Madden NFL 25 axed the momentum meter

Every year Madden attempts to dazzle us with new buzzwords and gameplay features. What they don't call attention to is the things that are quietly removed. Understandable, as it isn't fun to announce you're pulling the plug on a thing not many people embraced. The momentum meter has gone the way of the vision cone and fight for the fumble.

Introduced in Madden 22, the momentum meter was a tug-of-war style mechanic that went back and forth depending on in-game events. At certain points in the meter, "M-Factors" would trigger granting bonuses to a winning team or obstacles to a team losing on the meter. Analysis Paralysis would periodically stop the opposing quarterback from seeing his receivers' icons. Another, Hotter Routes, allowed the user team to hot route faster.

In addition to generic M-Factors, each stadium came with its own benefit. My favorite was Tennessee's Titan Up, which prevented the home team from getting holding penalties. My favorite combo was to use this with aggressive blocking, which increases the line's blocking ability but causes a greater chance of holding.

I was eager to show this combo to a friend, and I got sent on the road for about six straight games. I lost the game I finally got at home after playing Madden for too long and getting tired. It was frustrating but fun. I did discover that the stadium abilities are still a thing, they are just home-field advantages that are on all the time now.

Titan Up was vicious with Derrick Henry. Of course, he's in Baltimore now so I guess this combo was destined to get broken apart. I enjoyed momentum but I was in the minority on this one. Of course, there's always the chance this comes back in 10 years as a "new" mechanic. EA has done it before.

As I mentioned in this piece, X-Factors, and superstar abilities got their start years earlier as "weapons." I was writing for a local paper at the time, and we were ecstatic when one of our hometown boys earned a weapon designation.

Once I entered Madden NFL 25, there was no sign of the momentum meter. Of course, it took me about three games to realize it was gone, which is not a ringing endorsement for its inclusion. RIP momentum meter. You were just too good for this world.