Madden 17: 11 Things Gamers Need to Know

Madden 17 Features

We finally know about a collection of new Madden 17 features and upgrades that will help you master the digital football field in your home and online. We now have a bigger look at what's new in Madden 17 with a Madden 17 vs Madden 16 comparison. 

As we mentioned EA spent the last three years focusing on major upgrades to play. We are learning about how this impacts gameplay and we know about new modes. Here are some of the upgrades in a list below, and then keep going for more details on each. 

• A renewed focus on Franchise mode, putting you at the center of your team’s Championship run.
• Arm your team for gridiron glory on both sides of the ball with the most balanced gameplay to date
• All-new ball carrier feedback cues
• Defender fake out mechanics
• Innovative, authentic defensive AI system puts your teammates in position to stop the run and the pass.
• New Ball Carrier AI
• Madden 365 - If it happens in the NFL, it happens in Madden 17.
• Feel the Madden 17 experience in a new way, with the focus on you.

When you try to break out on a run in Madden 17, you will need to pay attention to the type of player you have and what his attributes are. The player attributes will impact what special moves they can use. EA explains, "expect your bigger bruising backs to be more effective with truck moves and stiff arms, while smaller, shiftier backs have more effective jukes and spins."

EA will expand the in-game tutorial to help you learn how to use the controls to get around the game. There is also a new Path Assist that will help you find the best route to run with your back to break out a huge run. 

On Defense you can now use new enhanced AI and updated NFL strategies like Gap Play, Force Defenders and better Zone Coverage.

If you aren't familiar with how the NFL puts these to use on Sunday, you can learn with Madden 17. Gap Play can shut down the run. Force Defenders will keep runners to the inside so your defenders can take them down before they breakout. In short, the new AI will allow you to take on opponents who may otherwise stick to a set fo three plays to win the game. 

Madden 17 packs in a new Kick meter that makes kicking harder. Yes, kickin will now be a bigger challenge. There are new trick plays and a new block mechanic. You can also ice the kicker with a real impact on the kicker. 

EA is not at E3 2016 this year. Instead the company is hosting a three-day event at Club Nokia on June 12 through June 14. EA plans a press conference on Sunday June 12 at 1 PM PT. The press event will be live streamed online. Even with the change in presence there is a good chance we will see the new Madden 17 features here.

You can count on a return of the popular Ultimate Team mode in Madden 17. EA reports to investors that the company made $195 million in Q2 FY16 from Extra content like the card packs in Madden Ultimate Team and FIFA Ultimate Team.

EA is testing a Madden Ultimate Team Salary Cap Ranked beta in Madden 16, which could be a sign of the changes to come in Madden 17.