Football season is here again, and with it comes the first round of Madden 23 hacks. Whether you want to create a Super Bowl-winning dynasty or get Madden 23 bragging rights on the sandbox with your friends, there are lots of new things to consider before you kick off the pads and smash the rock this year. Below, we list the essentials you’ll need: new features, hidden secrets, and Coach Madden-style X’s and O’s. Bookmark GR’s Madden 23 tips guide to stay on course for one Hall of Fame year.
1. Use the sliders to get the Madden that suits you
No Madden game is perfect, but instead of throwing the disc away in anger, there is a simple way to help you ‘fix’ any issues you may have.
For many Madden vets, this will feel as automatic as the Brady/Gronk touchdown – but still worth pointing out: go to settings in the main menu (or Franchise menu) to bring up the in-game sliders (from 1). up to 100) affects everything from QB accuracy to how tired players are. Practically every element of the game can be repaired in some way.
Feel free to experiment while under the hood, but we recommend raising Fumbles in both CPU and Player Skill so they spawn less often. Lowering the QB accuracy (to stop the CPU from converting Mariota into Mahomes) and increasing the various special penalty points will immediately make the game a less frustrating experience. For a more realistic line of statistics, feel free to turn the quarter length to around 9-10 minutes in Franchise mode as well.
It’s not an exact science, but it’s one that can ease many headaches as you get used to the new game. In reality, it should be the first port of call for Madden users every year.
2. Don’t be afraid to try the new transition system
Change is good. Honest. In Madden 23, EA offers players three ways to pass: the classic method (same as last year’s game), plus two skill-based pass control schemes: Placement and Strength & Placement and Accuracy.
The last two turns take on a sort of minigame that requires your QB to hold down the power meter on the Power chart or get the timing right on an oscillator for Accuracy, which isn’t much different from field targets. On top of that, there’s also Freeform Toggle mode with L2/LT that allows receivers to deviate from their course – perfect for poor coverage.
Our best advice is to get very familiar with the new passing systems in training before you head into match day. When you start accelerating, the Accuracy mode in particular helps give more freedom to your passage, and even makes the curvy routes a more viable option this year than the risky shootouts of recent years. Better still, if you don’t click with the new system, you can revert to the tried and tested classic mode.
3. Don’t run out of your full salary cap in the first season
It may be tempting to spend big bucks to jumpstart your dynasty in Franchise Mode, but a small change in the financial system – to reflect real life – means that putting off big deals in the first season pays off. .
The cap area is now rolling over to the second season. This gives you an excellent opportunity to recruit Free Agents during the off-season. We’ve seen that Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow can sign up if you’re considering buying a QB franchise with a few seasons to spare in 2025.
4. Deal with Gamertags and new motivations
Gamer Tags are one of the most important new features coming to Franchise Mode in years. In essence, these players are Day 1 Starter, Award Winner, Franchise QB etc. They will get a label like
Mentor is one of the best Gamertags we’ve ever used. Having one (or more) on your team allows each player in that position to gain extra XP during weekly practice. This, combined with the new motivational feature – from team prestige to location, a set of specific circumstances that can persuade a player to sign during negotiations – makes building a full roster much more challenging and rewarding this year.
5. Your initial contract with the franchise is important
Face of the Franchise changed in Madden 23. Instead of fighting for snaps as a rookie, you skydive as an automatic fifth-year free agent and starting player. Of course, you can choose your favorite team, but we recommend that you choose the one with the largest signing bonus at the beginning. The more Reps, the more points you can play while building your player without jumping – this is crucial if you’re trying out the challenging new Cornerback position.
6. MUT Champions should be your Ultimate Team home – and you can play whenever you want
Goodbye Weekend League, hello MUT Champions. You’ll be able to draw a Champion Entry Token when you’ve progressed far enough in the new battle pass-style Competitive Pass. MUT Champions gives you the freedom to play 25 games a week for seven days, away from the weekend frenzy of yesteryear. This is by far the best and most rewarding way to get big rewards early at MUT this year, so be sure to devote all your hours to it whenever possible.
7. Smash the A/X button while running downhill
Tackle Battles, the act of smashing the A (or X on PlayStation 4 and 5) with conservative intervention, is back in Madden 23. When playing with big, harder runs, it should become second nature to start pressing the button to drag your player that extra yard. This could be the difference between a critical first drop and a three-pointer.
If you have trouble stopping a runner on the other side of the ball, you can use R2/RT on the scrimmage line to dodge a block and hit the ball carrier hard with a large stick. Ordinary interceptions will be penalized more this year – and players can often get free for big wins.
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