The first Madden football game was released on June 1 in 1988. Back then, EA didn’t have the rights to NFL team names, but John Madden Football was the most realistic game at that time with 11v11 play (something Madden insisted on despite the technical challenges it imposed).
John Madden died last December at the age of 85, and EA decided to honor the legendary head coach and commentator by putting him on the cover of Madden NFL 23. It’ll be the first time Madden has been on the cover since Madden NFL 2000.
Three different covers will feature Madden at various points of his career. One cover is an homage to the original John Madden Football game, one is an iconic photo of Madden being carried off the field after winning Super Bowl XI, and one is of Madden in the broadcast booth.
In addition to the covers, it was revealed by EA that Madden’s voice will return to the game with remastered audio clips from his broadcasting career as well as an All-Madden interactive experience from a 1970 version of the Oakland Coliseum. In addition, EA will donate $5 million, with half going to various STEAM nonprofit organizations and half going to the United Negro College Fund.
Many took notice of EA’s choice to honor the legend whose namesake is on the game. While just about everybody agreed this was the right thing to do, there was a noticeable section of the fanbase who also felt that the stagnating quality of the game over recent years was in a way hurting Madden’s legacy.
[EA]
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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