Part 2/10:
EA's Madden NFL 21 has become a lightning rod for criticism, receiving an unprecedented review bombing that has resulted in the worst possible ratings on platforms like Metacritic. Players have expressed frustration over the game's minimal updates—mainly roster changes—with the core gameplay feeling stale and unrefined. The franchise's reputation has suffered as fans accuse EA of increasingly lazy development, especially after the company's long-standing deal to maintain exclusive rights to the NFL rights, effectively stifling competition in the sports gaming market.