Feel all-out control with the new Skill Stick ball-carrier system, dominate the edge with fresh pass rush moves, experience more open-field realism with tackle improvements, and have more fun with user-controlled celebrations.

Madden NFL 21 will bring players closer to the field than ever before with an unrivaled football experience and innovative gameplay including improved ball-carrier mechanics for all out control in the running back and receiver positions and enhanced D-Line mechanics that make the pass rush positions more responsive, and fun to play. Plus, Realistic Open-Field Tackling will allow for clutch defensive stops, and new player-controlled celebrations after each game changing play combine to make the gridiron experience even more true to life. Outside of all the new control players will have in-game, some of the biggest changes will arrive in the overall authenticity and presentation with new on field camera shots and improved player awareness of their positioning and surroundings on the field. 

Also new to Madden NFL 21 is Face of the Franchise: Rise to Fame, a playable documentary career campaign where players create themselves and play through their rise to fame from high school as a quarterback, to college where they can choose to pivot to running back or wide receiver, before experiencing the NFL Combine, NFL Draft, and cementing their legacy in the League. In addition, fans can expect more than 50 new Superstar X-Factor abilities, Live Playbooks 2.0, and a brand-new season of Ultimate Team content, along with other new features.

Electronic Arts unveiled NFL MVP and Baltimore Ravens Quarterback Lamar Jackson on the cover of EA Sports Madden NFL 21 across all editions with franchise-first artwork that reflects Jackson’s unique NFL journey.

Madden NFL 21 on next generation consoles sets a new standard of realism and authenticity, highlighted by all-new gameplay innovation that brings fluid player movement powered by real-world athlete data from the NFL’s Next Gen Stats. EA SPORTS is also delivering the most immersive Madden NFL experience to date on new hardware with enhanced game day presentation with new visual details showcased by deferred rendering and lighting and location-based audio that bring the sights and sounds of the NFL to life.

On December 4, when Madden NFL 21 launches on next generation consoles, players will receive their first taste of the future of Madden NFL gameplay with Next Gen Player Movement powered by the NFL's Next Gen Stats. Real-life player movement data - including route paths, acceleration rates and speeds - is captured by the NFL using sensors worn by every player in the league during each game. This data, called Next Gen Stats, is fed into Madden NFL 21 to drive fluid animation selection based on how players actually move when running, cutting and changing direction on the field creating the most realistic player movement in franchise history. Next Gen Player Movement comes to life on both sides of the ball, with elite route runners running their actual routes logged by Next Gen Stats and showcasing explosive first steps and direction changes, while elite defenders will react more realistically to opposing routes and runs.

"Every console transition year, our team is equally excited by the possibilities of new technology and inspired to develop both new and improved experiences for fans of Madden NFL. This year is no different with Madden NFL 21 representing a major step forward in the future of football gaming with the addition of real NFL player data from Next Gen Stats,” said Seann Graddy, Madden NFL 21 Executive Producer. “Taking advantage of the new hardware from Sony and Microsoft, our EA SPORTS team has created an incredibly immersive game that delivers the most authentic and realistic NFL experience players will have ever felt.”

In Madden NFL 21 players can also expect replays powered by the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, which provide breakdowns of key plays showcasing this exciting new data, to give players a strategic advantage to make adjustments to their game plan based on how the game is unfolding. Play calling in Madden NFL 21 is also new with star-driven play calling that makes calling plays more customizable and intuitive for players to get the ball in the hands of their favorite players, while also learning the rationale behind each play. Players will also have the ability to save their favorite plays to find quickly later.

Madden NFL has never looked, sounded or felt so real than Madden NFL 21 on next generation consoles. On game day, the authentic stadium environments are the most immersive to date with deferred lighting across all surfaces that improves visual fidelity, enhanced player visuals and all new realistic weather. Extremely fast load times will get players to kick off in seconds and keep them immersed as stadium environments load with unprecedented speed.

Player bodies are also improved on next gen with unique body compositions across all positions, and visual details that change as the game unfolds. New cloth animation tech dynamically updates the jersey wrinkles based on player movement improving player silhouettes and making player bodies feel more organic and live. Plus, new location-based audio makes the sounds of the game feel like they are reacting to the player’s view of the action. In addition, the haptic feedback from the new DualSense controller on PlayStation 5 deepens the gameplay experience as players will be able to feel the impact of passes, catches, tackles, hits and kicks.

Players who buy, or who have already bought, Madden NFL 21 for Xbox One and/or PS4 from now to the launch of Madden NFL 22 get the Xbox Series X|S and/or PS5 version of the game for free when the new games are released on December 4. Players can carry over their progress and content in Madden Ultimate Team, The Yard and Franchise modes. Players also have the option to buy standalone NXT LVL editions of Madden NFL 21 on the Xbox Series X|S and PS5 for $69.99, complete with additional high value Madden Ultimate Team content.

In addition, this year, EA Sports will deliver distinct Madden NFL 21 experiences across current and next generation platforms. Through partnerships with Sony and Microsoft, EA Sports will offer Dual Entitlement, creating ways for players who purchase either an Xbox Series X or PS5 to upgrade their copy of Madden NFL 21 from prior generation Xbox One or PS4 platforms at no additional cost. This offer will be in place all the way through the Madden NFL 21 season, up to the release of Madden NFL 22, so players can upgrade whenever they first purchase their new console within that period. Offer exceptions apply. Physical discs cannot currently be used to upgrade to discless consoles.

Madden NFL 21 is available for PS4, Xbox One and PC (Origin and Steam) and is coming to PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on December 4, 2020, followed by Stadia later this winter.