Madden NFL 20 patch delivers Franchise Mode upgrades and more

With two months now having passed since release Madden NFL 20 has now received its third major patch. Earlier updates to the game have added an entirely new mode in Superstar KO and new offensive line abilities along with various fixes and improvements.

This latest patch does some work towards making Franchise Mode more compelling with considerable enhancements having been made to news and scenarios. Keenan Allen replaces Antonio Brown as a Superstar X-Factor, updates have been made to likenesses and stadiums, a new control option added for Franchise and Face of the Franchise, and many other adjustments and fixes have been implemented.

New Gameday Stories and Challenges

New Break-Out Scenario Arcs in Franchise-Coach Mode

♦Break-Out X-Factor Defensive Tackle: In Franchise Mode while playing as a Coach, a Superstar Defensive Tackle on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor DT based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out X-Factor Linebacker: In Franchise Mode while playing as a Coach, a Superstar Linebacker on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor LB based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out X-Factor Defensive Back: In Franchise Mode while playing as a Coach, a Superstar Defensive Back on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor DB based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out Superstar Linebacker: In Franchise Mode while playing as a Coach, a Linebacker with the Star Development Trait on the user’s team has a chance to gain the Star Development Trait based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out X-Factor Receiver: In Franchise Mode while playing as a Coach, a Superstar Receiver on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out X-Factor Running Back: In Franchise Mode while playing as a Coach, a Superstar Running Back on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor RB based on in-game performance

New Break-Out Scenario Arcs in QB1 and Franchise (Player-Locked) Mode

♦Break-Out X-Factor Running Back: In Face of Franchise and Player-Locked Franchise Modes, a Superstar Running Back on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor RB based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out X-Factor Receiver: In Face of Franchise and Player-Locked Franchise Modes, a Superstar Receiver on the user’s team has a chance to become a Superstar X-Factor based on in-game performance

♦Break-Out Superstar Running Back: In Face of Franchise and Player-Locked Franchise Modes, a Running Back with the Star Development Trait on the user’s team has a chance to gain the Superstar Development Trait based on in-game performance

New Playoff Content

♦Win One for the Veteran: Under certain circumstances in Coach Mode, a team decides to rally around a veteran leader in the playoffs

♦Playoff Clinch Notification: In Coach Mode, a team is notified when they clinch a playoff berth

♦Playoff Decision – Rest or Momentum: In Coach Mode, if a user clinches a top playoff seed before Week 17, the user makes a choice between resting his team or preserving momentum going into the playoffs

Franchise Updates

♦Added ‘Full On-Field Control’ option for Offline Franchise and Face of the Franchise: QB1 leagues

♦Preseason QB Mentor: In Coach Mode, a team with an older, veteran QB has an opportunity to improve younger players on the roster

♦Fixed issue causing hidden dev-trait snap count to reset on the player card in leagues using the ‘Active Roster’ option

♦Added X-Factor Database view to Franchise modes, which allows players to see which Superstars and Superstar X-Factors are on each team in the league, allowing players to scout their competition before gameday

♦Added new League settings for minimum roster size and off-season roster cut limits

♦Fixed an issue causing some formations to be flipped in Formation Subs menu

♦Fixed an issue preventing the Formation Subs screen from updating when changing the playbook on the Schemes screen

♦Fixed an issue preventing a Superstar ability from unlocking when the player’s OVR didn’t match the criteria

♦Replaced the ‘Preseason Taylor Bennett introduction’ for new Coach leagues with a new introduction conversation about Development traits

♦Updated future Superbowl Stadiums in newly created leagues

♦Fixed an issue causing user-controlled players that were retired to then be available in the Free Agent pool

♦Updated scenario trigger conditions for ‘Frustrated Player’ stories

♦Fixed issues causing bad text to display when Jack Ford would reach out after a Superbowl game

♦Increased XP rewards for Coaches from ‘Boss Battle’ scenarios

♦Adjusted the rating and attribute rewards for completing scenarios

♦Updated FSU coach in Face of the Franchise: QB1 college games

♦Fixed a typo in the popup message when attempting to make an offer higher that would go above the salary cap

♦Fixed an issue causing OVRs on the front end to be wildly different than the OVRs in Franchise team-selection

♦Fixed incorrect text regarding defensive playbooks for Dolphins, Chiefs, Cardinals, and Jets

♦Fixed an issue preventing the roster screen from updating after editing a player in Offline leagues

♦Updated the analysis section of the player card to display correct “top NN%” at the position“

♦Fixed an issue causing CPU teams using 3-4 coach schemes to cut too many MLB’s

♦The Load Franchise button will be at the top of the More Options list (for Offline, Cloud, and Face of the Franchise screens) once a league has been created

♦Fixed an issue in the Draft Class editor where big players had skinny arms

♦Fixed an issue where the Top NFL Draft Prospect shows up as True Talent rank “0”

♦Fixed an issue when starting a new league using a specific week and Real-life rosters, the week’s number would be off by one

