Madden NFL 26 for Xbox Series X on Video Game

Madden NFL 26 for Xbox Series X

EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 26 leverages years of real NFL data to deliver explosive, true-to-life gameplay on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC. Utilizing a new AI-powered machine learning system trained by real play calls and game situations over nearly a decade, Madden NFL 26 delivers more explosive gameplay—with new coach and player-specific traits, authentic playstyles, and adaptive counters that match on-field tendencies and strategies of NFL quarterbacks and coaches.

From the Skol chant in Minnesota to the light show in Baltimore, immerse yourself in new presentation features across the NFL including game-impacting weather, team traditions, and dynamic halftime shows with Scott Hanson.

Pre-order* EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 26 today and receive:

• Ultimate Team Cover Athlete Elite Player Item
• Franchise Coach Ability Points
• Superstar Legendary XP Boost

**Conditions & restrictions apply. See https://www.ea.com/games/madden-nfl/madden-nfl-25/news/dual-entitlement for details.

QB DNA

Star NFL quarterbacks move, look, and feel more like the superstars they are.

QB DNA leverages real QB play calls and game situations over nearly a decade to deliver unique, player-specific pocket behaviors, signature throwing motions, and distinct scrambling styles that match real on-field movement of star NFL quarterbacks.

Here’s how QB DNA redefines superstar quarterback gameplay:

• Launch deep passes like Josh Allen with new signature throwing motions that reflect his powerful arm and dynamic play style.
• Evade defenders like only Kyler Murray can, with agile scrambling, and new behaviors that mirror his quick footwork.
• Command the field like Jayden Daniels’ with sharp decision-making and explosive bursts of speed that highlight his electric play-making tendencies.
• Advanced Player Traits: All-new player traits and other decision-making tendencies add strategic depth, variety, and authenticity to star QB gameplay.
• Enhanced Visual Fidelity: Unrivaled attention to detail in QB behavior creates the most lifelike representation of NFL signal-callers in franchise history.

Explosive NFL Gameplay

Explosive NFL action

Burst upfield like Saquon with updated player movement to reflect the explosive athleticism only the NFL can deliver. Physics-based interactions now include catch tackles, stiff-arms, and trucks for improved collision control.

Football Weather

Navigate severe conditions – or see your game plan fall apart

Depending on how extreme the conditions are, Football Weather can completely disrupt your original game plan. Adapt to new challenges like limited visibility downfield in heavy snow and fog, or wet conditions that will directly impact player movement, stamina, ball security, and more.

Defensive Control & Strategy

Control your pass-coverage depth with new custom zones, and perfect your pass rush strategy with new stunts and twist options at the line.

Features:

• Custom Defensive Zones: Gain unprecedented control over your coverage schemes with fully customizable Defensive Zones, allowing for strategic adaptations to any offensive threat.
• Adaptive Coverage: Benefit from improved pass-coverage logic that makes defensive responses more realistic, with defenders reacting dynamically to route combinations and offensive tendencies.
• Full Route Tree Control: Access complete route trees for receivers via hot routes pre-snap, building upon last year's Custom Stems to provide total control over your passing attack.
• Stunts & Twists: Enhanced D-line stunts and twists add authenticity to your pass-rush strategy.
• Trench Control: O-line blocking control is improved, with performance driven by physics, so you can directionally push defenders out of the way to open up space for the ball-carrier.

Coach DNA

Adaptive counters informed by real NFL coaching trends

Coaches make decisions based on their actual philosophies, backed by nearly a decade of NFL data. Experience real coaching styles like Dan Campbell's fourth-down aggression, Kevin O'Connell's creative offensive approach, and more, adding new layers of strategy to every matchup. Dynamic coach suggestions provide play recommendations based on what your team’s coach would dial up in specific game situations. And new multi-player counters offer smart recommendations against opponent tendencies, making it harder for them to succeed with repetitive tactics.

Roster Management

Modernized depth charts, new positional roles, and the Wear & Tear system add strategy and experimentation to roster management and game-planning.

Features:

• Wear & Tear: With the addition of the Wear & Tear system to gameplay comes season-long management considerations, affecting player performance based on usage throughout the year.
• Dynamic Substitutions: Dynamic Subs let you deploy situational personnel from a single button push – without breaking from the action.
• Defensive Changes: Defensive End positions evolve to Left Edge and Right Edge, working seamlessly in both 4-3 and 3-4 schemes, while linebackers use authentic SAM, Mike, and Will designations.
• New Specialists: Nose Tackle and Long Snapper positions receive proper designation, acknowledging their specialized roles and strategic roster implications.
• Versatility Packages: A new "Gadget" position is for the most versatile athletes on your roster, allowing for creative playbook packages and matchup advantages. Think about the damage explosive players like Deebo Samuel have done to opposing defenses lined up anywhere in the formation.

True NFL Gameday Experience

Feel NFL Gameday

Get hyped for kickoff with stadium enhancements across the NFL. New run-outs feature real NFL team traditions, with authentic crowd chants, unique stadium themes, and extreme weather that impacts gameplay and strategy.

Dance down the tunnel in Minnesota, or steal the spotlight during the pre-game light show in Baltimore. New presentation elements and custom broadcast packages depend on your matchup and add depth to each game’s unique storyline.

