With the new NFL season quickly approaching, it’s time for a new entry in EA Sports’ flagship series: Madden 25. And I’m getting a serious sense of déjà vu.

Madden 25 arrives a month after the critical success of College Football 25, and the bar has been set high for Madden 25. After years of treading water, however, it's fair to say there's a lack of optimism for the title.

Although CFB is made by the same developer, Madden now has a clear rival. Madden has to do a lot more to stand out from the crowd.

There’s no denying that EA has made some improvements to key components in Madden 25, the most notable of which is the revamped hit stick. Accurate timing leads to explosive defensive moments, but poor timing leaves the door wide open for the offense to capitalize.