How to preload Madden NFL 25

Be ready for kickoff as soon as possible.

Christian McCaffrey on Madden NFL 25 cover
Image via EA

Franchise mode? Ultimate Team? Superstar? Online head-to-head? In Madden NFL 25, the choice is yours what you want to play.

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But before you can play Madden when it launches in early access on Aug. 12 (and for all players on Aug. 16), you have to download the game. And for those who bought the game digitally, it can be preloaded ahead of time so you can kick off the second the servers go live.

The days of lining up at game stores for a midnight release are long over. Now, especially with early access and free trials, you can play right at launch or even days ahead of launch. Preloading truly is a beautiful thing.

Here’s what you need to do to preload Madden NFL 25.

How to preload Madden 25

Football player celebrating Madden 25
Let’s ball. Image via EA Sports

The process of preloading Madden NFL 25 depends on what platform you play the game on. Since Madden is available on all platforms, follow our instructions below to preload the game no matter if you play on console or PC.

How to preload Madden 25 on Xbox

  • Pre-order the game digitally.
  • Find Madden NFL 25 in your game library, select it, and download.
    • OR
  • Open up the Microsoft Store.
  • Search for Madden NFL 25.
  • Select the game and begin downloading.

Many players on Xbox are having issues downloading their preloads, however, with most people reporting that the game icon says you don’t own the title. This is likely an error and may not be fixed until after the game’s early access is available on Aug. 12 at 3pm CT.

Some Xbox players have reported successfully preloading the game by finding it on the Xbox mobile app and beginning the download from there.

How to preload Madden 25 on PlayStation

Travis Kelce, a pro football player, wearing a white Kansas City Chiefs jersey with red numbers and a red helmet.
You know he’ll be playing. Image via EA
  • Pre-order the game digitally.
  • Scroll to your Game Library tab.
  • Find Madden NFL 25.
  • Download the game.

How to preload Madden 25 on PC

  • Pre-order the game digitally.
  • Open up the EA app, or Steam.
  • Click on your Library.
  • Find Madden NFL 25 and begin downloading.

Stay tuned to this article for updates on preloads and issues with the Xbox version ahead of the early access launch on Aug. 12.

Author
Image of Scott Duwe
Scott Duwe
Senior Staff Writer & Call of Duty lead. Professional writer for over 10 years. Lover of all things Marvel, Destiny 2, Metal Gear, Final Fantasy, Resident Evil, and more. Previous bylines include PC Gamer, Red Bull Esports, Fanbyte, and Esports Nation. DogDad to corgis Yogi and Mickey, sports fan (NY Yankees, NY Jets, NY Rangers, NY Knicks), Paramore fanatic, cardio enthusiast.