John Madden on Madden NFL 23 cover

Madden NFL 23 getting major overhaul to franchise mode

By Steven Rondina

|

Jul 30, 2022

Reading time: 3 min

Madden NFL 23 is set to add a lot to franchise mode with a number of new features coming to differentiate it from previous years.

Franchise mode is a staple part of the sports game experience at this point, but it’s always difficult to execute it well. Even if it’s done well, it’s hard to differentiate it from every other sports game on the market. Madden NFL 23 is making itself stand out with a more dynamic experience. Alongside the numerous gameplay changes coming with the FieldSENSE system, Madden NFL 23 will be adding in a number of features that improve the franchise mode experience. Here are the biggest changes that are set to come.

What’s new in Madden NFL 23 franchise mode?

Madden NFL 23 adds a number of new features that make for a relatively unique experience. These changes largely revolve around the off-season, with free agency taking on a different feel.

In most franchise modes in sports games, players ultimately sign with whatever team throws the most money at them. In Madden NFL 23, that will change as players and opposing teams have different motivations and goals on top of cash.

The best example is that certain players will be inclined to stay closer to their home town. If these players are from California and already playing for the San Francisco 49ers, teams from Florida will have to pony up extra cash to woo them out of their home state.

There are a variety of other possible motivations for players. A team’s chances of winning a Super Bowl, relative strength at certain positions, the offensive or defensive schemes of a team, and other factors can all influence how likely a player is to sign with a team.

But that sword cuts both ways. Different factors can lead to teams being more or less interested in any given player, which impacts their market value and the player’s chances of joining a new team.

Blog post image

On top of all this, Madden NFL 23 players now have a limit on how many free agents they can negotiate with at a time during the signing period. This forces players to balance how they’re handling things in the off-season between lowballing free agents and being forced to splurge. The number of players that can be worked on grows as the off-season progresses, but as time goes on, more and more teams can reach out to a desirable player.

What is franchise mode?

Franchise mode is a common game mode in sports games that tasks players with handling a team over time.

This game mode often revolves around managing a team’s finances and roster year after year in hopes of building a dynasty. Though players can typically play the games involving their team normally, the focus is moreso on the management and simulation aspects than just playing a sports game. Franchise has made an appearance in almost every Madden NFL game, and the 2023 version puts even more emphasis on the mode.

Tags

Reviews

Stake

Recommended