Madden 26 – Release Date, Pre-Order Bonuses, Editions, & Gameplay Details

EA Sports: Madden NFL 26 is confirmed to be releasing in 2025, with multiple editions you can pre-order for different bonuses to the latest entry in the series. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to those who’ve become used to the yearly release schedule of this ongoing sports franchise. However, Madden 26 is offering something special this year, giving players more freedom than ever to craft their own football story.

The biggest news surrounding Madden 26‘s upcoming release is how it comes out simultaneously with College Football 26. This marks the first time in many years that both football simulation titles for the NCAA and NFL are coming out together, with some gameplay mechanics linked to one another. With certain editions of Madden 26, you might have a chance of experiencing another game at the same time.

Madden 26 Release Date & Pre-Orders

Get Different Bonuses For Getting The Game Early

Madden 26 is set to release on August 14, 2025, at the same time as College Football 26​​​​​. Those who get a higher edition of the game could play as early as August 11, 2025, due to an Early Access period being offered alongside several other rewards. As of this time of writing, pre-orders are currently live, allowing you to buy Madden 26 ahead of time for different bonuses.

Related

The 20 Best Madden Games, Ranked

There have been a lot of memorable Madden video games released over the years. But which one is ranked the best on Metacritic?

Some pre-order bonuses are only earned when you purchase Madden 26 as early as April 29, 2025, giving you a limited time to get exclusive items. Those who purchase the base version of Madden 26 on various systems early will at least gain access to these Pre-Order bonuses:

• MUT Cover Athlete Elite Player Item
• Franchise Coach Ability Points
• Super Star Legendary XP Boost
• MVP On the Clock Pack (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S only)

The cover athlete for Madden 26 has not been revealed yet, but the points and XP boost are closely related to pre-existing gameplay systems. With the added connectivity to College Football 26​​​​​​, having Franchise Coach points or Super Star Legendary XP could be more valuable than ever. As of April 2025, you can find pre-orders on the Epic Games Store, Steam, or the PlayStation Store, depending on your preferred system.

Madden 26 Editions & Prices

Purchase Deluxe Bundles For More Rewards And Early Access

Different editions of the game will have more rewards through pre-orders, as well as extra bonuses for buying Deluxe or higher versions. Currently, there are three different editions of Madden 26 you can buy, with each offering more rewards for a higher price tag.

The following table outlines each edition available for Madden 26, including its price and any bonuses it offers:

Some pre-order bonuses will only be received if you purchase an edition of Madden 26 before a particular deadline. For instance, you have to pre-order before July 24, 2025, to receive the Season 1 Elite Player Player Item among the Deluxe Edition bonuses.

Notably, the MVP Bundle is only available on PlayStation and Xbox platforms, meaning that PC players will have to buy Madden 26 and College Football 26 as separate games. With very little information about College Football 26 or Madden 26‘s gameplay, it is still unclear which edition is best, as the MVP Bundle costs around the same as both games do independently.

Madden 26 Gameplay Details

Some Hints Reveal New Mechanic Systems May Be Added

As of right now, the general gameplay surrounding Madden 26 will likely be familiar mechanics that fans of this sports series should come to expect. Robust controls for individual athletes and a wide variety of coaching options will likely be combined with a detailed franchise mode that lets you build your own football dynasty. However, some details mentioned on the official Madden 26 Website may offer insight into new systems in this entry.

Madden 25 held a lot of focus on reworking the series’ physics mechanics, fine-tuning how athletes moved and made impacts on each other. For example, when running the ball in Madden 25, the game factored in the weight, speed, and acceleration of the ball carrier rather than just focusing on the inputs you chose. According to some light details about the game, Madden 26 may shift its focus to

• Next-Level Coaching
• QB Authenticity
• Explosive Gameplay

While purely speculative, Madden 26 may readjust the way you coach your team during a game, adding more mechanics or options into playcalling. The ability to create playbooks in Madden games has always been a detailed approach to commanding your squad, so perhaps new choices will refine that gameplay feature.

Madden 26 may go the opposite route of Madden 25, emphasizing explosive plays rather than the fine-tuning of physics interactions. This could mean bigger hits, some building form of momentum, or even some tweaks to single-player journeys to add intensity to your character’s rise to stardom.

Related

10 Biggest Madden NFL 25 Differences & Changes Between Madden NFL 24

One of the biggest questions players ask about any new Madden game is how is it different from last years? Here’s the answer for Madden NFL 25.

The most interesting detail on the official website, though, is the term “QB Authenticity.” This may refer to a variety of things, including additional gameplay elements in the Quarterback position, such as the ability to customize plays on the fly more often. QBs might have more freedom in their movement, passing options, or scrambling opportunities, but this all remains to be seen.

No matter what gameplay elements are added, the core experience of this game is sure to be familiar to fans who’ve kept up with every yearly entry. Those who pre-order EA Sports: Madden NFL 26 ahead of time will get a head start over other players, as the strong bonuses for this title are surely enticing for those looking to get back on the field.

Source: Epic Games Store, Steam Store, PlayStation Store, Madden 26 Website