Madden NFL 27 Leads a Packed Sports Lineup on Apple Arcade
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Although Apple adds new titles to its gaming subscription service on a monthly basis, today it’s debuting something much more exciting than the usual array of “App Store Greats” — Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition.
Apple announced its debut last month, calling it “the most authentic NFL video game,” while noting that this particular edition has been designed specifically for Apple Arcade, featuring “an immersive season-based experience featuring current NFL teams and realistic simulation gameplay.”
As usual, the magic of Apple Arcade is that users will be able to enjoy a pure football experience without having to deal with ads or in-app purchases. Players can choose to play in Franchise mode, putting them in the place of the general manager to navigate an entire season, from building a championship team to winning over fan bases, or just jump right into the action in Quick Play.
“From the pitch to the court to the gridiron, Apple Arcade delivers an unmatched lineup of sports games for every kind of fan,” said Alex Rofman, Apple’s senior director of Apple Arcade. “I’ve been a longtime Madden NFL player and adding this legendary franchise to our catalog is a dream come true. Just in time for the new season, our Arcade community can now dive into an authentic NFL experience alongside other massive sports hits like NFL Retro Bowl, NBA 2K, and Football Manager, all in one place.”
Madden NFL 27 Arcade Edition is available on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV, and Vision Pro, offering seamless controller support on all platforms, although streamlined touchscreen controls make it easily playable on the go, without the need for a controller. The game also provides guided tutorials that even cover football fundamentals, so you don’t have to be an NFL expert to get in on the fun.
As the name suggests, the Apple Arcade version of Madden NFL 27 is a fully authentic experience in the Madden franchise, developed directly by EA Sports. It’s also been localized for players in other countries, with support for multiple languages.
Other New Apple Arcade Titles
Apple is continuing the American football theme with Retro Bowl College+, a spinoff of the hit Retro Bowl 8-bit game that lets you take on the role of the head coach of any of 250 college teams.
On September 3, a new season will also be coming in NFL Retro Bowl ‘27 with a new Gauntlet mode that will put armchair GMs through a gruelling 15-game win streak, where they must start with limited resources, win every game in a row, and finish with the highest score. Players will need to choose whether to play it safe or face higher-risk opponents for greater rewards.
Finally, Apple is also releasing a series of updates to other sports favorites. NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition recently added two-time All-Star Tyrese Maxey as the newest Paragon player and the 2016-2024 Era to The Association mode, while PGA TOUR Pro Golf gains the Bear’s Best Atlanta course.
Apple Arcade offers access to a library of over 250 games — all without ads, in-app purchases, or other hidden costs — in a subscription that can be shared with up to five other family members. Apple Arcade costs $6.99 per month on its own, or it can be combined with Apple Music, Apple TV, and iCloud+ storage in an Apple One bundle, with plans starting at $19.95/month.
