Madden NFL 20 - Gridiron Notes: November Title update
Check out the Gridiron notes on our title update and share your feedback here
Gridiron Notes: Madden NFL 20 Title Update - October.
October 18, 2019 1:50AM
edited November 4

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
New X-Factors Players:
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook, replacing Chargers RB Melvin Gordon
X-Factor: First One Free
Superstar Abilities: Juke Box, Inside Zone Guru

Packers CB Jaire Alexander, replacing Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger
X-Factor: Shutdown
Superstar Abilities: Man-Up, Acrobat

Chiefs DT Chris Jones, replacing Panthers QB Cam Newton
X-Factor: Fearmonger
Superstar Abilities: Power Move Specialist, Under Pressure

Updated Superstar Players:
Rams WR Cooper Kupp
Cross Route Specialist
Titans S Kevin Byard
Pick Artist
Buccaneers OLB Shaquil Barrett
Edge Rush Elite
Packers DT Kenny Clark
Inside Stuff
Falcons MLB Deion Jones
Lurker
Chargers RB Melvin Gordon, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
Juke Box
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger, downgraded from X-Factor to Superstar
Sleight of Hand
Downgraded Superstar & X-Factor players, no longer equipped with any abilities:
Cowboys MLB Leighton Vander Esch
Panthers QB Cam Newton
Vikings WR Stefon Diggs
Saints CB Marshon Lattimore
Bears RB Tarik Cohen
Browns QB Baker Mayfield
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.
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.
New Abilities:
New X-Factor Zone Abilities:
Protective Custody - Ball carriers with this ability are immune to fumbling when in the zone.
Ultimate Team Requirements: Available as a Zone ability for running backs only.
Mossed - Inspired by Ultimate Team Legend WR Randy Moss, when players with this ability enter the zone, they will win contested catches regardless of coverage on passes of 50 yards or more (but does fall back to ratings formula when countered bypass coverage abilities).
Ultimate Team Requirements: Available as a Zone ability for wide receivers and tight ends.
New Superstar Abilities:
Lumberjack - Defensive ability, preventing broken tackles and can cause fumbles when using cutstick tackles.
Out My Way - Defensive ability that always wins vs. impact block attempts vs. WR’s, TE’s and RB’s.
Goal Line Stuff - Defensive ability allowing quick blocksheds against 1-on-1 run blocks within 5 yards of the goalline.
Inside Stuff - Defensive ability allowing quick blocksheds against 1-on-1 run blocks on inside running plays.
No Outsiders - Defensive ability allowing quick blocksheds against 1-on-1 run blocks on outside running plays.
Tank - Inspired by Ultimate Team Legend TE Rob Gronkowski, ball carriers with this ability break all hit-stick tackles (but does fall back to ratings formula when countered by ‘Enforcer’); this ability is only available for TE’s inside of Ultimate Team.
DEV NOTE: All new abilities will be available in Ultimate Team and Superstar KO.
For new and existing Franchise leagues, the abilities will be added in a future Title Update.
Global Updates
General stability and connectivity improvements
Updated Ravens field art
Franchise Updates
Fixed an issue causing all players from a downloaded Draft Class file to appear as ‘Early First Rounder’ in the ‘Scout College Players’ tile.
DEV NOTE: Players will only see this fix when importing a new file or re-importing the same draft class file. The fix activates when the import is processed, so existing leagues will have to make sure to import before it will take effect.
Fixed an issue causing leagues’ injury records to be deleted when toggling off the Pre-Existing Injury league setting during the season; this option is now only available during league creation.
Fixed an issue with the menu when creating a new Cloud Franchise league, using Real-Life Rosters, and navigating the Choose Week menu.
Improved ‘Advance Week’ loading times in Offline leagues when the league has multiple characters.
Fixed an issue in multi-user leagues where menus would persist when another user advanced the week.
Added a warning for coaches about save-settings when switching between Offense and Defense in the Auto-Subs menu.
Updated players that are “Last Chance" (players that will enter Free Agency the following week if not re-signed) to now be listed as ‘0’ years remaining in the Team Salaries menu.
Fixed an issue in the Trade Center menu, making TE’s & WR’s now show stats for ‘Receptions’ and ‘Receiving Yards’; HB’s now display ’Rushing Touchdowns’ and ‘Rushing Yards’
Fixed an issue causing the ‘retire’ text to say ‘Undrafted’ when the Face of the Franchise: QB1 user was cut from the team.
