For those that are seeing Gridiron Notes for the first time, it’s where we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest Madden NFL 22 news all season long. Our goal is to continue providing deeper insight into our game and keep you in the loop on all the updates around Madden NFL 22.
Today, we will be talking about all the new features and updates coming to Madden Ultimate Team in Madden NFL 22.
So without further ado, let’s get into it.
Features
This year introduces several features to challenge the way you build your Ultimate Team and take it to gridiron greatness!
Strategy Items
Strategy items streamline the existing chemistry system. Gone are the days when you had to painstakingly add chemistries to each of the individual players on your team. We have removed most of the chemistries from individual players and created a new type of item that can be built up to have the power of a fully chemistried team. With multiple Strategy slots, you can mix and match different combinations to better suit your needs. Since you can change your entire team’s chemistry makeup with just a couple button presses, you are able to easily change your strategy from game to game.

Each Strategy Item may include multiple attribute boosts that can have an impact on one individual on your team, or an entire group. You’ll spend less time managing all the chemistries on individual players, and instead get to focus on building out a strategy that maximizes the potential of your Ultimate Team.
Strategy Items can be acquired in most of the same ways you collect Player Items. Once you have a Strategy Item, all you have to do is go to the Strategy Tab on your Lineup and slot it into the appropriate slot. That’s it. No more going into 11 players on your offense and equipping them all with the same chemistry.

Our core set of Strategy Items each have a specific set of attributes that it boosts. Rarer strategy items have more attributes on them, for an even greater impact to your team. You can level them up using the Power Up system to increase their effectiveness. There are also exchange sets available where you can trade up to a better rarity level. We will continue to release new types of Strategy Items throughout the year to shake up the current meta of the mode, challenging you to think in new ways to think about building your Ultimate Team. There will even be special Strategy Items tied directly to some programs to keep things interesting.

Strategy Items will continue to evolve throughout the year and we want to make them fit your needs, so we’re looking forward to your feedback as to what you would like to see next.
Halftime Adjustments
Ultimate Team has had X-Factors and then Abilities for a while now. Equipping your team with the proper X-Factors and Abilities could be just the edge needed to tip the scales of a matchup in your favor. But what if you get into a matchup and you realize your opponent is playing differently from what you expected?

With Halftime Adjustments, you will have an opportunity to rethink your gameplan. You can deactivate any X-Factor or Ability that you have active and activate any other currently equipped X-Factor or Ability. Online H2H modes will have 30 seconds to make adjustments, while playing VS CPU will have 60 seconds. Choose wisely, because your opponent will have the same opportunity to make adjustments.
Stats on Items
New to MUT this year are Stats on Items. Each unique instance of a player item will have stat tracking for their in-game accomplishments. You can then view these stats by viewing the item from the Item Binder. You can filter by stats that you’ve accumulated with that player item. You’ll also be able to check out the cumulative stats of everyone who has used that player item. Xbox Series X|S and Playstation® 5 take advantage of Next Gen Stats by giving you deeper insight to unique stat tracking categories like your longest pass via air distance or how much time your running back has spent behind the line of scrimmage on a play. Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, and Stadia will still have access to Stats on Items, so don’t worry, you will still be able to see how many yards or tackles you can rack up with your players!

Xbox Series X|S & Playstation 5

Xbox Series X|S & Playstation 5

Xbox Series X|S & Playstation 5

Xbox One, Playstation 4, PC, & Stadia
New User Experience Flow & MUT UI
Our New MUT Hub brings key information about your Ultimate Team status and progression front and center, reducing the need for unnecessary button presses. Whether it’s showing your current progress towards all of your mission goals or displaying how many of each item you have in your Item Binder, it’s all meant to make navigating MUT easier.

Ultimate Season
We are doing something a little different with MUT Level this year. We have created a refreshed set of Daily and Weekly Objectives that should help you progress your MUT Level throughout the season. As you level up, you will be earning rewards all along the way. Every few months, we will reset your MUT Level and include a whole new set of objectives and rewards.
This is really an expansion of something we did last year with Zero Chill’s “Chill Factor”. This type of leveling experience allows us to refresh the rewards every few months and give you new opportunities to progress more consistently.
Dynamic Gameday Integration
We mentioned in our Dynamic Gameday Deep Dive Gridiron Notes that the Home Field Advantage M-Factor will not be enabled in MUT. However, we still want to bring the Dynamic Gameday experience into Madden Ultimate Team and handpicked various M-Factors with the intention of creating a fun experience but also keeping our more competitive players in mind. You'll be able to experience and engage with M-Factors in all modes in Madden Ultimate Team.
Here are some of the M-Factors enabled for launch:
- Instinct - Defense can see Home/Away Team's intended pass target
- Hold the Line – Home/Away Team has improved blocking
- Adrenaline – Home/Away Team has infinite stamina during plays
- Shook - Offensive play art is distorted for the Home/Away Team
- Zoned out – Home/Away Team players cannot enter The Zone
- High and Tight – Home/Away Team has a greatly reduced fumble chance
- Unstoppable – Home/Away Team players cannot be knocked out of The Zone
- Check Down – Home/Away Team QB has trouble seeing deeper receivers
Content available for EA Play and EA Play Pro Early Access on August 12th
The Campaign
This is where you start your MUT career in Madden NFL 22. As you play through an entire NFL season, you will have an opportunity to learn some of the new features for Madden Ultimate Team 22 and start building your squad by earning an Elite upgradeable Team Captain, an Elite Pack, and more than 20 additional players.


Team Affinity
For you theme team builders out there, Team Affinity is back for Madden NFL 22. If you are looking to rebuild your favorite NFL squad, this is the place to start. You can even include historic players from your favorite NFL franchise. The Team Affinity program will get updates throughout the year, each one including new players from every NFL team.





EA Play Challenges
Players with Early Access will have the opportunity to play through some of the biggest moments from the careers of Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes. Completing the challenges will let you earn an elite WR player item, a choice of a Tom Brady or Patrick Mahomes PUP, and unique alternate PUP art exclusive to EA Play.



Gridiron Forge
Once your team is ready, you can take on the Gridiron Forge. This is a set of challenges that escalate in difficulty as you progress to higher levels of the Gridiron Forge and along the way earn a 75+ OVR Gold Player pack, a Pro Fantasy pack, a Gridiron pack, an 87+ OVR NAT player of the month, and an Elite pack. With new challenges coming every month, you will always have a place to test your team.
Superstars
Celebrate Worldwide Launch with the Superstars of Madden Ultimate Team. All players released for this program come pre-equipped with Superstar Abilities and X-Factors. Try out the Superstars Champions and Heroes in special Challenges. Each sequence you beat rewards Elite Superstar players. In addition, during each week that this program releases players, there will be exclusive, limited-time Superstar: Blast Off Challenges that award additional Gold or Elite Superstars!

Want even more information about Madden Ultimate Team in Madden NFL 22? Check out our Madden Ultimate Team Reveal live stream!
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Madden NFL 22 launches worldwide on August 20, 2021. Pre-order the Madden NFL 22 Dynasty or MVP Edition and play early. Stay in the conversation by following us onFacebook,Twitter,Instagram,YouTube, andAnswers HQ.