An extension of the Madden NFL Championship Series (MCS) partnership between EA and the National Football League has been inked. The extension comes after Madden NFL’s best season ever last year, which saw its average minute audience grow 4x from the previous year for MCS 22.
As the NFL and EA continue to grow and deepen NFL fandom through esports, the agreement will align MCS with key NFL events throughout the season. Using creative, humanizing storytelling to entertain Madden fans and football fans alike, the NFL and EA will work together to elevate Madden NFL competitors into stars.
“Madden NFL esports continues to deepen the love of the game with fans, players, and viewers. It’s teaching viewers how to improve at the game, while deepening engagement with Madden’s most loyal fanbase,” said Brent Koning, VP of EA Esports. “Since the MCS started five years ago, it has helped showcase the game by elevating the greatest players in the world, while giving every single Madden NFL player the chance to go from couch to champion. We can’t wait to see how the MCS 23 season unfolds.”
“As a trusted partner for more than 30 years, EA’s commitment to football authenticity with Madden NFL is exemplary,” said Ed Kiang, VP, Video Gaming at the NFL. “Extending our partnership with EA is another avenue for the League to grow fandom off the field and enhance the EA SPORTS Madden NFL Championship Series by aligning Madden competitive gaming with NFL moments. Our joint efforts will drive the type of excitement that NFL fans expect while also highlighting the best Madden players in the world.”
With $1.7 million in total prize money up for grabs throughout the season, the recently announced MCS 23 calendar aligns closely with the NFL season to maximize fan engagement and reach. A more comprehensive competitive program will be provided for football and esports fans at MCS 23, giving them more ways to compete and more entertainment to watch.
Here’s a high-level breakdown of MCS 23 tournaments, qualifying events, and registration information.
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Ultimate Kickoff
- Registration: August 8-21
- Qualifiers: August 20-28
- Broadcast: September 7 & 9
- Prize Pool: $180,000
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Ultimate Thanksgiving
- Registration: September 5 – October 2
- Qualifiers: October 1 – October 23
- Broadcast: November 9-16
- Prize Pool: $260,000
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Ultimate Wild Card
- Registration: November 7 – December 1
- Qualifiers: November 29 – December 18
- Broadcast: January 6-11
- Prize Pool: $260,000
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Last Chance Qualifier
- Registration: January 2-14
- Qualifiers: January 14-15
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Ultimate Madden NFL 23 Bowl
- Broadcast: January 23 & 27; February 2-3 & 10
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
Read the official rules for the Madden Championship Series here. If it sounds like something you would be interested in, make sure to register here.
Play Like Mad 😤
Full MCS 🗓 ✅
4 Majors 🏆 ✅
$1.7 Million in Prizes ✅
Largest MCS 💰 again ✅Register & Compete 👇https://t.co/YP1mSHURXt pic.twitter.com/8F3ejTZV4p
— Madden Championship Series (@EAMaddenNFL_MCS) August 8, 2022