Presentation Updates
Various commentary updates
Updated Buccaneers Defensive Starting Lineup presentation to reflect 3-4 defense rather than 4-3.
Updated coach tip for the ball carrier ‘Give-Up’ mechanic.
Gameplay Updates
Re-introduced stumbling for ball carriers in specific situations.
DEV NOTE: We have re-enabled the functionality that causes ball carriers to stumble when running into traffic in specific situations. We have isolated stumbling to situations where they are necessary but will continue to monitor and take feedback around more situations that may require ball carrier stumbles.
Tuning to reduce the frequency of ‘auto-broken’ tackles vs. AI-controlled and user-controlled defenders when using conservative tackle on Competitive game style.
DEV NOTE: This tuning will significantly decrease the frequency of ratings-based broken tackles on Competitive game style, with an even lower chance of a broken if the conservative tackle is being performed by a user-controlled defender. Conservative tackles can be used via the mechanic and/or by running into the ball carrier to initiate a tackle interaction.
Tuning to prevent ‘auto-broken’ tackles when the ball carrier is using the cover-ball mechanic on Competitive game style (excluding hit-sticks)
Tuning to prevent the ball carrier from retaining top speed while using the cover-ball mechanic on Competitive game style.
Added functionality to receiver Zone abilities ‘Rac ’em Up,’ ‘Double Me,’ and ‘Max Security’ so that they will beat the press vs. man coverage when in the zone.
Tuning to slightly increase block-shed speed for the ‘Run Stuffer’ Zone ability when in the zone.
Tuning to reduce situations where AI-controlled players are allowed to cause fumbles on Competitive game style (excluding vs. scrambling QB’s)
DEV NOTE: Based on player feedback, Madden players have expressed that AI-controlled defenders can have too much of an impact on the outcome of games when they can cause fumbles as frequently as user-controlled defenders.
This tuning change will significantly decrease the chances of AI-defenders forcing fumbles on competitive game style, but does NOT apply when tackling scrambling QB’s.
Fixed an issue that prevented the offense from snapping the ball with a player in motion while the defense was resetting the play.
Fixed an issue allowing inaccurate sky kickoffs near the sideline to be frequently recovered by the kicking team.
DEV NOTE: This has come to be known in the community as the ‘Scum Kick.' This fix will force kickoffs that are very inaccurate to sail out of bounds.
Tuning to fix an issue with Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger’s short & medium pass animations to the left.
Fixed an issue sometimes causing a player to freeze on the ground after getting tackled by the feet.
Fixed an issue allowing an AI-controlled defender to make an interception vs. the ‘Gambler’ ability in a specific multi-player catch situation.
Fixed an issue sometimes causing the kickoff animation to misalign during an onside-kick attempt by an AI-controlled team.
Fixed an issue causing the coach-cam play-art to display incorrectly on Strong Open Slot Zone Alert Bubble.
Fixed an issue causing a missed handoff when using an audible to End Around plays.
Tuning to improve pass leading down on slant routes.
Ultimate Team Updates
Added functionality for players to get currency refunds for Superstar Abilities, Zone Abilities and Chemistry.
DEV NOTE: All Superstar Abilities, Zone Abilities, and Chemistry will be eligible for a 90% refund at all times. Players can choose to manually go and refund individual abilities/chemistries or the refund will happen automatically when downgrading an item. After refunding, the ability/chemistry will need to be purchased again should you choose to re-equip it.
Added functionality to prevent points from improperly being awarded in specific House Rules when a penalty is committed.
Updates to MUT Draft Coach Round.
An additional Coach Round has been added at the end of the draft, with the option to choose a new playbook.
Choose 1 of 3 playbooks in the first Coach Round, then have the option to choose a new playbook from 3.
NEW choices in final coach round, for a total of 6 playbook options.
Increases chance of getting a particular playbook from 9.38% to 18.75%
Player Likeness update for MUT Legend Rob Gronkowski
Player Likeness update for MUT Legend Calvin Johnson, Jr.
Superstar KO
Snoop Dogg added as an Icon to the Superstar: KO Draft Pool.
DEV NOTE: Snoop Dogg joins the Superstar KO fray as a Legendary Wide Receiver. He can’t wait to prove himself on the field, but it begs the question: What happened to Coach Snoop?
