[Offline Franchise] saved game doesn't load

Thanks for the updates! If you are able to replicate this could you snag the name of the file and the creator and share them here? 

We're just trying to get more info on this to help with the investigation, and having that would be useful. 

Thanks again! 

After running more than a few tests I have come to the conclusion it's a connection between importing a draft and mock drafts rankings stage 1 through 3 more so in stage 2. My reasoning behind this belief is teams are moving up and down the mock draft rankings each week and importing a draft class is having some kind of ill effect with the mock draft.What makes it more strange is that it only happens in,or after the 2027 season which I cannot wrap my head around.

My first test was with the Minnesota Vikings as a head coach. I simulated through to the 2027 season made a hard save named (m-test). I imported a random draft class on week 2 simulated Midway to week 8 made a hard save file named (m-test2) exited to main menu. I went back in to load save file (m-test2) to my surprise it loaded. I simulated to the 2028 season made a hard save named (m-test3). Then I imported a random draft class on week 2 simulated Midway to week 8 exited back to main menu went to load (Auto save file m-test3) the file was corrupt.

Second test reload previous hard save named (m-test3) which was still working in the beginning of the 2028 season week 1. I simulated to week 2 made a new hard save named (v test) then I imported a draft class and simulated to Midway point week 8 then exit back to main menu. I went to load (Auto save v test) file was corrupted was able to recreate that same file corruption 5 more times. On the 6th time I decided to load hard save file named (v test) I simulated to the 2029 season Midway point week 8 I exited back to main menu went back in to load the file was corrupted which I already knew was going to happen giving what my test showed me in week 8 of the 2028 season and simulating through that point wasn't going to change anything.

Third test reload previous hard save named (m-test3) which was still working in the beginning of the 2028 season. This time I decided not to import any draft class to see what would happen. Week 1 I made a hard save named (v test 2) I simulated to the Midway point of the 2028 season week 8. Exited to main menu went back into franchise mode to load (auto save v test 2) and it loaded. I repeated that process into the 2029 season the file loaded. I simulated to the 2030 season and repeated the process and the file loaded. I simulated 10 years from that point every year the file loaded with no problems. On the 2040 season I decide to import a random draft class and simulated to the Midway point week 8 of that same season exited to main menu went to reload (auto save v test 2) and it was corrupted.

Fourth test I wanted to see if editing the draft class would cause a file corruption repeated the process from the previous test and the file was not corrupted. So NO editing a draft class can not cause a file corruption.

The fifth test yes there was a fifth test. I wanted to find out what made the game not have a file corruption in the 2022 season through the 2026 season and if it was possible to have a corruption within that point.
I found I could not create a corruption in between those years using the same process I used in the previous four tests which I found very odd.

It doesn't matter if you download a community custom draft class or created your own by editing a draft class and exported it to your profile. If you import "ANY DRAFT CLASS" on the 2028 season or beyond you will have issues especially when week 8 comes around with the second stage of the mock draft.!!

@jboss2244 

Thank you! I will pass this information along. 

Another thing I've noticed is that around seasons 2027-2030 there begins to become a shortage of available coaches to hire. This forces teams to continue without def/off coaches. When I aim to fill those roles there is no one to pick from. So, the game doesn't generate enough coaches to fill up the whole 30 year franchise. Perhaps the two issues are related. Maybe they aren't. I don't know. 

This issue is also occurring in long term franchises even if a custom draft file is not loaded. Quite a few of us over at the Operation Sports Forum have been testing. The bug seems to be triggered by a lack of coaches to replace the retired ones, although it's unclear why this does not also affect online franchises. 

These are the results we have found:

1. 32 team control with all coach firing off. This is fine. Have tested all the way till 2042 season and no problems.

2. 32 team control with coach firing on. No custom draft file loaded. Went to 2032. Played a superbowl. Game crashed after pressing "Finish Game". Every time. File not recoverable. 

3. 32 team control with all coach firing off (as per no.1) but imported custom draft file. Went to 2032. Played a superbowl. Game crashed after pressing "Finish Game". File not recoverable. 

4. 32 team control and coach firing off, no importing custom draft file, but in-game generated draft class edited. Played all the way through to 2037. No problems. 

So it seems there are at least two separate (but possibly connected triggers for the bug:

1. Coach firing on/coaches retiring
2. Importing a custom draft file.

This is a very serious problem for numerous players who want to play long term 10 year plus franchises, but who don't want to take 32 team control. Even the 32 team control workaround means no coach carousel. And means every single coach is at the same team 20 years later. Pete Carroll is still coaching at the age of 91!

The other workaround is simply not play any actual games and just sim through franchise mode. But that's not much fun either. 

Hope this information helps.

Absolutely agree with what was just said above by Steveoliver77. This issue isn't just related to draft classes. When testing in the past I also had very similar results. I managed to get to about 2037 with coach firing off while managing like 4 teams and never changing those teams. I noticed that if I changed teams late in the franchise that I'd also lose my file. I suspect that there are two or three things triggering this that relate to draft class, coaching shortages, and team switches. I should be able to do all of these things without crashing my game.

I would advise that the devs actually break out a console and test this themselves by doing the following:

• Pick a console (PlayStation or Xbox)
• Start up madden
• Start an offline franchise
• leave coach firing on
• Pick several teams to manage
• Click the "Sim forward 10 years option"
• Check back in on the simulation in 30 minutes
• Add a custom draft class or edit the draft class
• Sim to the half way point of the season
• Switch out a user team (Have a user switch from broncos to lions)
• Sim forward to playoffs
• Force wins up to the super bowl
• Play the super bowl
• Click "Finish game" 
• If this does not crash the game then check the coaching staff on this team during the next season. If it still has staff switch to another team and sim forward another season and check in on the coaching staff.
• Rinse and repeat. It wont take long to get a crash from this point. (at least from my experience) 

@EA_Kent  and @EA_Blueberry 

I am copying my original post from your Madden 23 launch below:

”@EA_Blueberry aaaaaaand here we are again. 

I posted this concern on this board weeks ago. I specifically tagged YOU, Blueberry. There was no response. And I know you remember me. It looks like my post was removed prior to launch, unless someone can show it to me. 

This is the only reason I did not buy this game. If last year is any indication, it will take six months to fix this. That’s right, you will post about this issue until February. Sometime around the Super Bowl, you will be able to play your franchise. 

Last year was “the year of the franchise.” This year, EA advertised a “revamped franchise experience.” 

This is the first year I didn’t buy Madden because I no longer believe you.

I was right.”

There are 400 posts on this issue for Madden 22, “the year of the franchise.” 

400.

Over 6-7 months. 

I am glad to say I still haven’t bought your piece of garbage, unfortunately for the first time since the 90s. Your game doesn’t work. You clearly don’t test it and act aloof, claiming to pass along our feedback to whatever team is assigned to not fixing Franchise. You actually have the gall to advertise an improved Franchise for the second year in a row… and you STILL can’t save it. 

I don’t even have the game but sympathize with everyone on this board as they helplessly try to do your testing for you with little to no response. 

You are still the only football game available so people have tried to help you fix your falsely advertised “improved” franchise for two years. Once your competition comes out, we are gone. 

Maybe we will get an answer on this issue tomorrow? Until then I guess I'll have to send up another bump. 

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Now back to our nightly bump. (Can we get an answer on this issue soon, please?) 

Chiming in here to say that coach firing is not the issue as that is turned off on my end.

I didn't even have to complete the game - simply starting and quitting the game causes the glitch.  Kinda pathetic for EA to keep this BS up.