Madden NFL 25 Skips Wii U, Marking First Absence on Nintendo Since 1991

In a notable shift for both sports gaming and Nintendo fans, EA Sports has confirmed that Madden NFL 25 will not be released on the Nintendo Wii U console in 2013.

This announcement follows earlier news that the highly-anticipated football simulation would make its debut on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, leaving many in the gaming community questioning the absence of support for Nintendo's latest platform. The Madden NFL franchise, developed and published by EA Sports, has maintained a consistent presence on Nintendo consoles for over two decades.

The series originally arrived on a Nintendo system in 1991, building a loyal fanbase across hardware generations from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to the Nintendo Wii and, most recently, the Wii U.

Madden NFL 13 notably served as a launch title for the Wii U in November 2012, signaling an early commitment by EA Sports to Nintendo’s then-new hardware. However, this commitment appears to have changed direction in 2013.

A spokesperson for EA Sports provided a clear statement to the press, noting, "There will not be a Wii U version of Madden NFL this year.

Nevertheless, our partnership with Nintendo remains important, and we continue to assess how future Madden NFL experiences might be brought to Nintendo fans." The decision marks a significant break in the franchise’s Nintendo legacy.

For fans and industry observers alike, it is particularly striking because it marks the first time in over twenty years that no Madden NFL title will be offered on a Nintendo platform.

The previous installment, Madden NFL 13, leveraged the Wii U’s innovative features, including touchscreen gameplay, but future Madden releases will now focus on other systems. Madden NFL 25, celebrating the series’ 25th anniversary, is set to debut on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 later in 2013.

EA Sports, known for its broad sports portfolio, has cited ongoing evaluation regarding support for Nintendo hardware, leaving the possibility open for future collaborations or releases on platforms such as the Nintendo Switch via eShop or even all-new Nintendo hardware. For now, Nintendo fans will have to look elsewhere for realism-driven football gameplay, as Madden NFL 25 for Wii U will remain notable by its absence, underscoring the ever-evolving landscape of third-party support on Nintendo consoles.

Nintendo Wii Wii U EA EA Sports Madden NFL Nintendo Wii Nintendo Wii U