As promised, Madden’s Franchise Mode is getting an overhaul in Madden NFL 17. EA Sports introduced “Play the Moments” during their E3 Press Conference earlier this afternoon, and the new feature will let players “experience the important milestones in each game” while simulating the rest of the on-field action:
Players will be invited to jump in at critical moments such as red zone drives, vital third downs, game-winning drives and more, offering the chance to prove your mettle in clutch situations. The shortened games allow Franchise players to take their team all the way from opening day to the Super Bowl in just a weekend, maximizing the fun along the way. Of course, those who want to experience the game from kickoff to final whistle can turn off Play the Moments, or opt to jump in and out of moments as they wish throughout the game.
A number of other improvements will be made to the Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 17, such as the inclusion of pre-game strategy sessions, and a “Big Decisions” option that focuses on important personnel decisions like “bringing players back from injury, signing free agents, negotiating new contracts and more.” Several community-requested features will also make the cut this year including practice squads, full player editing, and a dynamic score ticker. A trailer detailing the improvements to Franchise Mode, hosted by Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic, can be found after the break.
Madden NFL 17 is in development at EA Tiburon and a PS4 and Xbox One launch is planned for August 23. The football sim will also be released on the same day for the PS3 and Xbox 360.