The release of Madden NFL 17 on EA Access is just days away and only a few more beyond that for retail release.

If you're looking for early gameplay, feature breakdowns, and tips, EA SPORTS has allowed numerous GameChangers and YouTube personalities to release early videos of the game.

At the time of recording, the game was not quite final so please keep that in mind while watching videos. Continue on to see the released videos by GC/YouTuber. ...

Game Informer's Q&A with Madden NFL 17 developers Rex Dickson, John White, and Michael Hoag answered questions from the community.

Perhaps the most noteworthy is the formal announcement of formation subs returning to the game (specifically Franchise Mode) in a day one patch.

Continue on to see the 46 minute Q&A video. ...

Selecting songs for a game soundtrack can be a daunting task as satisfying the musical taste for a large user base can be next to impossible. However, in an attempt to tackle such a challenge, Madden NFL 17 will feature 40 songs across a variety of genres including rap, rock, and country. Some artists featured on the soundtrack include 2 Chainz, 3OH!3, Blake Shelton, Jason Aldean, Fashawn, and Logic.

Continue on to read the full press release and see the entire track listing for the Madden NFL 17 soundtrack which you can listen to on Spotify. ...

The ratings reveal is underway for Madden NFL 17. Four players will begin the year with a 99 overall rating: TE Rob Gronkowski (NE), MLB Luke Kuechly (CAR), LOLB Von Miller (DEN), & RE JJ Watt (HOU). The fifth highest-rated player is DT Aaron Donald (LA).

View and search entire player rating database here.
Continue on to see the top players in Madden NFL 17. ...

Perhaps the most widely discussed community question/topic following the initial release of Madden NFL screenshots come from fans wanting to know what new gear and equipment have been added to the game. This is no exception in Madden NFL 17.

Disclosed in a developer blog, M17 will feature new helmets, facemasks, gloves, cleats, and also some new accessories. With Madden NFL 17 including full roster editing, the increased amount of apparel and equipment will help users customize players and visuals to their liking. Coaches have also been given updated and accurate gear packages to make them look more realistic as well.

Continue on to read the full blog entry from EA SPORTS. ...

Just ahead of EA Play and E3, EA SPORTS has released two lengthy blogs on the improvements coming to Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 17. Part two of the Franchise blogs focuses on Big Decisions, a methodology that surfaces important decisions the user must make, and some of the top community requests added to the game, such as an in-game score ticker, full player editing, and practice squad.

As Franchise Mode has underachieved - and been underdeveloped - in the eyes of many the last few years, M17 aims to change that by satisfying some of the biggest community requests. An in-game score ticker will help keep users connected to other games that week in the Franchise, even updating other user scores (if game is completed) during the action. Commissioners have the ability to fully edit rosters, including player ratings, appearance, and even contract terms. Highly requested, each team now has a practice squad, allowing them to develop ten players but be careful - as in real life, these players are essentially free agents and can be poached by other squads.

Big Decisions surface the major options and choices a user must make during the course of a season that, if they existed prior, were previously hidden or buried in menus. Now, they are brought front and center.

Continue on for part two of the Franchise Mode improvement blogs by Senior Designer John White. ...

Just ahead of EA Play and E3, EA SPORTS has released two lengthy blogs on the improvements coming to Franchise Mode in Madden NFL 17. Part one of the Franchise blogs focuses on features that help to streamline the experience/playing time within the mode and also changes to the weekly Game-Planning feature.

To help users play through more games at a faster pace (or avoid getting bored by full games), Play The Moment will allow users to hop in and play the game-defining or manually selected situations. As the game simulates towards each possible Moment, the user can select from variable simulation speeds. SuperSim has been improved both visually and behind the scenes. The engine will now try to always reach the NFL-average of 120 snaps regardless of quarter length.

Oft-criticized in the past, Game-Planning is now more efficient and helps to prepare the user for their foe each week. Game-plans can be selected that can take away the opponent's strength, highlight the user team's strength, or give XP to positions of need. Users will see Tendencies for their foe each week that they can practice for with specific drills. If the user completes/masters those goals, they can receive in-game boosts when calling those particular plays.

Continue on for part one of the Franchise Mode improvement blogs by Senior Designer John White. ...

Madden NFL 17 continues to innovate by becoming more accessible to those with vision issues with options to enlarge graphics, colorblind support, and brightness/contrast controls. Similar options have become common in major titles, but sports franchises have been slow to adjust until now.

Continue on to read the full blog from designer Karen Stevens and learn how to suggest additional accessibility features for the future of the franchise. ...

With many Madden NFL fans becoming tired of the long-time commentary from Jim Nantz and Phil Simms, M17 will feature a new commentary team of Brandon Gaudin and Charles Davis.

Gaudin has recently covered Georgia Tech athletics while also working for Westwood One and the Big Ten Network. He is most recently recognized for his radio call on the Miracle on Techwood; Georgia Tech's improbable last-second victory over Florida State last season. Davis is an analyst for the NFL Network and Fox Sports. Both men have spent several days each week recording lines at EA Tiburon leading to unprecedented depth in game commentary. In addition, this access will include the ability for additional commentary to be recording during the season and implemented into the game.

Continue on to read the full blog from Designer Christian McLeod. ...