Accessibility Settings Do Not Work Online and Need Major Improvements
The current accessibility implementation in Madden does not function properly in online modes and is extremely limited even when it does work.
Issue #1 – Accessibility settings do not consistently apply in Franchise, Ranked, or other online modes.
Colorblind filters may work in offline play, but in online environments they either do not apply at all or apply inconsistently. Accessibility settings should never disappear depending on game mode. If the setting exists in the main menu, it should apply universally across all modes. Competitive integrity should not override accessibility. Accessibility is not an advantage — it is a requirement for equal participation.
When filters fail to apply in Ranked or Franchise, players are forced to compete at a visual disadvantage. That is not acceptable in a competitive environment.
Issue #2 – The current colorblind filters are overly simplistic and ineffective.
Even when the filters apply, they are global color shifts. They adjust the entire screen instead of targeting specific gameplay elements that actually create visibility problems.
There is no ability to control:
- Reticle color
- Passing route colors
- User indicator colors
- Catch indicators
- UI highlight colors
- Contrast levels for important gameplay elements
Instead, players are given three preset options. Colorblindness is not one-size-fits-all. Two people with the same diagnosis may still require different contrast levels or color layouts.
Common in-game problems include:
- Yellow landing reticles blending directly into green turf
- Red uniforms blending into darker stadium lighting
- Blue on blue matchups lacking separation
- White text becoming difficult to read depending on background
- Certain team color combinations blending into the field entirely
These are clarity and contrast problems. A simple global hue shift does not solve them.
Battlefield provides a better model for accessibility. It allows players to manually select reticle colors, hit marker colors, and HUD element colors. That level of customization ensures players can choose what works for their specific vision rather than being forced into a preset that may not help.
Madden should allow players to manually choose:
- Reticle color
- Route color
- User indicator color
- Catch indicator color
- High-contrast HUD mode
SLIDERS FOR BRIGHTNESS
CONTRAST
AND THE DEFICIENCIES FOR EACH COLORBLIND TYPE…SOME PEOPLE HAVE COMBINATIONS……FULL ACCESSIBLITY IS NOT A PRIVILEGE IT IS A DEMAND
This would not impact competitive balance because it only affects the local display. It simply ensures the player can clearly see what is already there.
FC 24 also allows users to control which uniforms they see in order to prevent blending. Madden should allow local uniform overrides for visibility. Let players choose a high-contrast matchup locally so turf and jerseys do not visually merge. This would not change gameplay logic — only visual clarity.
Accessibility should be consistent across EA titles. Some EA games provide advanced customization while others rely on minimal presets. Players with color deficiencies deserve the same level of attention across all franchises.
Accessibility is about equal access to gameplay clarity. Right now, Madden’s system does not provide that — especially when it fails to function in online modes.
