Madden NFL 25: Next-Gen Gameplay Completely Revamped Under the Hood

[Steve_OS]

Madden NFL 25 features some big under the hood changes.

For those asking, you have your answer. Madden NFL 25 appears, from what EA claims in four separate blogs today (linked below) to have been completely rewritten under the hood for next-gen consoles. It is likely many of the improvements of next-gen sports gaming will be small and fundamental changes to the gameplay with things like contextually aware players and much improved line blocking.

True Step Locomotion
EA claims that they have completely revamped the way players move on the field with hundreds of new running animations and more realistic player physics and movement.

Player Sense (New AI)
Most of the changes seem incredibly small, but could lead to a much more appealing game of football. Players in Madden NFL 25 will make 50x the calculations each play they did over current-gen. The fruits of this? Contextually aware players who will make better decisions in traffic to avoid hang ups and will make smarter plays on the ball.

War in the Trenches
The biggest gameplay enhancement you'll find in today's announcements is the completely revamped the pass blocking system to compliment the newly rewritten run blocking schemes you've seen in current gen. The videos we've seen look much improved, with better interactions between the OL/DL, especially the OT/DE matchups.

Now players will pre-sort defenders thanks to the enhanced AI. During the play, blockers will be making up to 60 calculations a second to determine who, where, and when they should be blocking. This results in some incredibly realistic player footwork and movement and the best looking pocket in video game football ever from the limited video we've seen. You can check out the deep-dive, which goes into a lot more detail on why the new system is better.

What do you think of the gameplay enhancements EA revealed today?

[bcruise]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Oh, nice. I saw the True Step blog but missed the other 3. Time to get to reading!

[wordtobigbird]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYnhp2H8AGo

Good stuff overall with the line but I'm kind worried about the defenders here. Looks like they are playing guys that come into their zone well but look how the LB on the right is running forward and backward and forward for no reason. He should just stand next to the man in his zone. The LB and Defender to the right of him are running back and forth in sync and Im not sure for what.

The line looks good though.

[GiantBlue76]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Ok - now I will say that I need to see it to believe it. That being said, I am happy that they are working on the right things. Under the hood. A lot of what I saw there looks really good. Realism = fun. The more realistic it is, the better the game will be.

[wordtobigbird]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

CHECK AND RELEASE PURPLE ROUTE
Since RB’s are such an integral part of pass protection, the team updated the legacy “Block & Release” blue-route to encompass this in an authentic manner. When a RB in the backfield has a purple route, he will stay in the protection to block his target if that target is rushing the QB. The RB will not release into his route unless his target has dropped into coverage, and the offensive line will not block his target under any circumstances. If you want to know which defender is being targeted by your purple-route RB, simply toggle the Coach Cam art. The target will be denoted by a purple ‘C’ icon above his head.

Thought this was interesting.

PASS RUSH ANIMATIONS

We didn’t just give all the love to the offensive line. We’ve also added well more than 300 new pass-rush animations to Madden NFL 25 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The ratings-based animations are sure to provide constant pressure on the QB, so you won’t feel so comfortable standing in the pocket too long or dropping back 15 yards to throw a curl route.

Pass rushers now force QB’s to step up into the pocket and throw the ball on time – or pay the consequences. All of the new animation coverage, which also includes engaged interactions, really bring the physical nature of the trenches to life and make the offensive and defensive lines a real key to success just like in the NFL.

Good to hear.

ON AUTO HURDLE AND DOWNFIELD BLOCKING
Because players can make all types of contextual decisions with EA SPORTS IGNITE, the development team has been able to add Auto Hurdle. In Gen 3, players could truck someone and then stumble over them. Now you can truck somebody and then automatically jump over them. Players are smart enough to recognize a player on the ground and then act with perfect sense of the situation.

We’ve also added the ability to point out blockers downfield. So if a ball carrier is looking ahead of him and recognizes a player 15 yards downfield, he can point out the defender to his blockers.

Kind of enjoyed having to hurdle myself. Hopefully they keep the flick down/up to maintain balance. Gets you more involved in the running game.

Is that 2nd paragraph like playmaker or just automatic?

[raguel]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

The RB will not release into his route unless his target has dropped into coverage, and the offensive line will not block his target under any circumstances.

Anyone care to explain why this should be true? I certainly hope that a free lineman would look to pick up any missed block.

As a side note, this is the first time I've read what those routes are supposed to do. I thought they were "chip/block and release" (by which I mean the offensive player would initially help an OT block an outside rusher and then go out for a pass, or like on bootleg a TE would start out blocking as if it's a run then sneak out for a pass) . Are there any chip and release routes?

[wordtobigbird]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Anyone care to explain why this should be true? I certainly hope that a free lineman would look to pick up any missed block.

I THINK they are saying it goes like this.

Say a team is running the nickle sugar blitz. So they have 4 lineman and 2 LBs in the A gaps that look like they want to blitz. Based on the AI the 5 lineman should pick the 5 guys or whatever and one guy is assigned to the RB (if you have this option route thing). So when you zoom back you will see a "C" above that LBs head.

