Community ManagerGridiron Notes: Madden NFL 20 December Title Update - 12/11/19
To ensure Madden is the best game possible, scheduled updates are deployed by the Madden Development Team to add features to the game after launch and to tune gameplay based on community feedback.
Our launch updates focus on many of the issues that Madden players report to us. We thank you for your feedback - you've helped us improve Madden NFL 20. We look forward to further feedback and are committed to continuing to meet your expectations.
Here is a detailed breakdown of what’s included in today's title update:
Key Highlights
NFL Live Playbooks
Alternate versions of every offensive and defensive playbook for each NFL team have been added as playbook options in Play Now and Franchise.
In addition to the new plays and formations these playbooks introduce, these books will also be used to update playbook content throughout the rest of the Madden NFL 20 season. These alternate playbooks are updated versions of each teams’ scheme that closely mimic the plays they’ve been running so far in the NFL season.
To access these playbooks, toggle on the ‘NFL Live Playbooks’ option in the Game Options settings from the main menu or via the Advanced Settings option in the Team Select screen. The Advanced Settings option in Team Select is how Franchise players will be able to access the alternate playbooks.
The NFL Live Playbooks will NOT be available for use inside of Custom Playbooks but will instead function like the ‘generic’ playbooks and the alternate playbooks will also NOT be supported by Formation Subs inside of Franchise mode. More details about some of the new playbook content can be found below in the ‘Gameplay’ section of the notes.
New X-Factor Players:
Ravens QB Lamar Jackson, replacing Chargers QB Philip Rivers
X-Factor: First One Free
Superstar Abilities: Escape Artist, Juke Box, Fast Break
49ers DE Nick Bosa, replacing Rams RB Todd Gurley
X-Factor: Unstoppable Force
Superstar Abilities: Strip Specialist, Finesse Specialist
Jets SS Jamal Adams, replacing Cowboys CB Byron Jones
X-Factor: Reinforcement
Superstar Abilities: Enforcer, Under Pressure
Patriots FS Devin McCourty, replacing Bears FS Eddie Jackson
X-Factor: Zone Hawk
Superstar Abilities: Lumberjack, Pick Artist
Cardinals OLB Chandler Jones, replacing Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott
X-Factor: Fearmonger
Superstar Abilities: Reach Elite, Edge Threat Elite
Updated Jaguars DE Calais Campbell
Replaced Reach Tackle with Inside Stuff
Updated Superstar Players:
Buccaneers WR Chris Godwin
Route Technician
Vikings DE Everson Griffen
Power Specialist
Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey
Man Up
Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley
Secure Protector
Saints RT Ryan Ramcyzk
Secure Protector
Vikings WR Stefon Diggs
Cross Specialist, Post-Flag Specialist
Jaguars RB Leonard Fournette
Bulldozer
49ers DE Dee Ford
Edge Threat
Cowboys CB Byron Jones, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
Acrobat
Eagles TE Zach Ertz, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
In-Out Elite
Chargers QB Philip Rivers, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
Pocket Lead, Arching Deadeye
Cowboys RB Ezekiel Elliott, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
Inside Zone Guru
Bears FS Eddie Jackson, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
Zoned Out
Downgraded Superstar & X-Factor players, no longer equipped with any abilities:
Colts MLB Darius Leonard
Chargers RB Melvin Gordon, III
Jets MLB CJ Mosley
Redskins SS Landon Collins
Falcons FS Keanu Neal
Rams RB Todd Gurley
Browns DE Myles Garrett
DEV NOTE: Superstar X-Factor reshuffling is part of our ongoing continuous development plan to keep the rosters and players as up to date as possible with the events of the NFL season. These updates will apply to Front End rosters for Online head-to-head games, exhibition and new Franchise leagues created with the ‘Custom Roster’ option.
The re-shuffles will NOT impact existing Franchise leagues, as those leagues are already in progress with their own performance progression/regression and will not apply to new Franchise leagues created with the ‘Pre-Season Roster’ option.
Global Updates
General stability and connectivity improvements
NFL Player Likeness Updates:
Panthers WR Chris Hogan
Panthers MLB Shaq Thompson
Panthers RG Trai Turner
Panthers FS Tre Boston
Panthers TE Ian Thomas
Added Chiefs alternate helmet with grey facemask
Updated the chin strap on the Xenith Shadow helmet to white instead of team color
Updated stadium clocks in Packers stadium
Franchise Updates
DEV NOTE: As mentioned above, Superstar X-Factor reshuffling is also a part of Franchise’s continuous development plan to keep the rosters and players as up to date as possible with the events of the NFL season.
The ability to update abilities for existing Franchise leagues is something that the team is committed to but has caused some recent stability issues. In order to keep the servers stable and maintain the integrity of existing leagues, some abilities will not directly map between Franchise and other modes. Some Franchise & QB1 Mode examples are:
The ‘Omaha’ ability is currently using the Ultimate Team trigger conditions rather than the Franchise triggers
The QB version of ‘First One Free’ will have slightly different zone conditions in Franchise
The following ability changes only apply to new offline and online leagues:
TY Hilton will have his Superstar X-Factor ability 'Rac Em Up' & the correct Development trait
Superstar X-Factor Keenan Allen has the ability 'Rac Em Up'
Fixed an issue where coach users would sign a player to an extension, then go into edit player (even if the user didn’t edit the player) the contract would change current year’s contract.
Fixed an issue in Cloud and Offline leagues where changes to Edit Coach appearance were not being saved
Gameplay Updates
Playbooks Updates:
NFL Live Playbook Highlights:
New formations: Defensive 4-3 Even, 6-1, 46 Cub, Dime Sugar 3-2, Dime Sugar Weak; Offensive Heisman package
Inverted Veer changed to ‘Power Read’
Updated play-calling AI for Ravens playbook to call more QB option run plays
Defensive formations added to NFL Live playbooks for Bears, Dolphins, Lions, Patriots, Rams, Jets, Chiefs, Jaguars, Jets, Patriots, Saints, Lions, Vikings, Packers, Ravens
Offensive formations added to NFL Live Playbooks for Ravens, 49ers, Rams, Bears, Seahawks, Jets, Chargers, Spread.
Fixed an issue causing misaligned players when using the Nickel Triple formation vs. Shotgun Taysom Hill Package.
Fixed an issue causing missing play art with base align/flip on some Nickel 3-3-5 plays
Tuning to prevent user-controlled defenders from triggering fake-out animations vs. ball-carrier special moves (Juke, Spin, Hurdle) regardless of ratings match-up on Competitive game-style only. This applies vs. all ball carriers, including those holding X-Factor and Superstar abilities.
Fixed an issue causing the offense to get put into random formations when using hurry-up in MUT Squads
Ultimate Team Updates
DEV NOTE: NFL Live playbooks will not yet be offered in Ultimate Team. We will make them available in the near future once every playbook has been populated with enough content to offer the maximum amount of value to our players.
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