Madden NFL 26 and College Football 26 Release Dates Are Finally Here
Alright football fans, get your calendars ready. EA Sports has just dropped the bombshell about when we'll get to play the next iterations of their gridiron giants: Madden NFL 26 and highly anticipated College Football 26. They showed us a peek at the entire "football journey," from high school days of the players to the pros.
When Can You Play
Now, let's cut to the dates everyone has been anticipating:
- College Football 26 drops officially on July 10th.
- Madden NFL 26 soon after on August 14th.
Want to grab a particular edition Keep reading, because there are ways to get in even earlier.
Platforms: Where Are We Playing
First of all, EA has officially announced both games will come out on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. If you still stick to a PS4 or Xbox One, take note – EA isn't backing this year's sports games on those older consoles. Looks like it's time to think about an upgrade if you haven't already.
PC, meanwhile Madden 26 will be available on PC, to the joy of the master race. But no College Football 26 plans have been announced yet for PC. And for those who want to preorder the as-yet-unknown Nintendo Switch 2, preorders on that potential platform for Madden 26 are not yet up.
Ready to Preorder: Knowing Your Choices
Preorders for both games (with a couple of reservations) are currently available on the PlayStation Store and Xbox Store. EA is indeed offering an "MVP Bundle" that includes both games, but you have choices.
The Standard Game
You can preorder Madden 26 on its own for $70.00. Standalone preorders for College Football 26 haven't gone live yet, but expect that to occur soon.
Stepping Up to Deluxe
Want a bit more bang for your buck and early access, too The two games will also have a Deluxe version for $100.00 each. See what you'll get:
Madden NFL 26 Deluxe Edition Includes:
- The full Madden NFL 26 game
- Early access to the game three days before the actual release
- Solo challenge bonuses
- 4,600 Madden Points to use in the game
- A player item from an elite player with the cover athlete
- A Superstar legendary XP boost
- Franchise coach skill points
- A one-of-a-kind player card item
College Football 26 Deluxe Edition Features:
- The full College Football 26 game
- Early game access three days before the launch
- Bonus solo challenges
- 4,600 College Football points
- A Top Prospect Ultimate Team pack
- An All Hands Ultimate Team pack
- Dynasty coach skill points
- Road to Glory skill points
The MVP Bundle: For the Die-Hard Fan
If you were going to purchase both titles anyway, the MVP Bundle might be your best bet. At $150.00, it lands you both Madden NFL 26 and College Football 26.
But wait, there's more. If you preorder the MVP Bundle before April 29th, you get some additional extras on top of everything that comes with the Deluxe editions:
- A 99 OVR Travis Hunter player item for both Madden NFL 26 and College Football 26
- An MUT (Madden Ultimate Team) elite player item exclusive to bundles.
- A CUT (College Ultimate Team) elite player item exclusive to bundles.
Leaving the Last-Gen Behind
The fact that both games are skipping PS4 and Xbox One signals a whole leap forward for EA Sports to the current generation of consoles, five years after when they originally launched.
Looking Ahead
College Football 25 was a huge success last year, with the series returning after an extended break. It'll be intriguing to see whether College Football 26 can ride on that wave and how both games are perceived when they drop this summer on consoles. The football season will be heating up early.
