Madden NFL 18 gets gameplay-heavy patch

The fifth patch of substance arrived today for Madden NFL 18 and will likely be welcomed by those who have been waiting for more in the way of improvements to the core of the game given it has primarily been focused on gameplay. Other areas such as  Franchise and Ultimate Team have also been affected by the update but undoubtedly the approach taken for this one was to deliver considerable improvements and fixes to gameplay. 

The Key Changes

♦Added logic on all Game Styles so kick blocks no longer occur on “Perfect Kicks”
♦Adjusted pass blockers being hurdled too frequently by defenders
♦Fixed an issue that removed the VICIS helmets from offline CFM
♦Moved Pump Fake from Right Stick Up to Left Stick Click
♦Adjusted logic around QB Contain defensive assignment
♦Tuned to decrease block shedding in run blocking on All-Madden Simulation Game style
♦Tuned to improve tackling ball carriers during broken tackle animations

Gameplay

♦Tuned to improve play of AI QB’s, specifically around scrambling and recognizing pressure

♦Added logic on all game styles so kick blocks no longer occur on “Perfect Kicks” – to get a perfect kick, Kick Power must be at 100% and the Accuracy Meter must be stopped within the kicker’s accuracy window, and perfect text appears on screen when you get 100% Kick Power and there will be a blue flicker that will trigger on the kicker’s player icon after the kick that indicates you met the “Perfect” criteria

♦Removed Pump Fake functionality from Right Stick so users don’t accidently execute a Pump Fake when trying to throw the ball away – users can still Pump Fake while in the pocket by clicking Left Stick

♦Adjusted some logic around the QB Contain assignment: Tuning to QB Contain so that wider slot corners will not become Contain players when rushing, and dded functionality to pass blocking to better handle target switching for QB Contain defenders

♦Cut block fixes that reduce both cut block attempts and defensive hurdles over blockers in Competitive Game Style

♦Addressed an animation issue that was resulting in pass blockers being hurdled too frequently by defenders

♦Addressed an issue where defenders didn’t react to scramblers on fake kick plays when in a non-kick block type defense

♦Addressed some instances where TE’s would sometimes freeze at the snap in the Singleback Deuce Close formation

♦Addressed clock issues with Overtime periods

♦Addressed an issue where the QB would turn around backwardsto throw when using the Target Passing mechanic

♦Addressed issues around def users intentionally tripping receivers in Competitive Game Style

♦Addressed issue where offensive linemen would occasionally drop back deeper than the QB on play-action passing plays

♦Addressed an issue with the Toss animation on the Weak I Flex HB Toss Wk play in the Run ‘n Gun playbook

♦Addressed a rare issue where possession would be given to the incorrect team when kicking an onside kick out of bounds

♦Addressed a ball spotting issue around blocked punts going out of the back of the end zone

♦Addressed ball-spotting issues around turnovers that have been challenged or booth-reviewed

♦Added additional thresholds for QB Accuracy on Competitive Game style so that short, medium, and deep passes each have separate thresholds, with short pass having the lowest threshold to achieve accurate passes

♦Tuned to improve tackling ball-carriers during broken tackle animations

♦Tuned to decrease defensive coverage ‘break-on-ball’ reactions in All-Madden Sim Game style

♦Tuned to decrease block shedding in run blocking in All-Madden Sim Game Style

♦Tuned to decrease “nearby player penalty” for def players attempting to catch interceptions

Franchise

♦Made stability fixes
♦Fixed an issue that removed the VICIS helmets from offline CFM
♦Fixed multiple issues with depth chart logic with injured players
♦Improved stability in the Weekly Training drills in Franchise mode
♦The team is aware of an issue in Franchise mode where users may experience lag during play call on PS4. We want our PS4 franchise players to know this issue is a top priority for our team, and we will do our best to get the issue resolved as soon as possible. We apologize for the inconvenience and thank you for your continued patience.

Madden Ultimate Team

♦Set Repeatable Limits – We can now set the amount of times you can complete a set
♦Set Timers – Timer displays on the Set that will tell you how much longer it will be available
♦Improved the look and feel of chemistry in the lineup screen and back of items