EA_Shepard I'm still unsure if it's 100% the right way to go, but I think player growth would be a good place to start at least if you think about how NFL organizations are run. Not to mention users seem interested in individual player growth, which is part of why I think Franchise Player Mode is dearly missed by many. I really think Franchise mode has the unique ability and opportunity to strike a great balance between RPG and Sports SIM. The RPG aspect being the player growth and inclusion of the storylines (the cutscenes). Being able to step into different player's shoes and play out their careers and turn who might be an underdog into a Superstar is fun. Most often, when I see these types of player driven storylines taken and implemented when starting online franchises on YouTube or Twitch, it leaves people feeling engaged and connected to specific players and teams they really enjoy watching, or inversely, teams/players they might not have been as interested in they find themselves more intrigued by.
Being just a player and a fan, I obviously don't see what goes on behind the scenes, but I can imagine. Whether it be the gaming, music, or movie industry, there seems to be an increasing divide between higher management/ownership and lower teams like production/cast/devs/etc. It's creating increasing stress to meet extremely tight deadlines, budgets, and demands that are becoming exponentially unsustainable. It's a major topic of discussion across multiple industries currently. This is just from an outsiders POV. but I just really feel if some action isn't take to relieve some of that tension, the the very foundation will eventually crumble. So I maintain, that from a business standpoint, it would be wise for EA to consider going to live service. More Time= Less Stress = Better Production = Better Product = More Profit ultimately.
Community ManagerGVRH I think you summed up a lot of what makes Franchise unique when compared to other modes. The balance between being a sports sim and having RPG elements through player growth, storylines, and cutscenes is something many players would love to see fleshed out further. Like you said, the ability to step into a player’s shoes, build a career, and even turn an underdog into a star is what keeps people invested. That connection to players and teams is the type of immersion that can make Franchise stand out.
You are right that a lot of the community still misses having a true Franchise Player Mode. Seeing how people on Twitch or YouTube build storylines around their leagues shows an appetite for deeper personal engagement. It is not just about managing a roster; it is about building experiences around individual players that fans can follow and get attached to.
You have a valid point about the pressure that comes with yearly deadlines and short cycles. Even without being behind the scenes, it is easy to see how that kind of pace can create stress and affect what can be delivered. Other players have also brought up the live service model, and the idea of trading a yearly crunch for ongoing support and expansions is an interesting one. Like you said, more time and less pressure could allow for stronger production and better results long term. I have been in this industry for almost 20 years, and I have seen so many aspects of the game cycle, it's unreal. There is a massive amount of pressure to deliver.
I have a quick follow-up question for you. If Franchise were to expand more on the player growth and storyline side, would you prefer to see it as a separate mode dedicated to a single player’s journey or woven deeper into the existing Franchise experience so it all connects together?
EA_Shepard First of all, cheers on almost 20 years in the industry! That's actually pretty special considering maintaining a steady career is becoming increasingly difficult, with the average median only being about 4 years.
I think it would be great to get Player and Owner back in there. Do you know why they were removed even? Again, some of the longest and most successful YouTube Franchises I've seen take that more personalized approach and establish those more personal connections. Player Mode was a great way of doing that, and diving deeper into those RPG elements will certainly further that. I maintain that despite Owner Mode being my personal favorite for Offline Franchise, it needed a serious overhaul though. I personally feel it didn't offer enough compared to the experience of both Coach and Player Mode. I did very much enjoy stepping into that role across multiple teams though, and I hope they bring both of these back eventually.
Concerning the industry itself, that pressure to deliver is a massive topic of interest and discussion currently, with the longevity of the industry itself being put into serious question because of the increasing demands and need to raise wages to match rising costs. If EA switched to live service and made it work, it could really serve as example to the rest of the industry and put some respect back on these larger AAA companies. There are plenty of other ways EA could profit with the switch too. I've brought up with a couple other players now that adding an online store apart from MUT to purchase your team passes, cosmetics, and even serve as a way to reintroduce older rosters and all-time teams by charging for them. I personally wouldn't love having to pay for them, but it's an option that would be a balance that serves everyone. $3/yearly roster, $5/all-time, $10/decade bundle....or even consider subscription that would allow access to all of it (implement it into team pass?). I'm not sure how it would go over with players ultimately, but it is just one of I think a few good options to profit apart from the yearly cost of the game, one ultimately I feel would generate more money in the long run even.
Concerning your follow-up question: Man...that's a pretty tough one as well. Thinking about it, essentially you seem to be describing Superstar Mode, which is that "separate mode dedicated to a single player's journey". If I were asked to choose between Franchise Mode and Superstar Mode, I 100% would take Franchise before Superstar. MUT is Madden's cash cow certainly, but Franchise has its longtime dedicated fanbase full of players like myself, that have been enjoying it for some 20+ years now, and I strongly feel that Franchise would need to be the firsthand focus. That's the mode that has drawn players back to the game before MUT even existed. Superstar Mode is respectfully a great idea in and of itself, but it isn't well tuned yet, and Player Mode was Superstar to many players even before Superstar existed. I would ultimately love to see the two integrated into one another, taking what works from Superstar now, and have it all connect together in an all new Player Mode. That would be the route I take, but it also all sounds like a development nightmare. This is where we come back to the yearly cycle discussion. It's something I think would serve perfectly as a live service expansion down the road after it's fleshed out (along with a new owner mode), but right now I think just working on polishing up what they have now with Coach Mode should probably be the primary focus. If they could get some of the things we discussed implemented and working appropriately, then maybe consider the rest after. Coach Mode already dives a bit into those RPG elements with the cutscenes they've implemented, and I really think there's a lot of potential within that to really make it great. How? I'm not sure, but would certainly be a whole other discussion.
