SALEM, OR — When EA released the first trailer and info for Madden 26, the buzz was immediate—new features, updated presentation, long-requested improvements, and what seemed like a real focus on Franchise Mode. But for longtime fans, especially those of us who’ve been around since Madden 09, excitement often comes with a healthy dose of skepticism.
Enter SoftDrinkTV.
The popular YouTuber dropped a nearly 26-minute deep dive titled “Don’t Fall For It!”, where he praised Madden 26 for looking better than its predecessor—but urged fans not to buy into the hype just yet. His core message? This sudden burst of effort from EA isn’t just about pleasing fans. It’s about fear—fear of losing their exclusive license with the NFL.
And honestly? He might be right.
SoftDrinkTV points out that this is the best Madden trailer we’ve seen in years, and for once, it looks like EA is listening. Features like dynamic weather, proper halftime and weekly wrap-up shows (with Scott Hansen), and deeper franchise logic are finally making their way in. He gives credit where it’s due—highlighting the influence of Scott O’Gallagher (formerly of 2K Sports and now working on both Madden and College Football) and applauding additions that improve immersion like team-specific pregame rituals, mascots, and revamped broadcast packages.
But the catch? Most of what’s “new” is really just old features returning after a decade or more in hibernation. Features that should’ve been standard in any NFL simulation by now. And SoftDrinkTV doesn’t let EA off the hook for that. He reminds us that back in 2004, ESPN NFL 2K5 gave us halftime shows, league-wide highlights, weekly wrap-ups—and EA is just now catching up in 2025.
What really hits hard is his warning: don’t reward EA for finally doing the bare minimum after 22 years of holding an exclusive license. According to him, the NFL has not yet renewed its exclusive deal with EA, and the league is watching how Madden 26 performs—both critically and commercially—before deciding. That means this could be our best shot in decades to break EA’s monopoly and open the door to competition again.
He’s not wrong to ask the hard questions
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Why now?
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Why did it take potential competition for EA to suddenly care?
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And what happens if Madden 26 sells well and the NFL renews the license? Will EA revert to old habits?
For leagues like ours, this puts us in a tricky spot. On one hand, we’re genuinely excited about many of the upgrades—we need the immersion and tools to keep things fresh each season. A working halftime show, more realistic weather, and better Franchise customization help us tell better stories and run a more engaging league.
But on the other hand, we know how this cycle works. We’ve been here before. The polish doesn’t mean the underlying issues—laggy menus, bad sim logic, shallow AI—are fixed. SoftDrinkTV warns that those problems still exist under the surface, based on leaked info from someone who’s played an early build of the game.
So what’s the answer?
For us, the 2K Online Franchise league isn’t just about the game—it’s about the people, the rivalries, the storylines we create around the game. We’ll be moving ahead with Season 33 in Madden 26, but with clear eyes and realistic expectations. We’re not buying Madden 26 because we believe EA suddenly changed—we’re doing it because it still gives us the best platform to build our experience.
But that doesn’t mean we’ll stay silent. We want EA to feel the pressure. We want competition. And if Madden 26 falls short—again—you better believe we’ll be among the first to call it out.
If you haven’t watched the full video yet, check it out below. Whether you agree or not, it’s one of the most honest breakdowns out there.
And remember—don’t fall for it.
