Madden NFL 27 names six 99‑Club players amid micro‑transaction criticism
EA Sports announced that Madden NFL 27 will be released on 13 August 2024, with a three‑day early‑access period beginning 10 August for owners of the Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle. The company also revealed six athletes who achieved the game's maximum 99 rating, joining the so‑called "99 Club": Ja'Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals), Jaxon Smith‑Njigba (Seattle Seahawks), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Matthew Stafford (Los Angeles Rams), Myles Garrett (Los Angeles Rams) and Trey McBride (Arizona Cardinals). The cover athlete, quarterback Caleb Williams, is not among them, and no player from the Chicago Bears appears in the club.
A separate report indicates that EA plans to introduce new microtransactions in Madden NFL 27, including options in the single‑player Superstar mode and other game aspects. This follows player backlash over microtransactions in the recently released College Football 27, which prompted EA to remove such purchases from the Road to Glory and Dynasty modes. EA officials said the company will communicate future monetisation plans more clearly to avoid surprise criticism.
Entities: Caleb Williams · EA Sports · Ja'Marr Chase · Josh Allen · Madden NFL 27
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] No player from the Chicago Bears is in the 99 Club. (No Chicago Bears players are part of the club.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] EA faced player backlash over microtransactions in College Football 27, leading to removal from Road to Glory and Dynasty modes. (Earlier this year EA received a protest wave over microtransactions in College Football 27, prompting removal from Road)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] EA intends to communicate future microtransaction plans more clearly to avoid surprise criticism. (EA wants to communicate monetisation plans more clearly to avoid surprise among players.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Early access for the Deluxe Edition and MVP Bundle runs from 10 August 2024 for three days. (Early access begins on 10 August for three days for Deluxe Edition or MVP Bundle owners.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Madden NFL 27 release date is 13 August 2024. (Madden NFL 27 release date is scheduled for 13 August.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Six players were named to Madden NFL 27's 99 Club: Ja'Marr Chase, Jaxon Smith‑Njigba, Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford, Myles Garrett, and Trey McBride. (The six players listed as members of the 99 Club are Ja'Marr Chase – Cincinnati Bengals; Jaxon Smith‑Njigba – Seattle Se)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] EA Sports plans to add new microtransactions to Madden NFL 27, including in the single‑player Superstar mode. (EA will include new microtransactions in Madden NFL 27, also in the single‑player Superstar mode.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Cover athlete Caleb Williams is not included among the 99 Club players. (Cover athlete Caleb Williams does not make the list.)