Madden 23 is almost here, and some players have already been able to lace up their boots and get into the game.
We've already had a good look at the new NFL game. We know Madden 23's player ratings, we've seen its crisp player stacks in action, and we've heard about its cross-play support. Now we know exactly when we can put on our protections and enter the field.
Like Madden NFL 22 before it, Madden 23 will launch in two waves. While its full release is scheduled for August 18 (or August 19, depending on your time zone), a three-day early access period is already underway. If you're an EA Play member, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, or have pre-ordered the Madden NFL 23 All Madden Edition, you can access EA's latest top esports title right now.
Madden 23 release date
The Madden 23 release time is the same all over the world. If you purchased the standard version of the game, you will be able to play from 9pm PST on August 18 or 12pm EST / 5am BST / 3pm EST.
However, if you purchased the special edition of the All Madden game, you can play it now as part of an early access period. The preview window opened on August 15, allowing you to get an advanced preview of the game before other players join you. Your progress in the early access period will carry over to Madden 23 after its full release.
A simplified version of this early access period is also available to EA Play subscribers. If you're a member of EA's subscription service, you can play Madden 23 for up to 10 hours without purchasing the game. This trial period will also be available once the game has fully launched. It's also available to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members, who automatically get access to EA Play as part of their membership.
Madden 23 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. But think carefully about which system to buy it for, because upgrading to next-gen hardware will cost you dearly.