Additional Legendary players added to the Superstar: KO Draft Pool
TE Rob Gronkowski
WR Randy Moss
WR Terrell Owens
LB Ray Lewis
Additional Superstars added to the Superstar: KO Draft Pool.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones
Packers CB Jaire Alexander
Vikings RB Dalvin Cook
Additional Presentation has been added to the Superstar: KO Stadium.
New cameras and beauty shots.
Team coach added to stage for winning team celebration.
https://www.ea.com/games/madden-nfl/madden-nfl-20/news/gridiron-notes-title-update-october-10-17
Post edited by NatureBoy2323 on
0
Replies
I cannot understand why the Carolina Panthers have such a low rating 81 overall 69 offense and 82 defense. Yes I am a hardcore Panthers fan but I am also passionate about the sport of football which is why I have been playing Madden since "95". I always played online head to head with the Panthers good or bad no matter what (well expect for the Carson year that was a very bad year), but come on guys ya'll are killing me with this update. I can except Cam Newton losing the X-Factor feature I understand, but Kyle Allen a 62 rating? have you guys been looking at the stats since he started? K. Allen 80/122 CMP/ATT 901 Passing YDs 7 Passing TDs 0 INTs in only 4 games. Why is this guy a 62? He should at least be a 75 or 77 I think he has earned it. Next since K.Allen became a starter we have scored a total of 125 points in the last 4 games we are CURRENTLY 5th in the NFL for POINTS. How are we a 69? Why is our defense an 82? The Cowboys have lost 3 games in a row and the defense is better than the Panthers, how? We are #1 in sacks so far this season. Tied at #3 for turnovers with Chicago (86 rating) Seattle (85 rating). I could continue but I feel like I've said enough. Please fix this so I can enjoy playing with my favorite team again.
Thanks, Big Madden Fan
PSN: This-IS-Winning
Im not sure if anyone else is experiencing this, but in franchise mode, dalvin cooks x factor does not appear. Even if you select the vikings, cooks x-factor ability or even superstar abilities do not show up
Also if you call a hurry-up play in franchise mode within 2 minutes of either half, if you call a timeout afterward, you are forced to take a delay of game penalty as no menus pop up and no button on the controller does anything. Except for the ps4 menu button which you can use to close the game out.
Also, Idk if some players on the game are made to not know how much they are worth but I just had a 66 overall 3rd string Qb try and get a 3 year 28.7 million dollar contract, this guy hasn't thrown a single pass in the three years he's been in the NFL but he thinks he is worth real money? I just resigned my backup 68 overall for barely a million a year over 2 years lol
Staying with Franchise mode. I think it is ridiculous that Qbs ranging from 62-68 are all still throwing over 4000 yards and topping the league in passing yards during simulations, some without even having any good receivers or tight ends.. I can understand a Qb throwing 4000 yards and 1700 of them being caught by a superstar receiver but even that is broken, If OBJ is the only good receiver on the team, it doesn't make sense for him to have 68 catches and the number 2 & 3 guys to have 79-74 catches respectively.. The number 2&3 guys (in there 70s overall) should have 20 fewer catches each and Odell should have 40 more catches... The simulation of Franchise mode is annoying, especially since the ONLY reason I buy the game year in and out is to play franchise for the stats, kind of sucks when the stats aren't anywhere near where they should be... There needs to be some sort of simulation sliders people can use to keep idiotic things like that from happening! I want to see the superstars in Franchise mode playing like it even when games are simulated, and vice versa I don't want a 69 overall Qb with a 119 Passer rating throwing 3tds & 270+ yards per game and completing 75% of his passes, I don't care who you have around that Qb, I don't care how perfect your scheme and playbook are, he is NOT going to do that! EVERRRR!
If a quarterback is under 75 overall how about making the chances of him throwing 300+ yards in a simulation lesser. Nobody rated under 70 is any good at all so they should have like a 5% chance in simulated games to throw 300 yards, if they throw a 300 yard game cut that 5% to 2% so they don't have back to back games, because a bad Qb would NEVER throw 300 yards back to back. Simulated games are a roll of the dice right? Change up the dice rolls, **** isn't that hard, it is literally how gaming began and I have worked on simulation games and that is literally the easiest thing you can do. STOP being lazy. Why can't you get simple **** like that right? only qbs 85+ should be throwing 300 yards more than once or twice a game.
If it was in-depth I would buy it every year and never buy a madden ever again.