Madden 26's New Addition Could Signal Huge New Franchise Mode Feature
Is it a little early for Madden 26 buzz?
Of course not. EA usually wraps up all of their pre-release info by the end of June. That means we're about to land in the middle of Madden hype season.
The first potentially big news comes via a report from Fox Sports' Jordan Schultz. According to Schultz, NFL RedZone host Scott Hanson will be a new in-game voice for Madden 26.
There's real excitement surrounding Hanson's rumored inclusion, and a big reason why is what he represents. EA hasn't just added a familiar voice—they've added the voice of multi-game highlight chaos. That alone has fans dreaming big.
If Madden 26's franchise mode features heightened presentation that presents highlights from games in a RedZone style, I may not be able to contain myself.
It's easy to see how this could transform how we engage with weekly league play. For the first time in years, Franchise Mode might not just be about progression—it could actually feel alive.
I've preached for years on adding the immersion fans feel during a season and how highlights from around the league would add to that. I'm hoping this is the first step in that direction.
Even with updates in Madden 25, 2K still owns the crown for presentation depth. Franchise in Madden has often felt more like a data engine than a broadcast. But if EA leans into Hanson's strengths, that could change.
On the smallest scale, Hanson could be replacing Jonathan Coachman as the voice of the underwhelming halftime show.
That would be a welcome upgrade. But a true leap forward means building Hanson into the game's core loop—either as a RedZone-style whip-around or weekly league coverage that highlights league-wide storylines.
Madden 25's Franchise Mode wasn't broken—in fact it was wildly improved compared to previous years. However, the next step forward will happen when we have more of a broadcast feel between games, and not just during them.
Presentation isn't nearly as big of a deal in Ultimate Team or regs online as it is in franchise mode. Users in franchise mode don't mind watching a cutscene or looking at highlights from other games. If the sequences aren't canned and come from under-the-hood simulations, franchise mode gamers will welcome the elongated experience.
So even if we're not getting full NFL RedZone immersion, this move still feels like a step in the right direction.
My brain and experience tells me to expect something in the middle of my wildest dreams and the bare minimum swap of Hanson for Coachman.
Based on EA's history, that's a fair expectation. But if EA leans just slightly more ambitious than usual, Hanson could mark the start of something groundbreaking.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
an hour ago
- USA Today
Philadelphia radio applauds an underappreciated aspect of Saquon Barkley's reverse hurdle
Philadelphia radio applauds an underappreciated aspect of Saquon Barkley's reverse hurdle Philadelphia sports radio hosts on 94 WIP seized the chance to commend Saquon Barkley for a facet of his reverse hurdle that frequently goes unrecognized. Believe it or not, June 3rd is seven months to the day that the Philadelphia Eagles hosted the Jacksonville Jaguars and Saquon Barkley proved once and for all that he was a human cheat code. Had we not seen it, most of us wouldn't have believed it. How on Planet Earth does a man leap over another grown man backwards? Barkley, except for a few quarters here and there, seemingly broke long game-altering runs at will. We've seen another scouting combine, Pro Days, Top 30 Visits, and ten prospects added to the nest by way of the NFL Draft. OTAs are now underway. Guess what one of the most popular topics of discussion is. If you answered by stating 'Saquon's reverse hurdle', give yourself a gold star. Just when you thought it was impossible to manufacture more words to encapsulate its brilliance, we're given a few. 94 WIP-FM's Morning Show praises one of the lesser-mentioned components of Saquon Barkley's hurdle. Philadelphia sports fans, at times, enjoy a love-hate affair with 94 WIP-FM and its hosts. Some prefer certain shows over others. Some listen all day. Others don't listen at all, but everyone will have an opinion if time is dedicated to asking them. Former Eagle John Ritchie and long-time radio host Joe DeCamara took over the station's Morning Show in February 2023 after Angelo Cataldi retired. They've made everyone laugh. They've made everyone angry (more so Joe than John), but recently, a recent take was good enough to make listeners stand up and cheer. As mentioned, Saquon's November reverse hurdle is front and center again. This comes after Barkley was named EA Sports' cover athlete for the Madden 26 game. Two covers will be offered for two different editions. One depicts Saquon's now-signature play. Ritchie and DeCamara recently offered some praise and applauded Barkley for something that typically gets overlooked. He took a shot at the end of the play, one that forced him out of action for a spell. It's so easy to marvel at the athleticism displayed and overlook the physically demanding portion, or Saquon's toughness. Credit the WIP Morning Show for noticing. Oh, and by the way, those who are worried about the 'Madden Curse' shouldn't be. Barkley has no worries. That's good enough for us.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Madden 26 trailer puts the Super Bowl champs front and center in bold Eagles focus
Everyone's favorite sports simulation is back, and Philadelphia Eagles star Saquon Barkley was chosen to grace the cover. Correction... Everyone's favorite sim is almost ready for its return. August 14 is the release date for Electronic Arts' Madden 26 game, and yes, you read that correctly. That reads 'favorite sim'. No disrespect is intended to the makers and fans of the NBA 2K franchise. They've done a heck of a job with their product. But this is Electronic Arts' Madden NFL franchise. Come on. There's no debate. Madden is the grandaddy of them all, sort of like the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. Madden 26's trailer dropped, and it's Eagles-heavy. This one ranks among the best they've ever done. Don't take anyone else's word for it. Feast your eyes, and take a look for yourselves. This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Philadelphia Eagles earn top billing in Madden 26 trailer
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Legend Jack Nicklaus blasts biggest issue with golf right now
A lot of things have changed since Jack Nicklaus' heyday on the golf course. But there's one thing in particular that one of the legends of the game truly can't stand about the current era of golf. The Golden Bear simply cannot bear to see golfers being interviewed during the middle of their rounds while on the course. Nicklaus, 85, shared his thoughts during the second round of the Memorial tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club — an event he hosts annually. The incident that brought out the ire from the golf legend happened as Ben Griffen — in contention at the event and sitting at 7-under after the first round — was grabbed for a mid-round interview by Fox Sports at the 17th hole. Nicklaus was not impressed, saying that he wants the players to be able to focus on their game and not be distracted as they contemplate their shots. 'I can't stand that, the interview on the golf course,' Nicklaus said. 'Can't stand that. Let me tell you how I think. Seriously, this is a guy who is leading the golf tournament. 'He is sitting on the edge of the rough, very difficult shot on a very difficult hole. 'And you are talking to him about stuff that totally takes his mind off what he is doing.' Nicklaus then shared how he felt some colleagues from his era would've handled being approached while walking the fairways. 'How do you think (Ben) Hogan would respond to that question?' Nicklaus rhetorically asked. 'You would not have any teeth left if you did. He would hit you right in the face with it.' After win at Memorial, it's time to start comparing Scottie Scheffler to prime Tiger Woods Rory McIlroy snubs golf legend after skipping Memorial tournament When it comes to post-round interviews, however, Nicklaus is all for seeing the golfer talk and values the work reporters do. 'I've always felt that you guys have a job to do, and gals,' he said. 'And, for you to do your job, you need to talk to me. 'Whether I played well or whether I played poorly, if you still want to talk to me, I'll talk to you. And I always have.'
