Madden 17: EA Access Release Date and Latest Gameplay Video Trailer

The NFL season officially begins in September, but video game fans know the unofficial kickoff to the year begins when the new Madden is released. The wait is almost over, as gamers with an EA Access membership will be able to try out Madden NFL 17 starting on August 18. 

Madden is the standard by which all other sports video games are measured. EA Sports makes new tweaks to the gameplay and features every year to keep the title fresh, and it's a perennial best seller as a result. 

To help ease your suffering until the game is released, here's all of the pertinent information needed to get you ready for Madden 17. 

EA Access Release Date	Official Release Date	Systems	Sale Price
Thursday, August 18 (Requires $4.99 EA Access Monthly Subscription)	Tuesday, August 23	PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360	$59.99

Madden 17 Trailer

Key Upgrade

Even though EA is constantly striving to bring the actual experience of watching the NFL to its video game, there are certain areas that have always lagged behind. 

One of the weak spots has been franchise mode, which too often results in playing one season before going into a constant state of simulation. 

Now, EA has taken some steps that will appeal to gamers. Per Cover 32 on Yahoo Sports, franchise mode is going to make it easier to take part in games that will actually require your services:

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As far as the on-field portion goes, a new “Play the Moment” feature allows you to drop in and take over your team during key moments of the game. While not for me, those who enjoy only playing during the two minute drill or when your team is down late in the game could enjoy this new feature.

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The changes don't stop there, as Cover 32 noted there is a game-planning mode in which the player gains an advantage for properly preparing for a specific opponent. 

For instance, Drew Brees has thrown at least 627 passes in eight of the last nine seasons. If the New Orleans Saints are on your schedule, you better dedicate a lot of practice time to figuring out how to stop the pass, because Brees is not going to call 35 to 40 running plays. 

But that's still not everything. EA Sports noted on its official website how the "Big Decisions" feature will impact what gamers are doing behind the scenes:

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Big Decisions come to you with the right information at the right time. Do you start your star QB with that lingering injury, or go to your unproven back-up with a playoff spot on the line? In Madden NFL 17 on Xbox One and PlayStation®4, Big Decisions begin a new direction in your career mode experience changing the way you approach your gameplay strategy for every match up.

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There are various stages of the "Big Decisions" mode, including a full-season goal, deciding how to handle injured players and changing your roster through trades and free agency. 

Given the wealth of information football fans have about the preparation—before and during the season—that goes into running an NFL franchise, it's only fitting that Madden 17 would reflect some of that information. 

There is no perfect way to recreate all the decisions NFL coaches and general managers have to make, but putting gamers in a position to decide whether to play an injured star quarterback knowing that he could further injure himself and ruin their season as a result puts them in the shoes of the real people on the sidelines. 

Video games have become more lifelike than ever before. EA Sports' upgrades for Madden 17 clearly reflect that, and it's to our benefit.