20 Great Video Game Franchises That Became UNPLAYABLE
6. Madden NFL
Madden NFL was the pinnacle of American football video games, thanks to its emphasis on team management, customisation, accessibility, and strategy.
But what made Madden truly remarkable was its output. Major changes regularly occur in the sporting world, encouraging EA to release a Madden entry every year, which reflected new players, teams, rule adjustments, while also offering enhanced graphics and mechanics.
Although Madden's output helped define its reputation, it eventually became a detriment. Even though a new Madden is still released annually, the later instalments are noticeably more buggy, due to the complexity of modern video games. If a new game was released every two or three years, it would give the developers more time for testing. Instead, the developers cut corners and make minimal updates to hit deadlines, transforming Madden into a dwindling franchise in the process.
No doubt, Madden 21 was the nadir of the series, suffering from rampant glitches, underdeveloped modes, and heavy micro-transactions. Though later instalments mildly improved, EA are unabashedly pushing the micro-transactions more than ever.
What's worse is Madden has no real competition, giving the property little incentive to improve, much to the frustration of its fanbase.