Importance Score: 7 / 100 🟠
Electronic Arts has made the official announcement for Madden NFL 26, offering details regarding the various editions available for pre-order and the platforms on which the football simulation game will be released in August. Notably, Madden is foregoing support for older generation consoles, such as the PlayStation 4, and is making a comeback to Nintendo via a Switch 2 version after more than a decade.
Madden NFL 26: Key Details and Platform Availability
On April 24, EA unveiled comprehensive information about Madden 26, including a package deal that includes EA College Football 26, the successor to last year’s highly successful sports title. Significantly, Madden 26 is ending its run on the aging PS4 and Xbox One. From 2013 onward, new Madden iterations were consistently launched on these consoles; however, that practice has concluded. Last year’s Madden 25 marks the final EA football title for those older systems. Curiously, the initial Madden edition to debut on Xbox One and PS4 was also named Madden 25, commemorating the franchise’s 25th anniversary.
Return to Nintendo and Farewell to Last-Gen
This year represents a period of significant evolution for the Madden series. Besides discontinuing support for consoles that have been part of the franchise for over ten years, EA is also reintroducing the football series to Nintendo platforms. Madden 26 is slated for release on Switch 2 in August, alongside versions for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. This marks the return of Madden to Nintendo since 2012’s Madden NFL 13, which was available on Wii and Wii U.
College Football 26 Excludes Nintendo Switch 2
Somewhat surprisingly, Madden is the only title making its way to Switch 2. EA College Football 26 will not be offered on Nintendo’s upcoming console. EA College Football 25 became a top-selling game in the U.S. last year, following a ten-year hiatus since the last college football game by EA Sports in 2013. EA College Football 25 had already bypassed the PS4 and Xbox One last year, making its continued absence from those platforms unsurprising.
Release Dates and Special Editions
- Madden NFL 26 will be available for PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 starting on August 14.
- College Football 26 is scheduled for release on July 10.
- Players can gain early access, three days prior to launch, by purchasing the $100 Madden NFL 26 “Deluxe Edition.”
- A $150 “MVP Bundle” is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, which includes the College Football 26 “Deluxe Edition.”