So Madden will now have a graceful return after 13 long years with Saquon Barkley by his side, and the news was just announced: Madden NFL 26 is going to release for the Nintendo Switch 2 on August 14, with pre-orders being accepted right now. The gaming and football communities have been thrown into turmoil with excitement and nostalgia after the announcement, with inevitable Madden curse jokes flying around.
Allow me to get this out of the way before people begin questioning it: The previous time a Madden game hit a Nintendo system was Madden 13 for the Wii U back in 2012. Since it has been, like, well over a decade now, since NFL action has briefly gone portable for the football fans, unless these fans had a PlayStation or an Xbox to go with, now that the Switch 2 is all but ready, EA is knocking on the door once again. And certainly, the talk of the cover athlete’s name, Saquon Barkley, is being thrown out like a flex. The dude has been a living highlight reel since day one, with injuries trying-but-failing-to-keep-him-down from the get-go.
There is madness going on online, as expected. Some are really hyped: “We are there DAY 1! MADDEN BACK ON NINTENDO,” from @AesirMalos. Then, there are the usual temperatures that just cannot be resisted, with the Madden curse jokes starting: “Barkley getting hurt week 1ðŸ˜,” by @RailroadRacer49. Classic. Followed by, frankly, that kind of ravenous crowd that just asks the question, “Who gives a shit? These games suck ass,” bluntly stated by @RadicalRat. Ouch.
But how about the glaring elephant in the room: will the Switch 2 edition be any good? Previously, Nintendo ports of sports games have been… controversial. FIFA on Switch was basically a glorified last-gen version for years, and gamers like @commandersatx are already skeptical, asking: “Will it have all the same features as the other consoles?” Valid question, considering EA’s track record. Then again, tech-wise, the Switch 2 is rumored to be a major step up, so perhaps this time will be different.
And there’s one more thing that definitely further cheers up the Eagles fans: Nintendo went out of its own way to tweet out an Eagles’ player. That has to pierce through the hearts of Cowboys fans. Hats off to @philipbeano, who called the situation “absurd.”
What’s next? If history has taught Its way, there will soon be gameplay trailers, feature breakdowns, and some spicy leaks, all addressing how the Switch 2 will handle Frostbite, or just the contrary, if EA decides to throw on the old engine and call it a day. And oh my god, will August ever come in swiftly for those hungry football fans who have been grimly waiting for a portable Madden that does away with cloud streaming or some sort of last-gen compromise.
For sure, putting Madden back on Nintendo is a win, even if it is just going to be a rehash of the EA shenanigans. So, if someone manages to get College Football 26 onto Switch 2… they’ll be a god… for now, this will suffice.
