Madden NFL 21’s The Yard looks to shake up the gameplay of the series. Taking a backyard football approach, The Yard focuses on the type of rules and gameplay that many grew up with on the playground. But the backyard inspiration isn’t the only thing that EA Sports is looking to, asMadden NFL 21is seemingly taking notes from games likeDestinyandFortnitein its approach for The Yard.
Beyond thebackyard gameplay in The Yard, one of the huge emphasizes seems to be the social nature of the game, showing off with gear and apparel, and an ongoing games as a service-type vibe. This direction for The Yard allows the game to have the potential to be something fans come back to over and over to enjoy with friends.
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Social Madden
Maddenmay already be considered a social experience for some, but nothing like what The Yard is trying to do. It is true thatFranchise Mode, which is in need of some improvements, can be played with groups of friends, but many see it as a solo experience. MUT is like a fantasy football game, and playing online against opponents who have decked out cards is fun, but much of the time for players is spent with challenges, building teams, and flipping through auctions. The Yard can be played alone in single-player, but the experience is built for online action with strangers and friends.
Couch co-op is perhaps where Madden’s multiplayer has been a strength for years, which is still the case, but The Yard brings that experience to the online space. Players can play 1v1 while talking trash and showing off their avatar, but 2v2 and 3v3 in Squads is perhaps where The Yard shines, bringing that backyard football gameplay with friends to living rooms. PlayingThe Yard and strategizingwith buddies, while sharing in the crazy off-the-wall moments together adds to the fun, very much likeDestinyorFortnite.
Showing off With Avatars and Gear
When players first boot up the game, they will be asked to create an avatar, one that the player uses moving forward in all The Yard matches. This avatar can look very much like the player’s real-life counterpart, and it is really cool to see that avatar dominate on the field. WhenGame Rant previewed The Yard recently, it was extremely satisfying to see the avatar that was created seal the match with a game-ending interception. It’s those prideful moments that JP Kellems (the producer of The Yard) and his team are shooting for.
One of the most fun things to do in a game likeDestinyis grind for new gear to show off to friends. Meanwhile, it is seen as bragging rights to own anextremely rare skin inFortnite.EA is bringing in some of that for The Yard inMadden NFL 21, as new gear can be unlocked and or purchased with in-game currency in the store. The fresh gear, from helmets, to visors, to cleats, and beyond, can then be worn by the player’s avatar to stand out in the crowd.
The Yard Will be an Ongoing Experience
Games likeFortnitehave successes thanks partially to new content being made available regularly, events taking place where the community can come together, and updates that keep the game fresh. The same is certainly true withDestiny,and the content available in The Yard at the launch ofMadden NFL 21will not be the same weeks or even months down the line.
While JP (producer) isn’t ready to go into exact specifics yet, new gear will be rolled out in time, new locations to play will be added, and most excitingly perhaps, new Prototypes will be made available. The Prototypes are what players level up with and play as on the field. The avatar is the look of the player, the prototype is the player’s performance and stats. So whileLamar Jackson, cover athlete ofMadden NFL 21, is a prototype at launch, other players like perhaps Alvin Kamara or JuJu Smith-Shuster will be added eventually. JP also didn’t say no to NFL legends being brought in at some point, meaning perhaps Micheal Vick could be tossing deep balls to Jerry Rice.
The gameplay of The Yard is inspired by backyard football, and it shows in the flow, rules, and feel of the game. But the social aspect of the game, the avatars and the gear, and the ongoing nature of The Yard, seem to point towardsDestinyandFortnite, and that could help the game succeed over the long haul, and possibly make this one of the moreexcitingMaddengamesin recent memory.
Madden NFL 21releases on June 02, 2025 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One with future releases planned for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.
