How to fix Madden 25 Xbox preload error

Flag on the field.

play in nfl madden 25
Image via EA

A new year means it’s time for a new entry in a popular series, and the wait for Madden 25 is finally concluding, raising excitement for the new season. Xbox players have a strange issue, but it’s something we have a fix for.

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Preloading for Madden 25 is a rite of passage for players, ensuring you can play the game immediately when it’s available—and the process is usually easy. But there have been some issues for players on the Xbox Series X|S.

Fortunately for them, we’ve found a workaround that will allow you to preload Madden 25. And the best news is you don’t need to pre-order the game as this approach will also work for those opting for the 10-hour EA Play trial.

How to preload Madden 25 on Xbox

Christian McCaffrey on Madden NFL 25 cover
Choose the right version. Image via EA

Due to an issue, preload for Madden 25 does not appear to be available on the Xbox console itself. But there’s a workaround to ensure you can dive into the action as soon as the global release time is met.

Downloading Madden 25 is available through the Xbox App on mobile by following these steps:

  1. Open the Xbox App and sign into your account.
  2. Click the search icon on the navigation bar at the bottom.
  3. Enter Madden 25 and hit search.
  4. Select the version you want to download; either Madden NFL 25 Xbox One or Madden NFL 25 Xbox Series X|S.
  5. Select Download to Console.

For this method to work, your Xbox console must be linked to the Xbox App. This process doesn’t take long; just follow the steps on the official website.

Make sure to pay close attention to the version of Madden 25 you download as it’s the same name as the 2014 edition of the franchise. If you’ve selected the version with Adrian Peterson on the cover, you’ve got the wrong one.

The man you should be looking for instead is Christian McCaffrey, who adorns the cover of this year’s game.

Author
Image of Josh Challies
Josh Challies
Staff Writer. Professional writer since 2014. Pokemon, Marvel, Star Wars and overall geek. Previously wrote for Yahoo Sport, Stats Perform and online news publications.