Bills, Josh Allen Get Realistic Madden Upgrade originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
A new NFL season on the horizon means a new Madden NFL title is on its way. The next iteration of EA Sports’ annual release, Madden NFL 26, is coming out on August 14.
Entering into its last year of its exclusive rights deal with the NFL, EA Sports has to come out with a bang, or risk losing their exclusive license, which has kept other big companies such as 2K from re-entering the space.
As a way of generating hype for the upcoming release, EA let certain creators get their hands on the game in an early version, and EA has begun sharing clips and snippets on social media. The early reviews of the game praise the long-needed graphical improvements, and a new QB DNA system.
Buffalo Bills’ quarterback Josh Allen has been in the game in each of his NFL seasons, including being the cover athlete for Madden NFL 24. The upcoming game might just be EA’s most accurate depiction of him on the virtual gridiron. EA even factored in an underhanded forward toss from Allen.
“The team is reimagining quarterback play with new QB DNA,” said former NFL quarterback and current Madden content creator Kurt Benkert in a deep dive trailer about the game. “Adding new levels of detail, quality, and variety to the most iconic position in sports.”
This new system, along with several others added into this year’s iteration, relies on 10 years of AI-backed data to truly capture quarterbacks signature throwing styles and passing animations.
For instance, Caleb Williams has the ability to throw jump passes like he does in the NFL, while Allen is able to keep his tight spiral and high velocity intact while throwing on the run.
Being the quarterback in Buffalo called for Allen to perform in tough weather during his career. While Madden has always allowed you to alter the weather (unimpressively, according to the community), Madden NFL 26 features a new dynamic football weather feature, which takes it to another level.
“The new football weather in Madden 26 will affect gameplay and your game plan,” Benkert said. “Extreme conditions, like heavy snow, fog, rain and wind, will impact visibility, player movement, stamina and ball security.”
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This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 19, 2025, where it first appeared.