Madden NFL 21, the latest title in the long-running American football series, is almost here on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.Madden 21brings a few changes to the classic formula, including new control mechanics and improvements to passing, rushing, and tackling. The game’s first trailer was panned by critics and gamers alike for not showing enough progress to warrant the $60 price tag, and many are waiting to see if the game itself follows suit.
AlthoughMadden NFL 21officially releases on August 28, there are actually a couple of ways to get early access to it. Alreadygameplay footage and early reviewsare popping up on the internet from players who’ve acquired the title early. For those players who can’t wait until next week to get their hands on the latestMaddentitle, here’s how to get it early.
EA Membership
The service costs either $5/month or $30/year, and gives access to a variety of other EA titles. The trial forMadden NFL 21can be started immediately after subscription, but it isn’t unlimited. EA Play Members will be able todive into the newMaddenfor a maximum of 10 total hours, enough to get an early taste of the game, and help iron out any last-minute issues.
Deluxe and MVP
For those players who are willing to wait a little longer, but still want to get the game early, there is a second option. Anyone that purchases theDeluxe or MVP editions of the gamewill also be able to play early, starting on August 25. Three days of early access isn’t much, and is more of a bonus for those who were already going to buy the special editions of the game anyway.
This is the pricier of the two options, with the Deluxe edition coming in at $80 and the MVP at $100. However, it also comes with additional features that EA Play Members won’t get. These include high-tierTeam Fantasy Packs, Uniform Packs, and a choice of 1 of 32 Elite Players from the Team Elite Pack.
Madden NFL 21releases on July 30, 2025, on PC, PS4, and Xbox One with future releases planned for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