Franchise

Customize and control your coaching legacy

Create your coaching legacy by choosing from four exciting new archetypes, or step into the shoes of your favorite NFL head coach, each bringing their authentic strategies to Franchise. Customize your Weekly Strategy by selecting new coach abilities every week that offer different tactical advantages and evolve as you level them up. Earn more abilities and fine-tune your game plans each week, tailoring them more precisely to your opponents as you progress. New Play Sheets add a strategic layer to play-calling, a coach Approval Rating system holds you more accountable for your decision-making, new Trainer abilities offer new ways to control Wear & Tear recovery, and new Weekly Recaps hosted by Scott Hanson keep you updated league news.

Features:

• New Archetypes & Abilities System: Create a coach by first selecting one of four all-new Archetypes (Offensive Guru, Defensive Mastermind, Personnel Czar, Development Wizard). Then, customize your game plan every week with new Coach Abilities that develop based on your performance and decisions. Earn new abilities as you level up that offer a range of tactical advantages, providing more ways for you to dial-up new Weekly Strategies tailored more precisely to your opponent each week.
• Weekly Strategy: Weekly Strategy choices you make about game planning, practice focus, and player development will have implications on both your team’s short-term success and your overall Franchise legacy. Refine your Weekly Strategy based on your specific opponent and learn how best to prioritize your limited time and resources each week.
• Play Sheets: Leverage the expertise of your coordinators with new Play Sheets -- a smaller group of plays that you can add to your main playbook to create more specialized game plans precisely tailored to your weekly opponent.
• Wear & Tear: Reduce Wear & Tear recovery time with new Trainer abilities, and track availability with newly added player statuses. Designations like Probable (P) or Doubtful (D), will update based on weekly practice usage and recovery focus, providing you with key game day personnel information. Clinch a playoff berth? Rest your star players in Week 18 so they’re fresh for the playoffs.
• Approval Rating: Navigate relationships with fans, media, players, and front office – your decisions will affect your Approval Rating which ultimately determines your job security.
• Weekly Recap: Stay informed with Scott Hanson's new halftime highlights and weekly recaps featuring key moments from the week’s matchups around your league.
• Rich Eisen: The iconic Rich Eisen enhances the most pivotal moments along your Franchise coaching journey with authentic, custom voice commentary.

Ultimate Team

More ways to build your NFL dream team

Build your dream football team with NFL Legends and current stars, then compete online with the best. New dynamic MUT Events will test your skill in fun and interesting ways, Pack Helper provides a simple way to manage player items, and smaller Leaderboard Campaigns increase competition for both solo and head-to-head play.

Features:

• MUT Events: Through 10 seasons of awesome Madden Ultimate Team™ content, new dynamic MUT Events will test your skill in fun and interesting ways—both in solo and competitive settings. Collect the best rewards and earn other exclusive items during more unique, limited-time events throughout the year.
• Lineup Requirements: Adapt to different roster challenges in dynamic MUT Events designed to test your football IQ. Get creative: Traditional football strategy might not be very effective.
• Pack Helper: A new tool to more efficiently manage your player items, Pack Helper suggests whether to add an item to your starting roster, apply a chemistry, add it to a set, or bring it to the auction house—all with one-button.
• UX Enhancements: Newly displayed Challenge Info, House Rules, and reformatted Event Rewards are simplified, getting you key info, faster.
• Leaderboard Campaigns: Compete in new Leaderboard Campaigns with smaller, 50-player ladders to increase competition and provide clearer recognition for top-ranked players. Whether you play solo or head-to-head, a single big win can propel you up the board. Your rewards will be determined by your placement at the end of each campaign.

Superstar

Go Pro

Take the next step in your player's football journey from college and import your Road to Glory player directly into Superstar mode. Your college performance determines your draft position and relationship foundations. Each week of your NFL Superstar career brings unique storylines, new goals, new challenges, and even a bit of drama. Manage both on-field performance and off-field relationships through the new Superstar Sphere of Influence system, and learn to balance usage and Wear & Tear while still working hard to develop your skills.

Features:

• Story of the Week: Each week in your Superstar career presents a new playable story featuring unique narratives around playbooks, weather, injuries and relationships that will bring new aspects of your Superstar career to life.
• Sphere of Influence: Build and manage relationships with a dynamic network of coaches, teammates, trainers, agents, stylists, and many more. Every interaction presents meaningful choices that impact your playbook access, abilities, and career trajectory.
• Wear & Tear: Make strategic decisions about your training intensity, recovery, and playing time. Monitor usage rates to ensure career longevity while balancing development opportunities.
• Superstar Live Events: Compete with and against other Superstars in rotating live events, competitive squad play, and seasonal challenges, including the return of online mini-games.

NFL TEAM PASS

Celebrate your favorite NFL franchise while earning team-specific rewards in online modes across the game, with new drops each season so you can always rep your team with fresh looks.

This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.

© 2025 Electronic Arts Inc. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, FieldSENSE, and Ultimate Team are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. The mark “John Madden” and the name, likeness and other attributes of John Madden reproduced on this product are trademarks or other intellectual property of Red Bear, Inc. or John Madden, are subject to license to Electronic Arts Inc., and may not be otherwise used in whole or in part without the prior written consent of Red Bear or John Madden. All rights reserved. Officially Licensed Product of NFL PLAYERS INC. and NFLPA.COM. Officially Licensed Product of the National Football League.