Madden 27 Release Date, Top Player Ratings, New Features, Preview and More

EA Sports continues to produce the most realistic, lifelike NFL football game on the market in its Madden franchise. That will not change with the release of Madden 27, the latest entry, which features upgrades that bring players one step closer to stepping on the gridiron themselves.

What new gameplay features can players expect from this year's release, and who are the NFL superstars commanding the highest ratings?

Find out in this preview of the game, featuring Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on the cover.

Release Information

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Date

• August 6: MVP+ members
• August 10: Deluxe and MVP editions
• August 13: Standard edition

Platforms

• PlayStation 5
• Xbox Series X/S
• Nintendo Switch 2
• PC
• Apple Arcade

Cover Athlete: Caleb Williams, QB, Chicago Bears

Top Rated Players

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99 Club

• JaMarr Chase, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
• Jaxson Smith-Njigba, WR, Seattle Seahawks
• Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bills
• Matthew Stafford, QB, Los Angeles Rams
• Myles Garrett, EDGE, Los Angeles Rams
• Trey McBride, TE, Arizona Cardinals

Other Top-Rated Players

• Christian Gonzalez, CB, New England Patriots (98)
• Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Detroit Lions (98)
• Micah Parsons, EDGE, Green Bay Packers (98)
• Penei Sewell, T, Detroit Lions (98)
• Puka Nacua, WR, Los Angeles Rams (98)
• Christian McCaffery, RB, San Francisco 49ers (97)
• Fred Warner, LB, San Francisco 49ers (97)
• Lane Johnson, T, Philadelphia Eagles (97)
• Maxx Crosby, EDGE, Las Vegas Raiders (97)
• Patrick Surtain II, CB, Detroit Lions (97)
• Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers (96)
• Garrett Boles, T, Denver Broncos (96)
• George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers (96)
• Joe Thuney, LG, Chicago Bears (96)
• Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts (96)
• Trent Williams, T, San Francisco 49ers (96)
• Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR, Detroit Lions (95)
• Bijan Robinson, RB, Atlanta Falcons (95)
• Cam Heyward, DT, Pittsburgh Steelers (95)
• Creed Humphrey, C, Kansas City Chiefs (95)
• Jeffrey Simmons, DT, Tennessee Titans (95)
• Quinn Meinerz, G, Denver Broncos (95)
• Tristan Wirfs, LT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (95)
• Will Anderson, EDGE, Houston Texans (95)

Click here for the complete list of player ratings.

New Features

Persona Engine

Available in franchise mode, this feature brings personality to each player. As a result, contract negotiations and locker room dynamics are two areas that will be affected by an individual's persona, another upgrade to bring a greater sense of realism to the game's presentation.

Tackle Stick

The hit stick was introduced to the Madden franchise in the 2005 edition of the game, appropriately featuring cover athlete Ray Lewis. Since then, it has evolved, and this year's offering introduces a complete tackle stick.

Now players can choose from a variety of tackles, including wrap and lunge options. Don't worry, though; the big hit remains an option for those punishing linebackers hoping to jar the ball loose from opposing running backs and receivers.

Timing Matters

Players who have perfected Madden over the years will benefit from the new timing-based catches feature.

Longtime players who can maneuver the controller and perfectly time up catches, both offensively and defensively, will consistently complete catches at a greater clip.

The game utilizes four timing windows: very early, slightly early, perfect, and late, which provides instant feedback and allows players to adjust their timing for better results.