As the 2022 NFL season has come to a close, the storylines across the league switch from on-field drama to the unpredictability of the Draft and free agency. It’s a long stretch of time before the new season kicks off once again, so plenty of fans look toMaddento scratch the itch until September and the festivities begin anew. The EA-publishd IP has ruled the roost for years afterNCAA Footballstopped releasing new projects, and in the time since there has been an obvious lack of any other option.FIFAhas always hadPro Evolution Soccer(now known aseFootball), andGran Turismohas always hadForza Motorsportto rival it, but American football games have been an uncontested market. The XFL could change that.
The XFL has returned after an absence, and it’s a league that’s still trying to find its footing to be a consistent source of entertainment to fans of the sport through the NFL’s offseason. It deploys a slightly different approach to rules that emphasizes excitement and note-worthy plays. This sounds perfect for a video game adaptation, and could take a new approach asMadden NFL 23’s way of doing things is tried, tested, and sometimes feels a little too one-note.
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The XFL Doesn’t Have a Madden-Sized Legacy to Protect
Maddenis the industry leader in American football video games, in large part because it’s the only franchise that really uses the format. As such, fans of the NFL flock to the games on an annual basis, and the lack of competition means thatMaddenhasn’t got the luxury of being in a position to take too many risks. It simply has to keep fans happy. The XFL would provideMaddenwith a contemporary competitor, which would give people a choice of which game to play, and this also means that both games would have sufficient breathing room to take more substantial risks.
It’s the same situation asAEW Fight ForeverandWWE 2Kare in. The latter is established, and has a significant audience that will buy each new game simply for the updates rosters alone.AEWcan’t compete with its refined quality, so instead will do something different. XFL could do this, too, bringing a looser, more arcade-ish design to a sport that EA has had the monopoly on for decades. It doesn’t have to stand toe-to-toe withMaddenright out of the gate, but just providing an alternate option would be welcome, and the XFL’s rule book means it’s in the best position to do this.
The XFL is a New League for New Fans
Much of the fun inMaddenis playing as established athletes who grace the screens of millions every week. The XFL isn’t mature enough as a league to have the same impact, but while this may seem like a negative as fans won’t recognize as many players, it would make an XFL video game feel easier to enjoy for casual users. Seattle Sea Dragons' QB Ben DeNucci may be known toDallas Cowboysfans after his lone start in the NFL against the Philadelphia Eagles in late 2020, but most won’t be familiar with him. Playing as him in an XFL game could mean that those who give the proposed project shot can enjoy it knowing that they don’t need to know everything about a roster to feel justified using that team.
The prolonged success of the XFL is not guaranteed. However, in its current incarnation it seems like it’s in the right spot to stick around for a while, and one of the best ways to help solidify a new product’s place is to give fans a quality video game adaptation that shows its best sides.AEW Fight Foreveris doing it, and the XFL does enough different from the National Football League to provoke a gaming experience thatdoesn’t feel likeMaddenand instead can compete with it.
Madden NFL 23is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
