Is Madden 23 Worth Buying on PS4 in 2024? This Passionate Gamer Says No
As a hardcore Madden player for over a decade who buys every new entry in the series, I cannot recommend purchasing Madden 23 on PlayStation 4 in 2024.
Between the lacking current-gen upgrades and $70 price tag, you‘re better off waiting until you move to PS5 or Xbox Series X|S to experience what makes Madden 23 special – the revolutionary FieldSENSE gameplay.
Trust me, as someone with 80+ hours played in Madden 23 already across platforms, seeing FieldSENSE in action is the only reason to upgrade. Otherwise, from animations to game modes, it‘s more of the same old on PS4.
Minimal Gameplay and Physics Improvements Without FieldSENSE
The marquee upgrade in Madden 23 is undoubtedly FieldSENSE on next-gen consoles. Powered by machine learning and years of development, it overhauls core gameplay elements like:
- 360° Cuts and Jukes: More precision and control to fake out defenders
- Enhanced Pass Rush Moves: New skills to break past blockers
- Next Gen Open Field Tackling: No more suction animations, it‘s all physics-based
However none of these gameplay advancements come to PS4 and Xbox One. I cannot stress enough how incredibly similar it feels on current-gen.
To quantify the changes, Madden 23 on PS4/Xbox One has:
- No major animation upgrades except some new QB throw styles
- Identical player physics and momentum to Madden 22
- Minimal improvements to blocking logic and coverage AI
Without FieldSENSE, you simply won‘t see meaningful updates to the on-field action – a huge miss for $70.
Presentation Remains Nearly Identical to Madden 22
On top of the static gameplay, Madden 23 on PS4 recycles the same player models, stadiums, menus and broadcast camera angles from older entries.
I booted up Madden 22 to compare, and they are practically indistinguishable, down to the pre-game introductions. The only visual upgrades are new equipment and a few extra camera cuts.
It‘s still built on the same aging Ignite Engine as games dating back to Madden 25 in 2014. Next to the gorgeous visual leap on PS5 and Xbox Series X powered by Frostbite, it‘s night and day.
Frankly, it feels like you‘re paying full price for a roster update and slight tune-up rather than a new game. Disappointing for veterans like myself who enjoy the eye candy of next-gen sports titles after so many years of iteration!
Key Improvements Missing from PS4 Version
Now don‘t get me completely wrong – Madden 23 on PS4 isn‘t just copy-paste. Key modes like Franchise have seen some love:
- Staff Management to hire coordinators, scouts and trainers
- Weekly Strategy Focus on aspects like throwing or pass coverage
- Talent Trees Develop coaches with new ability tree
Plus next-gen introduced innovations to player progression through Field Pass seasonal rewards tracks for Ultimate Team and The Yard.
However most of the other banner features like home field advantages, star-driven AI, skill-based passing and enhanced pre-game prep are completely absent on PS4.
| Features | PS5/Xbox Series X | PS4/Xbox One |
|---|---|---|
| FieldSENSE Gameplay | ✅ | ❌ |
| Next Gen Player Likeness | ✅ | ❌ |
| New Broadcast Packages | ✅ | ❌ |
| Home Field Advantages | ✅ | ❌ |
| Enhanced Team Chemistry | ✅ | ❌ |
| Next Gen Stats Integration | ✅ | ❌ |
You‘re simply getting an inferior version of the product compared to Xbox Series X/S and PS5.
Should You Buy? Only If You‘re a Roster Update Addict
Considering all factors, I cannot recommend buying Madden 23 on PS4 unless you absolutely need up-to-date rosters and will play daily.
Between the missing features and astronomical $70 cost surpassing platform releases, it‘s an excessive price tag for what‘s offered – a slight tune-up of earlier PS4-era Madden entries.
You‘re just not getting enough bang for your buck compared to waiting for a next-gen console. Only addicts like myself wanting the new player ratings and equipment will find value in the current-gen version of Madden 23 in 2024.
For most, save your money and enjoy Madden 22 with updated rosters another year until you fully transition to next-gen. That‘s when you can experience the gameplay revolution only found in Madden 23 for Xbox Series X|S and PS5. Trust me, it‘s worth the wait!
Let me know in the comments if you have any other questions about deciding which version of Madden 23 to purchase in 2024 and beyond!