Likeness Updates

Titans OT Taylor Lewan, Giants QB Daniel Jones, Browns TE David Njoku, Packers DL Kenny Moore, Packers TE Jace Sternberger, Colts WR Parris Campbell, Patriots RB Damien Harris, Ravens RB Justice Hill, Chargers FS Adrian Phillips, Chargers CB Nasir Adderley, Jets WR Robby Anderson, Cowboys WR Devin White, Lions DE DaShawn Hand, Broncos RB Phillip Lindsay, Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow, Steelers MLB Devin Bush, Free Agent WR Michael Crabtree, Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel, Superstar: KO Coach Emmitt Smith

Uniform and Stadium Updates

♦Updates to current and/or classic uniforms for Vikings, Dolphins, Bills, Titans, Panthers, Eagles, Browns

♦Updated home field/endzone art for Colts, Browns, 49ers, Cowboys, Bears

♦Updated stadium details for Eagles, Ravens, Patriots, Cardinals, Lions, Falcons

Presentation Updates

♦Fixed an issue preventing the kick meter from appearing late in games for Franchise players when using longer quarter lengths

♦Various commentary updates

♦X-Factor loading screen & database updates

♦Fixed an issue causing the QB Pre-Play ‘speaker’ graphic to appear under players other than the QB

♦Tuning to coach cam to avoid the camera from constantly resetting when spamming pre-snap mechanics

♦Fixed an issue causing players to appear with the incorrect helmet after trading them on the main menu

♦Fixed an issue sometimes causing sideline props to disappear in specific cut scenes

Gameplay Updates

♦Multiple improvements to sideline and boundary-catch rulings relative to two feet vs. one foot in bounds

♦Tuning to improve Pass Leading abilities when throwing to drag and crossing routes

♦Tuning to improve picking up the ball off the ground for user-controlled players

♦Fixed a rare issue causing a catch knock-out in the back of the endzone to lead to an incorrect touchback

♦Added functionality to ‘Tackle Supreme’ and ‘Secure Tackler’ abilities allowing them to prevent broken tackles resulting from ball carrier special moves, in addition to the existing functionality which prevents broken conservative and dive tackles

♦Tuning to decrease the frequency of Facemask penalties on Simulation and Arcade game styles, which also applies to both user-controlled teams and AI-controlled teams when using the ‘Aggressive Strip Ball’ coach adjustment

♦Improved catch animations to reduce specific cases of receivers failing to trigger a catch animation

♦Fixed an issue causing ‘back foot inaccurate passes’ when trying to use Pass Leading back toward the QB

♦Tuning to reduce wind speeds in stadiums with retractable domes on Competitive game style

♦Tuning to reduce successful hit sticks by low rated players vs. scrambling QBs on Competitive Game style – this will only prevent hit sticks vs. QB’s from being 100% successful in cases where the defender has a really low HPW rating and/or the QB has a higher BTK rating; for defenders with higher HPW ratings, hit sticks on QB’s will still not be broken

♦Fixed a rare issue allowing an interception of a tipped pass during QB Spike – QB spikes will no longer be able to be intercepted

♦Tuning to improve deep zone behavior in Cover 3 and Cover 4 when covering certain plays where the #3 receiver is in the backfield

♦Fixed an issue preventing play results from the last play of a quarter from counting towards X-Factor knock-out conditions

♦Fixed an issue sometimes causing the clock to keep running after the ball would hit the goalpost

♦Tuning to decrease AI usage of fake-snap in Simulation and Arcade game styles, which should also reduce frequency of AI-controlled false start penalties

♦Tuning to better balance the Read defender’s behavior vs. Read Option and RPO plays

♦Fixed a rare issue sometimes preventing progression through Skills Trainer Gauntlet

♦Multiple improvements to various Skills Trainer drills

Superstar KO Updates

A new squad is entering Superstar KO this week!

Team – “Rhythm”Team
Coach – Jon Gruden
Playbook – West Coast
Strength – Offense

Lead by Coach Jon Gruden, team Rhythm is giving Emmitt Smith’s GNP some well-deserved R&R after taking a beating trying to make it through those lines. With Gruden’s history in the NFL, he knows how to utilize different playbooks to his advantage, with no playbook being outside of his grasp of knowledge, as well as a base team full of players used to playing West Coast.

While you won’t have the full depth of a defensive playbook, players will have an entire West Coast Offensive playbook, full of plays designed to get a team out of any tight spaces based around Singleback, Gun, and I-Form plays. You’ll see short, powerful bursts from your HB with HB Wham and HB Dive, stellar opportunities for your wideouts with WR Post and Corner Strike, and some trick plays with PA Flood and PA Poco. Get into the swing of things, let the Rhythm flow through you, and watch as your team grooves down the field for that sweet TD.

Playbook Updates

♦Updated Panthers defensive playbook from Base 4-3 to Base 3-4

♦Fixed an issue preventing the QB from handing the ball off on RPO Counter plays

♦Fixed an issue preventing the snap when spamming the ‘reset’ play option

♦Fixed an issue sometimes causing the QB to drop back sideways on QB Spike plays

♦Fixed an issue causing a missed snap when flipping a specific Jet Sweep play

♦Fixed an issue causing a bad pitch when using motion on some reverse plays

♦Fixed coach-cam play art for a number of Jet Sweep plays