Publisher and developer Modus announcesMaximum Footballwith a gameplay trailer. The upcoming college football sim isin development using Unreal Engine 5and will be free to play on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox platforms.

The world of realistic football sims has traditionally been dominated by EA’sMaddenseries, due in large part to the publisher’s exclusive contract with the NFL. However, it’s not entirely without competitors. Canuck Play Inc. launched the originalMaximum Footballin 2019, with its first sequel released in 2020. Canuck closed its doors in 2021, but the series may have a second chance with its new developer.

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The newMaximum Footballlaunches in Steam early access this spring, with the full release coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Fans can also check out the new trailer for a first look at gameplay and a roundup ofMaximum Football’s key features. These include physics-based tackles for more realistic gameplay, extensive player and team customization, and online cross-platform multiplayer. The new game also sees the return ofMaximum Football’s Dynasty Mode, a dynamic career mode including bowls, player recruitment, transfers, suspensions, and more.

Modus provides some additional information onMaximum Football’s website, promising that thecollege football simwill offer “an ultrarealistic experience” that fans can experience for free. The game will use a live service model, which the studio says will allow it to continually improve and offer players a fresh experience. Modus also promises that the new game will not contain loot boxes and thatMaximum Footballprovides an enjoyable experience even for players who choose not to spend money on the live-service content.

The game’s trailer saw a fairly positive reception, with commenters expressing enthusiasm for the upcoming game, with multiple people saying they intended to play it on day one. And while some were just happy tofind an alternative toMadden NFL, others saw potential inMaximum Football’s approach to sports simulation. This included at least one commenter who remembers the less-than-stellar first two games in the series.

The originalMaximum Football 2019saw a mostly negative reception. Critics praised its customization options and Dynasty mechanics, but these were overshadowed by disappointing gameplay and unintuitive controls. The 2020 game saw a similar reception and failed to compete with the more establishedMadden NFL. However,Maximum Football’s new developer anduse of Unreal Engine 5might set the stage for a major upset.

Maximum Footballis in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.