Madden 21 Update 1.24 patch notes
There's a lot in the February title update for Madden 21, including coverage fixes, blocking improvements, and more. You can find the full list of patch notes below or on the Madden 21 website.
Madden NFL 21 (Xbox Series X | S et PS5)
Highlights:
- In Competition only, only players with the "Reach" ability will trigger certain staves.
- Extended coverage fixes for Cover 3, 4 and Man
- Improvements in locomotion and tracking
- Blocking improvements to manage databases
- Fix unintentional DL penalties
Gameplay Updates:
Pass Coverage:
- Adjusted the outer deep area defenders in Cover 3 to improve fall timing to achieve the proper depth of coverage when aligned with an outdoor receiver performing a short route (slide, smokescreen, etc.). This adjustment will allow them to deepen and play all the deep routes coming from the slot machine.
- Adjusted deep zone outside defenders in Cover 3 to reduce the frequency of inside jumping to cover an off-road from the pitch, allowing an outside receiver on a streak / fade to get behind them. The outer deep zone defender will now keep his width and continue to leverage his zone drop accordingly.
- Fixed an issue where receivers would sometimes collide at the back of a slower defender playing a deep zone assignment, leading to an avoidance animation disrupting the route.
- Updated Cover 4 Quarters to use more principles of human matching against Trip formations and improved zone-to-human transition when matching certain vertical roads.
- Fixed an issue where Deep Zone Defenders in Cover 4 Quarters and Palms would let Streak Receivers run through them outside. Now the defenders will go back and make the transition to turn and run with the right timing.
- Adjusted Cover 4 Drop to better cover deep post routes, improving anticipation of deep areas of vertical routes moving towards midfield to reduce the likelihood of big plays over all deep area defenders .
- Added logic to make linebackers' reaction in man cover more authentic when covering a running back in a blocking and releasing assignment. LBs will have the option to trigger a passing run and move into a QB spy assignment when they see the running back block, and the timing they use to make the decision will be scaled by their game recognition note.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused cornerbacks to instantly rush the passer when reading the man's cover on the RPO screen.
- Fixed an issue that caused all defenders in the underlying area to escape cover and rush the quarterback when exiting the pocket, even when not near the line of scrimmage.
- Adjusted to improve Jam / Press criteria so user-controlled defenders can trigger the appropriate animations for all angles and situations.
Tackle and blocking:
- Fixed an issue allowing an exploit blitz with nickel coins in the content assignment. New logic and movement has been implemented to make pass blockers better respond to this exploit blitz which is mostly run out of formations like Dime 1-4-6.
- Fixed an issue where defenders would sometimes get stuck in a false breakdown when the ball carrier was tackled nearby.
- Fixed an issue causing unintentional “Roughing the Passer” penalties when passers could obviously see that the ball had been released.
- Fixed a rare issue with a reach-sack animation that could be misaligned and make the QB appear to be approached from the air.
- Adjusted to reduce the number of broken tackles triggered by defenders out of position, with the most important adjustment being made for competitive playstyle. This should translate into much less broken tackles in the over / under chasing defender lineups.
Locomotion:
- Adjustment to reduce maneuverability in truck animations.
- Fixed a rare issue that would cause bullet carriers to get stuck in the current task and go out of bounds.
- Fixed an issue where defenders would sometimes use the “Option Quarterback” carry style when changing ball hands after an INT.
- Fixed an issue that caused defenders to sometimes snag when transitioning from pre-play to movement during play in pass coverage.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused tight ends to slide over the section when performing corner routes against certain covers.
- Adjustment to improve the ball carrier's ability to cross the line when performing routes from the backfield.
- Fixed a rare issue that would sometimes cause the Ball Carrier to freeze after two spin moves were used in quick succession.
Who passed:
- Fixed an issue that caused the ball carrier's receiver icon to disappear after transfer when performing Gun Doubles Y Off RPO Zone Y Peek.
- Fixed a rare issue that caused the QB to throw a weird thrust pass when performing the Single Back Wing Pair HB Dive Alert Smoke
- Fixed an issue that caused the QB's arm to get caught in the race back when attempting to pass during transfer when performing the Cannon Wing Shift PA jailbreak screen.
Capacities:
- Adjusted to only allow players with the "Reach For This" ability equipped to be able to successfully initiate tackles within range of the pylon / first descent marker for a competitive playstyle.
- Fixed a visual issue that allowed in-game indicators to remain visible throughout the game when using “Blitz Radar” and “Threat Detector” abilities.
Environment:
- Fixed various issues sometimes causing the ghost of the coach or other sideline players to go through an opposing player during various sideline interactions with players running or falling out of bounds.
- Fixed an issue that prevented 'help' animations from triggering in situations where they should.
General gameplay improvements:
- Fixed an issue that would sometimes cause a new field to load with invisible players after changing the training type in the Practice Pause menu.
- Fixed an issue that caused the punter to line up too close to the line of scrimmage when punting inside the 5 yard line, allowing the kick to be blocked too frequently.
Madden NFL 21 (Xbox One, PS4, PC, Stadia)
Highlights:
- In Competition only, only players with the "Reach" ability will trigger certain staves.
- Blitz correction with Nickel Corners in Contain
- Deep zone defenders refined in cover 3
- Adjustment of receiver capabilities based on distance to male coverage
- Addressed male coverage issues with RPOs and receiver movement
- Fixed frequency of defenders avoiding QB slips
Gameplay Updates:
- Fixed an issue that caused the tight end to stay in its 3-point position after being pointed into the slot when running games outside of Gun Doubles formation.
- Fixed a visual issue that allowed in-game indicators to remain visible throughout the game when using “Blitz Radar” and “Threat Detector” abilities.
- Fixed an issue that caused the QB's arm to get stuck in the traction guard when throwing the ball early on I-Form Slot Flex Power Alert Smoke.
- Tuning of distance-based receiver abilities so that receivers increase the receiver's chances of victory over cup defenders against defenders without counter-ability, as long as the cut is made in the designated area of the field.
- Fixed an issue that sometimes caused cornerbacks to instantly rush the passer when reading the man's cover on the RPO screen.
- Adjusted the outer deep area defenders in Cover 3 to improve fall timing to achieve the proper depth of coverage when aligned with an outdoor receiver performing a short route (slide, smokescreen, etc.). This adjustment will allow them to deepen and play all the deep routes coming from the slot machine.
- Fixed an exploit allowing the offensive user to manipulate a cover defender of men using movement directly after a hot road.
- Fixed an issue that caused Defenders to trigger dodge animations whenever a Ball Carrier dived.
- Fixed an issue allowing an exploit blitz with nickel coins in the content assignment. New logic and movement has been implemented to make pass blockers better respond to this exploit blitz which is mostly run out of formations like Dime 1-4-6.
- Adjusted pass blocking logic to improve "block transfers" for left tackles against two rushers in the outside gap.
