EA Sports has just released a new deep dive trailer for the next installment in its annual football series, Madden 25. In the latest deep dive trailer, players can get more of a sense of how updates to FieldSENSE and the new BOOM Tech system change the game.
The trailer starts out by showcasing just how realistic Madden 25 aims to make physics on both sides of the ball. Tackling is drastically different for both players depending on the situation and you can even see offensive players reacting and bracing for hits just like they would in an actual game. One of the biggest changes revealed in the trailer is that the defender’s hit stick ability is getting some big changes.
When Hit Stick was originally added to Madden in 2005, it was incredibly powerful when used right, causing fumble after fumble on unsuspecting ball carriers. Since then, the feature has been hit or miss, causing players to whiff their tackles more than make big-impact hits.
In Madden 25, the player’s timing, skill, and angle of approach will change the outcome of using the hit stick. If you’re too early or too late, hit stick power is reduced, and tackles can be missed. When timed perfectly, it can stop opponents in their tracks or even strip the ball.
The ball-carrier balance system also takes player rating much more into account, allowing for physics-driven broken tackles and stumbles, as well as possible balance and recovery moves. Pass and run blocking also adds eight different adjustments, and hundreds of new animations make for much more realistic pocket and lane movements.
Madden 25 is set to release on August 16, 2024, for PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and PC. Players who bought the early access version will be able to start playing three days earlier, on August 13, 2024. While you wait for its release, check out our other gaming-related news, including a brand new Helldivers 2 update and when you can expect Wuthering Waves for PS5 to arrive.
