By The Chronicle Staff

Football fans can now take the field in the latest installment of one of gaming’s most popular sports franchises as Madden NFL 27 officially launched Thursday, Aug. 13.

The release comes just weeks before the start of the 2026 NFL regular season, allowing players to experience updated rosters, rookie classes and offseason transactions before teams begin competing for real in September.

Unlike some previous releases, Madden NFL 27 launched simultaneously around the world Thursday afternoon, with players gaining access at the same moment regardless of where they live. Some fans had already been playing for several days through early-access programs included with premium editions and select EA subscriptions, but Thursday marked the official release for everyone.

The latest edition continues many of the franchise’s most popular features, including Franchise Mode, where players can manage a team over multiple seasons, Superstar Mode, which allows gamers to create and develop their own NFL player, and Madden Ultimate Team, the online mode where players build custom rosters featuring current stars and legends.

As always, the game includes updated player ratings, team rosters and the league’s newest rookies, reflecting the major trades, free-agent signings and draft selections made during the offseason.

The release of a new Madden game has become an annual tradition for football fans, with many using it as a way to preview the upcoming NFL season, settle friendly rivalries or simply enjoy the sport year-round.

Madden NFL has remained one of the best-selling sports video game franchises in the world for more than 35 years, introducing millions of players to professional football while continually evolving with advances in gaming technology.

Madden NFL 27 is available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC through the EA App, Steam and Epic Games Store.

With preseason games already underway and the regular season just around the corner, the launch of Madden NFL 27 gives football fans another way to kick off the season—controller in hand, long before the opening kickoff on the real field.■