Madden 23 features are focussed on FieldSense

With Madden 23 coins coins coming into its third season playing on PS5 or XBox Series X, bosses at EA have been open on what direction their sports lineup will be. But it’s not exclusively Ultimate Team. The publisher says that going forward, teammate and opponent intelligence is going to be a major area of focus within the sport.

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“A.I. is extremely well-equipped to be the element that will define this generation of consoles,” EA Sports vice president Sean Ramjagsingh tells Fortune (opens in new tab). “The increased computing power of the new consoles unlocks extra possibilities for us from a design perspective, and between what’s happening in the capture of real-world information and the use of data to drive various technologies, there’s plenty of opportunities for us in the future.”

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This is why FieldSense can be described as Madden 23’s new and exciting field-focused area of focus. It’s a mechanic deployed across offense, defense as well as special team. For example, QBs possess an aiming reticule or passing meters, while running backs are now able to use 360-degree cuts, as well as immediate changes in direction. On D it’s back to gang tackles with more substance in CB vs WR fights near the point of scrimmage. In theory, at least.

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We talked about the game’s new gameplay tweaks with senior producer Mike Mahar in GR’s Madden 23 preview. Are you curious about what the game will be like? Then zip over to our Madden 23 hands-on instead.

For instance, bye days were revamped during the April update. EA’s exhaustive Gridiron Notes elaborate: “We’ve updated our bye week scenario by converting text message messages into cinematics that are modular with all new choices and impacts. It will ask you how your team’s handling the week off. You’ll be posed with choices of going on a reunion retreat to help build teams’ chemistry, or self-scouting in order to uncover weaknesses to address when you come out of the bye, or continuing to grind through the week in order to assist the development of your players. Every choice will have each having a positive and negative result. As the coach, it’s your responsibility to determine what your team needs and how to get them into the best place to make it through the final stretch of the season.”

Other scenarios that are new to the franchise include chaos in the team, when you must resolve internal conflicts that arise between a mighty offense and a weak defense, and X-Factor high-energy streaks. The latter sees the opponent start an event through an X-Factor activated, which increases the challenge of overcoming these opponents. Be quick to attack them and you’ll be able to snuff out the flame and leave them alone and they play like an imposing character throughout the duration of the match. It’s a great simulation of real-life player form.