Madden 21 Update Version 1.014 Patch Notes (1.014.000)

Madden 21 patch 1.014.000 is now rolling out on Sony PS5 and Microsoft Xbox Series X/S players. According to the Madden 21 update 1.014.000 patch notes, the new update resolves some crashing and freezing issues. Apart from this, the latest Madden NFL 21 version 1.014 also includes stability and performance improvements.

Previously, a major update was released with new features, new changes and a big list of bug fixes. Unfortunately, since the last patch, many players were experiencing a number of issues when trying to play the game.

Today’s Madden 21 1.014.000 has fixed a few of these issues. Check out more details below.

Madden 21 version 1.014 Patch Notes

Key Highlights:

• Fix for QB freezing in certain play formations
• Fix for missing Pro Bowl active abilities
• Various MUT UI fixes
• Franchise updates to trade logic and player value
• “League History” addition to Franchise

Gameplay Updates:

• Fixed an issue causing the QB to freeze after flipping Gun Split Close Play Action plays while also hot routing the HB.
• Fixed an issue causing some QB’s to repeat their pre-play walk-to-line, getting set in the formation animation twice.
• Fixed an issue preventing some abilities from being equipped for players on the Pro Bowl roster.
• Fixed an incorrect route shown in the play-art for the play Gun Tight Doubles Zig Under.
• Fixed an issue sometimes causing the receiver to run back toward the line instead of breaking out when running a zig route.
• Fixed an issue with Hit Sticks not tracking properly for Abilities using Hit Stick accumulation for In the Zone criteria (e.g. Avalanche)

Madden Ultimate Team Updates:

• Various UI Fixes

Franchise Updates:

• NEW: Improvements to Trade Logic and Player Value
• NEW: League History
  • Dev Note: For Madden NFL 21, League History will begin at the year of your Franchise when the update goes live and populate each year onward. Check out our deep dive on League History, Trade Logic and Player Value Gridiron Notes to learn more!
• Fixed issue where “Backlash” ability was called “Pass Lead Elite”
• Fixed naming of Seahawks stadium to Lumen Field (for new Franchises)

League History

• Revisit the history of your franchise through our new running log of key award winners, conference, and Super Bowl champions on a yearly basis.
• These records will be located in a single hub with a year filter to see the champions and award winners from previous seasons.

Trade Logic & Player Value Improvements

In many cases, we took top reported community issues with trade value as direct inspiration to design and implement ways to address those concerns in a way that gives tangible changes for Madden NFL 21 and serves as a foundational piece for our tuning in the future. We can and will be better adapting our core systems to better reflect a more realistic player movement experience in the future.

When it comes to building your roster, our new tuning is also a shift towards a “reciprocation” approach for highly valued players closer to what we’ve seen based on changing perceptions of “realistic” trades over the years with major names changing teams more frequently.

At the core, this means that for users trading FOR a star, it will cost a package of either high value players, picks, or both…and for the other way, trading AWAY a player.

The price to obtain a star or high overall (OVR) player should, can, and in most cases will be steep but rooted against more authentic trade packages. We also wanted to provide more direct power to users who are willing to move high-value players from their own roster to get more in return that wasn’t previously possible.

Our goal is to have things still make sense in the logic. Even if a trade is offered or accepted that is inherently not in the best interest of the team to make, while making it cost-prohibitive at times to do… a difficult balance without directly blocking users from acquiring who they want.

Here’s an overview on some of the more impactful areas found and addressed in more detail:

•  Aligned the trade system to always use a player’s best OVR rather than using a team’s OVR.
  • Fixed issue where high OVR/Dev players inexplicably did not have value due to player archetype differences (in situations where a team valued a Receiving Back but had a Power Back, the Power Back would previously crater in value for no reason otherwise. Value is now more consistent as a result.
• Addressed legacy bug around offensive lineman (OL) value in general. Elite OL will now be valued at more authentic cost to acquire, like Colts guard Quenton Nelson.
• Added logic for CPU teams to be able to recognize context around when a player is actually an upgrade when acquiring a player that is not a starter on their current team but would be for the new team. Allows CPU teams to better recognize when a lower quality caliber player is circumstantially starting. Rather than a 73 OVR getting the same base value for being CB1 as a player like Stephon Gilmore would.
• Addressed issues where players would be evaluated at the incorrect depth chart position on the acquiring team. This caused inconsistencies in player values for CPU teams acquiring players.
• Addressed trading for same-position value issues. When a user or CPU team trades a starter for another player at the same position who would start, we were not valuing the player as a starter for their new team, which caused players to be valued less than they should be.

