Sharp decline in console playtime observed for 'Madden NFL' gaming data
Electronic Arts (EA) is preparing for a decline in full-game sales for Madden NFL 26, with the company attributing the drop to a more normalized demand curve following the exceptional demand for EA SPORTS College Football 25 last year. The strong sales of College Football 25 created tough comparisons, as the current sales of Madden NFL 26 are expected to be lower due to fewer units sold upfront [2][3].
In addition to the decreased sales, the median playtime for Madden NFL 25 has also seen a dip. While specific details about the factors contributing to this decline are scarce, players shifting focus to newer titles, less engaging retention features, and the natural lifecycle decline as the community moves on to new releases are likely contributors [1][5]. EA's focus on enhancing gameplay and engagement in Madden NFL 26 suggests that earlier versions like Madden NFL 25 may have had room for improvement in these areas, leading to shorter median playtimes [2].
The median playtime figures for Madden NFL 25 are unlikely to grow significantly after the release of Madden NFL 26. It's worth noting that the average playtime for Madden NFL 25 was much higher than the median, at 60 hours [1].
EA needs Madden NFL and Battlefield to fuel the microtransactions rebound, as there has been a slowdown in the growth of microtransactions revenue across EA's games [4]. The video game sector as a whole is trending upward, and EA CEO Andrew Wilson expects the ecosystem to return to growth in the second half of the fiscal year [6].
This fall, EA has a deep slate of releases, which is one of the deepest in years [7]. The legal challenges regarding NIL might have contributed to the production gap of EA Sports College Football for a decade [8]. Xbox users can download Madden NFL for free through a Game Pass subscription, which might explain the lower median playtime compared to PlayStation users [9].
In summary:
- Decline in full-game sales for Madden NFL 26 is attributed to normalized consumer demand patterns after the unusually strong last year for College Football 25, making direct comparisons difficult, and creating a year-over-year headwind on sales despite strong retention and positive sentiment around the new Madden release [2][3].
- Factors likely contributing to the dip in median playtime for Madden NFL 25 include players gradually moving to newer titles, less engaging retention features at that time, and the natural lifecycle decline as the community shifts focus, prompting EA to enhance gameplay and engagement significantly in Madden NFL 26 [1][2][5].
- The median playtime figures for Madden NFL 25 are unlikely to grow significantly after the release of Madden NFL 26.
- EA Sports College Football 25 was a bestseller last year, which might have split some sports fans' time away from Madden NFL 25.
- Xbox users can download Madden NFL for free through a Game Pass subscription, which might explain the lower median playtime compared to PlayStation users.
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