A closed beta for
Madden NFL 20 is set to go live next Friday, giving players a chance to go hands-on with this year's installment in EA's annual football series.
The closed beta will allow players to play as the four teams in last year's Conference championship games (Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints). The new Face of the Franchise: QB1 Campaign and Madden Ultimate Team will not be playable.
Codes to access the closed beta will be given out via social media from June 10 to June 14, and unfortunately game capturing or streaming is not allowed. The closed beta will begin on Friday, June 14 at 12:00 p.m. ET and end on Sunday, June 16 at midnight.
In addition to announced a closed beta,
Madden 20 was one of the six games spotlighted during today's EA Play event. The 30-minute panel offered us an in-depth look at
Madden 20's gameplay, including the new X-Factor and Zone Abilities. New this year, Superstar X-Factor Abilities make elite NFL players in real life feel like actual superstars in the game.
Completing certain in-game objectives with stars like JuJu Smith-Schuster, Aaron Donald, and Alvin Kamara will unlock special abilities that make them stand out on the grid iron. Completing four passes of thirty yards or more with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, for example, will unlock his "Bazooka" ability, which increases his max passing distance by 15 yards,
Also highlighted during the stream was Face of the Franchise and the new Scenario Engine that delivers more dynamic challenges in Franchise and career mode. EA also made it a point to highlight an expanded playbook that now emphasizes the run-pass option that so many NFL teams have adopted lately.
Madden NFL 20 kicks off earlier than usual this year, launching on August 2 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC.