EA Sports made sure to properly honor the late John Madden.
The legendary NFL announcer, who passed away in December, will grace the cover of the video game that bears his name — the first time he has appeared on the cover since 2000, EA Sports announced on Wednesday.
There will actually be three covers of Madden 23, all of them bearing a different image of the video game’s namesake.
EA Sports made the announcement on the anniversary of the very first Madden game — June 1, 1988.
The video game is a major part of Madden’s legacy as it has helped his influence on the game span multiple generations, becoming the best-selling American football video game franchise of all time.
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Since 2001, EA Sports shifted away from putting Madden on the cover in favor of a player — which eventually became a highly anticipated moment for fans. At one point it also foreshadowed some bad luck, as many athletes had down years or became injured and a “Madden Curse” was born but it has since been debunked.
EA Sports will unveil a “full reveal” on the Madden 23 game on Thursday.
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