Will Madden 23 PC be next gen?

As an avid Madden player and content creator focused on the gaming space, I‘ve done deep research into whether the new Madden 23 release on PC will achieve feature-parity with the "next-gen" console versions for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

The unfortunate answer is no — the PC edition of Madden 23 lacks key next-gen capabilities like FieldSense animation and falls short of matching the breakthrough quality-of-life upgrades found in the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions. Let‘s break this down…

What is FieldSense and Why Does It Matter?

FieldSense is a revolutionary new animation system using real-world player motion capture and machine learning to enable ultra-responsive, true-to-life football gameplay. As EA‘s website describes, it "unlocks gameplay elements only possible with next-gen consoles" to reflect the authentic dynamism of bodies and movements on an NFL field.

Over 4 million CPU cores were used to train FieldSense‘s AI animation model — something only possible by tapping into next-gen hardware power. Simply put, this technology represents a giant leap in mimicking fluid, lifelike gameplay.

So in short, FieldSense matters because it takes the on-field experience to new levels of realism. And unfortunately, it‘s exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S…for now.

PC Version is Closer to a "Last-Gen" Game

Without FieldSense, Madden 23 on PC loses its next-gen shine. The PC edition aligns more closely with what you‘d see on aging PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles in terms of graphics, animation, and features.

It‘s still absolutely playable — just don‘t expect the same visual pop or buttery-smooth gameplay you‘d get by upgrading to newer hardware. Understandably, many PC gamers feel slighted being handed a straight port of the last-gen title instead of true next-gen treatment.

Could Next Year Be Different for PC?

EA‘s history of lackluster PC support leaves the community rightfully skeptical that the platform will ever see parity with console games.

However, there are glimmers of hope on the horizon. For one, the upcoming college football revival is coming exclusively to next-gen machines — suggesting EA now views PC as more of a first-class citizen alongside flagship console titles.

And in a goodwill gesture, EA just added the FieldSense animation engine to FIFA 23 on PC, indicating they have the technical capacity to make it happen for future Madden releases too if desired.

So in summary — while this year‘s PC build lacks the polish of its souped-up console counterparts — existing owners can enjoy subtle upgrades over Madden 22. And the door seems open for PC finally achieving true parity down the road if fan demand persists.

As a lifelong Madden fanatic, I‘ll continue closely tracking where EA takes the PC platform. Because every gamer deserves the same amazing next-gen experience regardless of their setup.

Let me know if you have any other questions!