Madden NFL Mobile 21 Gridiron Notes

Hello, Madden Mobile Community!

Welcome back to Madden NFL Mobile Gridiron Notes. Today we will discuss the brand-new mode in Madden NFL 21 Mobile, The Yard: Underground.

Game Designers Will and Shane joined the Madden Mobile Segment to discuss The Yard: Underground and to explain everything in and around this new experience.

There were four overarching goals in the design of The Yard: Underground. The first and second were to enable users to experience a new type of (1) Gameplay featuring your own Customizable Avatar that is fun, fast, and appeals to a mobile audience. The second being your new (2) Avatar’s Gear and how it’s celebrated, including a shared gear inventory system between Madden NFL 21 Mobile and Madden NFL 21 on console. This is important as there are cross-gear rewards you will be able to use on both platforms (Mobile/Console). The third design goal is based on (3) Avatar Progression via archetypes and upgrading your attributes to be become a superstar in The Yard: Underground. The final high-level design aspect was to try and gather new players who enjoy a (4) Narrative driven experience that functions similar to a career mode and puts the user directly into Madden NFL 21 Mobile.

Will and Shane then discussed the best ways to execute the above design goals. The first being Gameplay.

The small-sided, high-speed gameplay takes over in the single-player 5v5 mode played in new locations around the globe. We have an entire stream dedicated to gameplay, so check out the Madden NFL 21 Mobile Gridiron Notes page for a full breakdown of The Yard: Underground’s gameplay and custom playbooks.

The other side of the figurative Gameplay coin is navigation off the field. Shane detailed how it functions via an event chain, similar to Master Series, in brand new locations. The first location is Miami Port in Miami, FL. As you can see in the image above, the field is unique to Miami and this is a trend that will continue as more locations are released. Not only is the field unique, but the Map itself will also be themed and will have characteristics representative of where you are located throughout the world. Below, is an example of the map node, familiar to any users who have played Madden NFL Mobile in prior seasons, but also displaying the Miami art style. 

Will and Shane then discussed how your Avatar’s Gear was a main point of focus in accomplishing their high-level goals of The Yard: Underground.

Incorporating a robust Gear system, allowing shared gear inventory across platforms, enables the user more control over how their Avatar best represents themselves. By playing The Yard: Underground’s interactive narrative, you will earn Cred and Madden Rank, enabling you to select the gear you want, when you want, for your Avatar. There will also be pieces of gear exclusively earned on Mobile, as well as some only earned on Console. These will be accessible to wear on either platform thanks to the shared gear inventory system. Make sure to Link your EA account on both platforms to access this feature.

This directly leads into Will and Shane’s next point, Avatar Progression.

Your Avatar will participate in a number of new small-sided gameplay drills and events where you play a single position. You will be able to select an Archetype for your Avatar and upgrade your attributes to help you become dominant in this new mode. This provides the user with a wide variety of gameplay possibilities up front, while simultaneously offering deep upgrade potential for your Avatar. Important note: This doesn’t mean you are locked into one position for the entirety of your time in The Yard: Underground. Will explained that there will be narrative choices for you to select where you play on the field. 

All the above topics take place inside Will and Shane’s final design pillar, The Narrative.

The team wanted to show off that The Yard: Underground isn’t just a new mode, it’s a new world. The team knew creating a sense of attachment to the Underground world was important, and in order to accomplish this, they have implemented narrative moments. In the image below, a storyline inside The Yard: Underground revolves around a tournament which was used to create a sense of immersion. Shane and Will also explained they understand narrative-focused users want to feel attached to their Avatar, so it was important to them that any change the players made to their Avatar’s gear loadout was also reflected in the narrative conversations.

Link your EA Account with your current Madden Mobile account to be notified when the new app is available! From now until August 6^th, 2020, connecting your EA and Madden Mobile accounts will award a Madden Mobile 4^th Quarter 100 OVR Pack and a Madden Max Stamp! Once linked, you can claim the pack in the store.

Want the latest information on Madden NFL 21? Stay up to and find out everything happening around Madden NFL 21 by visiting their Gridiron Notes! See the Pre-Order Details and discover what’s coming to you on August 28^th, 2020! 

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