Additional updates were also made to:

• Base values of every position at each depth chart slot for all 32 NFL teams including Franchise-specific Schemes to address isolated value issues and authenticity improvements.
• Allow both teams to access the premium value associated to trades, which gives each team a better picture of the player’s actual value.
• Addressed multiple instances of issues where lower OVR players would be overvalued due to team need at a position.
• Added check to value any OL with a Superstar Dev Trait at the equivalent of a Superstar X-Factor value.
• Made Dev Trait a full factor in the player’s value calculation, rather than a modifier for a boost.
• Based on whether your team runs a 4-3 or 3-4, certain defensive positions will be valued differently, like a 4-3 team needing a second starting DT (or a 3-4 needing a second starting MLB). Similarly, the value a 3-4 OLB and 4-3 DE share as edge rushers on their defensive fronts warrant differences in value teams now consider differently than 4-3 OLB/3-4 DE.

This logic also impacts what positions teams look to trim roster cuts on in Preseason. New values are aligned and intended to leave teams with a more appropriate number of players at each position per authentic expectations. We have seen cases where this can resolve issues where 4-3 CPU defenses would be left with only three DTs on the roster, most teams carry four DTs in real life, but exact results will vary on team quality during cuts and remain dynamic.

Draft Pick values

• Completely realigned the base value of Draft picks to work with new Player Value changes and more closely align with NFL benchmark trade values.
  • Previously, the second and third draft pick in an offer would have slightly decremented values. We didn’t feel this was authentic, so we removed it.
  • Impacts both pick for pick trades as well as picks for players, or any mixture of the two.

Team Philosophy Value Differences

• Teams will have more nuanced perspectives of valuing players and draft picks from their own and opponents.
  • This creates a situational concept in Franchise that we see all the time in the NFL. Just because a team is more open with trading a draft pick in a championship contention window doesn’t mean that the team should or does not still value draft picks at all as a core philosophy.

 Player Value Modifiers

• Retuned value increase modifiers for players in the first year of their contracts and players who are rookies.
• Added logic to no longer apply bonus “first year of contract” value to players who are only signed to one year contracts. Previously, all players on one year contracts were receiving a value bonus that was only intended for players on long term contracts.
• Age Value tuning – Every player position received a new customized age value curve that keeps player value authentically updated as players get older in Franchise. As players age, the more the age impacts their value on the market.
  • This allows us to replicate the impact of trade value declining for aging veteran players and provide CPU teams a way to “devalue” these players at scale. Each position is tuned differently.

QB-Specific Value Improvements

• Added new Premium value modifier to raise QB value compared to same-skill positions. This allows QBs to receive similar compensation as in real life while also reflective of our ratings scales.
  • For example, an 86 OVR QB is a franchise-level talent. We wanted to make sure that trading away or for a player at that level is recognized for being a more valuable and rare commodity than possibly a 90-93 at other positions.
• All positions have a high age value percentage for players in their early twenties, but just like in real life, QBs are generally more valuable than players of equivalent skill at other positions at any age!
• Combined with the base value tuning mentioned earlier, this makes young high-OVR starting QBs exceptionally valuable and a significant investment of draft capital to acquire a top player based on OVR, age, Development Trait, and other factors.

• Fixed crashing issues.
• Added stability and performance improvements.
• AI improvements.
• Addressed freezing and lag issues.
• Some minor under the hood fixes.

Download free Madden 21 patch 1.014 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.