So IF the LB blitzes, the RB will be the one to pick him up. The other olineman wont block the guy assigned to the RB. Since its a fake blitz and the LB drops back the RB will see this and go out into his route. There should never be a situation where that LB blitzes but the RB goes out into his route and no one blocks him.

I Hope.

As a side note, this is the first time I've read what those routes are supposed to do. I thought they were "chip/block and release" (by which I mean the offensive player would initially help an OT block an outside rusher and then go out for a pass, or like on bootleg a TE would start out blocking as if it's a run then sneak out for a pass) . Are there any chip and release routes?

That's something they should have. I've never seen it so far though.

[SA1NT401]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

meh.... Still not buying anything that's said or shown until I actually play it myself.

EA can boast anything they like about this tech or that tech... Their track record proves that it will not be what they say in the end....

It may indeed be there in theory, but the execution could make it a moot point.

Hype factor still 2/10

[BrianFifaFan]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Glad to see them bring up "Rail Tracks." Ian brought this up a few years ago in the old "Supporter's Only" forum. He said they had gone up to EA Canada to talk to the Fifa team about working on locomotion. That is what it was called. I agree, it's nice to see them putting so much work into what's "under the hood." Fifa team took that approach and, while it took a few years, it gave us the game we have now. I'm really starting to hope for this series.....

[raguel]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Implementation is certainly key. One concern I have ( I haven't played this year's Madden) is that the offense knows what blitzes are coming and how to block it. Now usually this is the case IRL but sometimes you'll see a defender who has a free path to the qb. I would rather have this pass rush pick up logic attribute dependent (say on awareness) such that good, experienced linemen are differentiated from bad and/or inexperienced linemen. Preferably there would also be some sort of "teammate" attribute, such that linemen who have worked together in the past would be better at this sort thing, but I suspect that would not be programmable.

Staying with the ol/dl I'd like to be able to do double pass rushing moves, set up ol (e.g. start off looking like I'm going to do an outside swim and do an inside spin)

[mestevo]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Really like the pocket formation video w/ Russell Wilson.

[kingsofthevalley]

Re: Madden NFL 25: Next-Gen Gameplay Completely Revamped Under the Hood

Like I say, I'm seriously pissed that NCAA isn't going to be a part of this upgrade. Having Madden without NCAA is like cookies without the milk. Its still good, but the milk makes it waaay better. I still have my fingers crossed for NCAA to return in a year or two.

[TeeDogg]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

Ok - now I will say that I need to see it to believe it. That being said, I am happy that they are working on the right things. Under the hood. A lot of what I saw there looks really good. Realism = fun. The more realistic it is, the better the game will be.

I agree, EA has had problems getting these promises to payout well on the field, but I have to give them credit for the direction they are heading and the things they are working on.

[Jet Sufferer]

Re: Madden NFL 25 Blogs - War in Trenches, Pass Rush/Blocking, Sense, TrueStep Locomo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jYnhp2H8AGo

Good stuff overall with the line but I'm kind worried about the defenders here. Looks like they are playing guys that come into their zone well but look how the LB on the right is running forward and backward and forward for no reason. He should just stand next to the man in his zone. The LB and Defender to the right of him are running back and forth in sync and Im not sure for what.

The line looks good though.

Watched that play about 20 times. Everyone watch that video.

You have D lineman running sideways ignoring better paths to the quarterback so they can seemingly engage with the blockers the way the game wants them to, the way they animate and the angles they take are just poor.

Also watch 23 on the left of the screen, he too has a path to the QB, gets a tiny bump from someone and instead of bursting through the hole to the QB he runs into the O lineman who then falls flat on his face.

Watch the 2 D lineman who run sideways to the right of the screen, 94 should have ripped right past the center instead of running over to engage the guard.

I don't like the way that play looks AT ALL, if there is one plus, it almost looks like a pocket kind of forms, but watch it a bunch of times like I did and tell me if I'm wrong.

[RaychelSnr]

Watched that play about 20 times. Everyone watch that video.

You have D lineman running sideways ignoring better paths to the quarterback so they can seemingly engage with the blockers the way the game wants them to, the way they animate and the angles they take are just poor.

Also watch 23 on the left of the screen, he too has a path to the QB, gets a tiny bump from someone and instead of bursting through the hole to the QB he runs into the O lineman who then falls flat on his face.

Watch the 2 D lineman who run sideways to the right of the screen, 94 should have ripped right past the center instead of running over to engage the guard.

I don't like the way that play looks AT ALL, if there is one plus, it almost looks like a pocket kind of forms, but watch it a bunch of times like I did and tell me if I'm wrong.

The DL has a stunt called and the linemen are crashing outwards -- this isn't that worrisome when it's in that context.

23 got caught up in traffic and the two DL were stunting. That's literally how that play should play out. He wasn't running to engage the guard but doing what he should, guy even says it in the video. My only complaint is that the DT seems to potentially go too wide on the stunt, but had he ripped inside as you suggest, the guard might've picked him up there as well.