The end of July always means it’s starting to smell like the start of NFL training camp, which means the newest version of the Madden NFL franchise is right around the corner. EA released a massive gameplay deep dive note earlier today on what to expect when the game hits the shelves.
Madden 25 goes worldwide on Aug. 16, and users who purchase the Deluxe Edition can gain access three days early on Aug. 13. The game promises to deliver this year on a new physics-informed system called “BOOM Tech,” better presentation, and more advanced gameplay adjustments.
15 New Features Coming to Madden NFL 25
BOOM Tech Tackling System
“BOOM Tech,” named after John Madden’s infamous catchphrase, “Boom,” is a new physics-based tackling system where physics will determine a wide variety of dynamic outcomes based on weight, speed, momentum, and player ratings.
The components of the physics-based tackle are pre impact, moment of impact, and tackle resolution. Bracing for impact, body strength tuning, and a wide variety of tackle animations are all important factors in the new tackling system.
Ball-Carrier Balance and Recovery System
An extension of physics-based tackling is the ability of a ball carrier to take a hit, stumble, and then recover his balance. Whether the defender is squared up to the ball carrier or not can influence the ball carrier’s balance and recovery.
The chance of the ball carrier recovering is determined by the position of his center mass relative to his feet and torso, along with player ratings and abilities to determine how well he can take hits and balance himself.
New Hit Stick System
EA Sports Madden NFL 25 is the 20th anniversary of the “hit stick” feature in Madden and is getting an update that allows hit sticks to be determined by the timing of the hit and angle of the defender, in addition to player ratings.
If the tackle is too early, too late, or a bad angle is taken, the hit power at the point of impact will be reduced. Tackle and hit power ratings matter a lot in executing a well-placed “hit stick.”
Authenticity
New presentation and signature styles are a major point of emphasis in Madden NFL 25. Broadcast teams, including Mike Tirico and Greg Olsen, ball-carrier moves, and pre-play adjustment styles are all new editions to the game. Pre-play styles — like Dak Prescott’s leg kick and Tyreek Hill’s mannerisms — just to name a few, are included.
New Catching System
Players will have more control over the types of catches they want to use in Madden NFL 25. When you hit a catch button, you’ll get the exact catch you’re requesting, and the system will ensure that it will be reflected accurately.
EA has added more than 700 new catching animations for more realism and control, including easier access to back-shoulder receptions and end-zone fades.
Line Blocking Revamped
For the first time ever, players will be able to see who their pass blockers are targeting in pre-play and will have more ways to adjust to their opponent’s pressure. In the pre-snap adjustment menu, there are four additional pass-block options alongside the four that have always been there.
FREE: Subscribe to PFN’s NFL Newsletter
The new protection options are half slide, right and left, base and empty. The ability to ID the mike, which tells the running back who to block is still there as well. Over 500 new blocking animations have also been added to capitalize on the realism and new physics-based technology in Madden 25.
Updated Playbooks
My personal favorite, as a football X’s and O’s nerd, is the updated playbook system. They focused on team identity and adding the unique trends of the 32 teams, including Miami Orbit Motions, the Texans’ variety of deep crossers, and the Chiefs’ Super Bowl-winning Corn Dog play.
EA has added a new tool that allows them to create and update plays faster. The new playbook tool also works as a live service provider and will update throughout the year to keep playbooks fresh.
A certain play limit with custom playbooks no longer exists, so you can add plays to your custom playbook from all playbooks in the game. The ability to save custom audibles pregame will be available after the first title update, which is a massive feature that has been needed for some time, in my opinion.
New NFL Kickoff
In addition to the new offensive and defensive features, special teams are getting some love as the new NFL kickoff rules have been implemented into the game. The EA developer team worked directly with the NFL and coaches to ensure they were up to date on the rules and guidelines of the new kickoff.
Hot Route Tree
As seen in EA Sports College Football 25, a similar added hot route tree will be incorporated into Madden NFL 25. Routes like posts, corners, and deep crossers add to the creativity of offenses and freedom of quarterbacks at the line of scrimmage to resemble the offense-friendly league the NFL has become.
Coverage Improvements
New AI-improved coverage adjustments are coming to Madden 25 with better mechanics to “rally” to flat routes, guarding crossing routes, and the ability to defend RPO plays much better than in previous years. Improvements to man coverage have been made as well.
New Mini-Games
Fifteen new mini-games have been added to Madden NFL 25 as well as the return of “The Gauntlet,” which tests your mini-games ability with over 100 different challenges. Rushing Attack is still my favorite mini-game of all time.
Switch Stick
The generational advanced mechanic allows defensive players to quickly switch between defenders before the pass is thrown with a directional flick of the right stick. This allows players to manually move more than one coverage defender as the play develops.
MORE: Ranking the Best NFL Teams in Madden History
In my opinion, this added feature is a game-changer and adds to the level of control that Madden users have been begging for. You can also turn this feature off.
Coverage Shells
Decide which shell you want to disguise your defense in by flicking the right stick on the play-call menu to change what your backfield will show to the offense in pre-play. Players will be able to choose between Cover 1, Cover, Cover 3, and Cover 4 shells to make any play look like one of these alignments.
Custom Route Stems
This route-customization tool gives players control of the length of the initial stem of routes during the hot-route menu in pre-play. This creator mechanic allows you to modify any route that can be smart-routed. Holding the L1 or LB button will allow you to adjust the length of any smart-routed route.
Read Option Updated Mechanic
Similar to EA Sports College Football 25, Madden 25 has adapted the new read-option mechanic, which is inverted from what it’s typically been. Now, to keep the ball with the QB, hold down A on Xbox or X on PlayStation as the read is being made. To hand the ball off to the running back, do nothing, which is more aligned with how RPOs have always worked.
