Madden 25 trailer: First look at new features, playbooks for 2024 game

The thirst for football is unending in the United States. And although the NFL season is months away from its September kickoff, that won’t stop the sport’s disciples from shelling out money to The Shield and any of its business partners.

Madden 25 is the latest example of such a phenomenon taking place. Everyone’s favorite video game returns to the fore in late summer, offering the masses an opportunity to live out their childhood dreams of becoming NFL stars — all without the risk of injury and public scrutiny.

For some, that’s an announcement worth applauding for. For others, it’s another opportunity to criticize the franchise for being a re-skin full of micro-transactions, undercooked features and soundtracks that belong on a pop playlist, not a football video game.

Nevertheless, Madden 25 has the people talking. And with its latest trailer release, the masses of potential consumers bore witness to the game’s features and possibilities.

Here’s what you need to know about Madden’s upcoming release, as well as the trailer that is doing the rounds on social media.

Fans are greeted with all the verve and vigor of NFL Sundays in Madden’s latest trailer, which sees Justin Fields return a kickoff, Micah Parsons tackle Saquon Barkley down with a crunching blow and Lamar Jackson send Eric Reid tumbling with an Alvin Ailey-like shimmy.

Key nuggets from Madden 25 trailer

EA Sports opted to emphasize its gameplay in its lead trailer, highlighting the implementation of Boom Tech, a new gameplay system which informs the game’s tackling, juking and blocking mechanics.

Madden also implemented a revamped play-calling system adorned with trick plays, pre-snap audibles and more, an apparatus that was underscored on numerous occasions through the game’s June 20 trailer.

It couldn’t be a Madden game without cosmetic changes. This year’s iteration of the annual release is replete with esthetics: Group celebrations, rookie head scans and a new broadcast team represent some of the game’s less pertinent updates.

All told, the game promises a few unique features.

Madden 25 cover

For the first time since 2013, a running back is gracing the cover of Madden.

Christian McCaffrey was named the cover athlete for Madden NFL 25, making him the first running back since Barry Sanders and Adrian Peterson were the cover athletes of the 2013 game, also titled Madden NFL 25.