. Can you conquer the infinite halls of The Gauntlet?
- Defensive Switch Stick
- This advanced mechanic will give defensive players the ability to quickly switch between defenders BEFORE the pass is thrown with a directional flick of the right stick/R3. This will allow players to manually move more than one coverage defender as the play develops. To avoid ‘getting stuck’ on a pass rusher when a quick snap happens, you can switch off the pass rusher by holding down B/Circle and flicking LS directionally to automatically switch to a coverage defender. This was done to avoid confusing player switch with pass rush mechanics.. For players who wish to toggle this functionality OFF, there’s a gameplay setting for that.
- Coverage Shells
- This is an advanced football strategy mechanic adding functionality on the Right Stick/R3 in the play-call menu that allows players to disguise their coverage by toggling between multiple coverage shells or alignments to change what their defensive backfield will show to the offense in pre-play. Players will be able to choose between Cover 1, Cover 2, Cover 3 and Cover 4 shells and make any ‘stock’ coverage align in one of these options. Just like in real life, disguising alignment carries risk of putting a defender out of position, so use strategically!
- Custom Route Stems
- This route-customization tool gives players the control of the length of the initial stem of routes via the hot-route menu in pre-play. Want to change a slant from 3 yards to 10? Or turn a 5-yard Out into a 12-yard out? This creator mechanic will allow you to modify any route that can be smart-routed. Hold L1 and LS to extend by 1 yard at a time, or use the D-Pad for 5-yard increments.
- New Kick Meter Options
- Madden players will now have 2 kick meter options available to choose from - the legacy Madden meter, and the new Multi-Meter making its debut in College Football 25. The new multi-meter has two meters, one horizontal, for accuracy, and one vertical, for power. As you set your accuracy with A/X, simply continue holding down that button to fill the power meter and release before it fills into the ‘overkick’ red area. The new multi-meter will be the online default meter, but players playing offline or in Franchise mode will have the option to toggle the legacy meter on at any time via the Gameplay settings.
- Updated Crowd and Sideline reactions
- New Read Option ‘hold to keep’ mechanic
- To make sure we’re not making option plays harder on players playing both College and Madden, we’ve aligned our read option mechanic with the college version. It’s inverted from what it’s typically been, and now to keep the ball with the QB, hold down A/X as the read is being made. To hand the ball off to the RB, do nothing, which is more aligned with how RPO’s (Run-Pass Options) have always worked.
What's your first impression of gameplay and the Deep Dive Gridiron Notes for M25?