Community ManagerGVRH Appreciate the kind words, and respect right back for the depth and clarity of your thoughts here.
Maintaining a two-decade career in this industry has only gotten rougher with time. The pressure to deliver each year, especially for a franchise as big as Madden/FC/NHL, is insane, but feedback like this keeps teams focused on delivering smarter, more meaningful improvements. Players expect more from the studio now because technology increases at a rate that some can barely keep up with.
On Player and Owner Mode—the removal was largely a matter of prioritization and system compatibility as the team restructured how roles worked under the hood. But you're far from alone in calling for their return. The personalization, immersion, and narrative depth that those modes brought—especially in long-running YouTube series and offline dynasties—offered something that Coach Mode doesn’t fully capture. Your take on reviving Player Mode by blending it with Superstar’s RPG elements is exactly the kind of thinking that pushes these conversations forward. That kind of integration could unlock a truly unified single-player journey.
Regarding Owner Mode, I hear you: the concept was strong, but the execution lacked depth. A modernized Owner Mode—complete with dynamic business systems, team branding updates, relocation logic, and community engagement (think: pricing, media, reputation)—could become a powerhouse feature, if done right. Your take on doing this post-launch as a live service update makes a lot of sense. It buys time for polish without throwing off the entire dev cycle.
And I agree, the conversation about industry sustainability is vital. A more flexible monetization model—like paid legacy rosters, cosmetic team packs, or a subscription tied into Team Pass—isn't out of the question. Like you said, the trick is balance: if we give players something meaningful, customizable, and fair in return, the value is clear. Definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution, but this kind of idea-sharing is where better models are born.
Lastly, your breakdown of Franchise vs. Superstar is sharp. The idea of merging what works from Superstar back into a reimagined Player Mode inside Franchise is intriguing. Think of a Franchise where your player journey is a core thread—but everything still ties into the larger league and team narrative. That’s next-level immersion.
Totally agree that Coach Mode deserves focus and polish right now. The foundation is there, and the cutscenes already hint at more story potential. Whether it’s refining those or building optional narrative branches, there’s a lot of opportunity still on the table.
Let’s keep this dialogue going. Your input hits on exactly the kind of evolution many fans are asking for.
Does anyone else have thoughts on integrating Player/Superstar into Franchise?
Or ideas for how Owner Mode could come back stronger?
EA_Shepard You're very welcome, and thank you in kind as it's been an excellent conversation!
I'm not going to lie, it's so nice to finally hear what the thoughts were behind removing these modes. It's left a lot of players confused, including myself, but it sounds like it's just all a part of the process in creating a new, and better Madden. That makes me pretty excited for the future of the game!
It's been a great discussion and fun to get to share my thoughts, but these ideas we've discussed are of course just one way to go about it. They could just keep Superstar Mode, but I maintain that Franchise offers that foundation to build upon where Superstar has been a new thing altogether, and something frankly in need of a solid foundation yet. That's why I feel it would be best to just merge the two. And they could just say goodbye to Both Owner and Player Mode for good too, and really focus on just Coach Mode along with Superstar. And honestly speaking, that may just be the best route to take until they've got Coach Mode built up to its best point. But, when talking about long term sustainability and truly offering a new and exciting experience that works for everyone, I really love the ideas we've discussed and hope at least some of these ideas are passed on through the chain and taken into consideration. Ultimately though, idk what conversations with upper management/ownership look like either, and often that's what makes or breaks so many, and that worries me. DCU and MCU are great examples of this, where the upper echelon totally steers ship into the rocks. When the people that have the vision and know the material are severely limited and forced to swerve in directions they shouldn't go, that never ends well.
To me, Owner Mode is where Team Builder really shines, and honestly maybe that's the best foundation of a new Owner Mode. Everything you mentioned regarding Owner Mode is exactly what it needs, and what if that all starts with Team Builder? What if it were all done initially within Team Builder and then was edit capable within an online game mode that synced up? Here is where I think full customization, which is what Team Builder is all about. What does an owner do? Builds and customizes a brand. Uniforms, Teams, Fields, Stadiums, Logos, etc... everything Team Builder already does. Where should the team be located? Is there a sustainable market there? What should we name the team? What does that team then look like as it relates to the city and the name? Is it something fans like? How do we advertise this team to those fans? What kind of stadium best fits our fans and environment. Then it dives into things it already did in terms of finance and keeping the ship afloat, as well as hiring/firing staff. I've had the idea I've brought up with a few players in a couple different posts for fantasy franchises to make customizable divisions like CFB has too. In terms of fantasy....you could essentially create a whole alternate universe with this...different names, divisions, etc. Ultimately it can offer more options how to rebrand an existing organization, or completely create a new one. The possibilities within this Mode are WILD!!!! What would it look like ultimately? No clue, lol...but that's where gathering ideas from many different people is good.
There are so many people on here with so many great ideas, I'd love to get a separate thread going to gather them all. Then it just becomes a matter of organizing them in terms of priority and what's doable now vs. later.
