EA Sports Confirms Madden 26 and College Football 26 Release Dates and Platforms

EA Sports has officially announced the release dates for its upcoming football games, with Madden 26 launching on August 14, 2025, and College Football 26 arriving earlier on July 10.

In a significant change, Madden 26 will no longer support PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles, ending a 12-year run on these platforms.

According to the official announcement, Madden 26 will be available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC (via EA app for Windows, Steam, and Epic Games Store), and for the first time in over a decade, on a Nintendo console - the Nintendo Switch 2. This marks the first appearance of the Madden franchise on Nintendo hardware since Madden 13 released back in 2012.

Meanwhile, College Football 26 will be available exclusively on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S platforms, continuing the trend of skipping PC release like its predecessor.

Players who pre-order either the Deluxe Edition or the MVP Bundle will get three days of early access to both games. For Madden 26, early access begins on August 11, while College Football 26 early access starts on July 7.

The MVP Bundle, which combines both games' Deluxe Editions, returns after being one of the best-selling game packages throughout 2024. EA Sports has confirmed this bundle will be available as a digital-only purchase on PlayStation and Xbox platforms.

A reveal trailer showcasing both games was released, highlighting "The Call" - the moment when a college football player receives news they've been drafted to the NFL. While the trailer doesn't reveal many gameplay details, it does provide a first glimpse at the in-game visuals and what appears to be a new score display system.

Pre-order bonuses for Madden 26 Deluxe Edition include 4,600 Madden Points, early access to Ultimate Team Solo Challenges, a Season 1 Elite Player item (for pre-orders before July 24), and various other in-game rewards. The Standard Edition pre-orders come with fewer bonuses but still include a Cover Athlete Elite MUT Player Item, Superstar Legendary XP Boost, and Franchise Coach Ability Points.

Similarly, pre-order bonuses for College Football 26 Deluxe Edition include 4,600 College Football Points, early access to Ultimate Team Solo Challenges, the CUT Top Prospect Pack (for pre-orders before June 19), and the CUT All Hands Pack. Players will also receive Dynasty Coach Points and Road to Glory Skill Points to enhance their gameplay experience. Standard Edition pre-orders come with CUT All Hands Pack, Dynasty Coach Points, and Road to Glory Skill Points to help players get started.

As reported on EA's website, loyal Madden players can receive a 10% discount on their pre-orders through the Loyalty program. This offer applies to players of Madden NFL 23, 24, or 25 who pre-order through the in-game menu. The same loyalty discount applies to the MVP Bundle for eligible players.

Loyal College Football players will also receive a 10% discount on their pre-orders. This offer applies to players of College Football 25.