As EA Play approaches in just a few weeks, EA is getting some of its news out early, with a first look at Madden NFL 21 coming next week.
We haven't many details to go by, but the game's official Twitter account has tweeted the date "6.1.20" alongside a brief teaser.
"So much more than a name...First look coming soon #Madden21"
What that could mean, we can only speculate for now. It's possible EA is focusing its marketing efforts this year around the game's brand awareness given that a competitor is on the way from 2K, even as that game will not be a simulation. The Madden name has been around so long, it's likely some younger fans don't even know what it refers to, that being famed Raiders football coach and later commentator John Madden.
Last year's iteration, Madden NFL 20, has set records for the most players in the history of any single Madden game, and EA has celebrated the continued popularity of the game, in addition to its whole EA Sports catalog, during the pandemic, which has eliminated virtually all real-life sports from the world.
EA expressed concern at its recent earnings call regarding the prospects of its sports games in a world of prolonged absence of real sports, citing the fact that none of this has any precedent. They don't yet know if sports games will continue to surge without their rela-life counterparts on TV. It could go either way, it seems. Maybe players will be craving more sports, or maybe they'll move on to something else with no season to play alongside of.
Time will tell, but for now we can look forward to a first look on June 1, and likely much more at EA Play Live 2020, airing online on June 11 at 7 pm Eastern on all of EA's social channels. For the rest of the "not E3" schedule, check out our calendar.
