If you're like me and you've been waiting to dive into Madden 26, then you've probably heard the big news: pre-orders are now live. Whether you're a die-hard Ultimate Team grinder, franchise mode fanatic, or someone who just enjoys the yearly launch of a fresh NFL title, now's the time to start preparing. There's also a huge bonus this year if you're planning to play both Madden 26 and College Football 26—and that's the MVP Bundle.
Let's walk through everything you need to know, from key release dates to bonuses and tips about whether this bundle is worth it depending on your playstyle and interest in both games.
MVP Bundle – What It Is and Why It Matters
The biggest announcement tied to the Madden 26 pre-order news is the MVP Bundle. This is a combined pre-order offering for Madden 26 and College Football 26, and it's designed for people who plan to play both games this year.
If you pre-order this bundle by April 29th, you'll receive a special bonus: a 99 overall Travis Hunter card usable in both Madden 25 and College Football 25. This is a big-time card, and for those who are still active in Madden 25, it gives you a high-end playmaker ahead of the new game launch.
Along with Travis Hunter, the bundle offers 4,600 points for each game. That's a total of 9,200 points, which equals around $80 in microtransaction currency. If you're someone who buys packs or needs training in MUT, this is a solid value add.
But make no mistake—this isn't a small purchase. It's going to be a premium-priced bundle, and while we don't have the exact price just yet (as it wasn't live on the Xbox Store when I checked), it's clear that this package is designed for players all-in on both games.
What You Get With the MVP Bundle
Here's a quick breakdown of what's included:
· Deluxe Edition of Madden 26
· Deluxe Edition of College Football 26
· 4,600 Madden Points
· 4,600 College Football Points
· 99 Overall Travis Hunter (must pre-order by April 29 to receive this)
· Early Access for both games
This bundle locks in access to both titles early and ensures you get a head start on Ultimate Team or Road to Glory mode depending on which game you're playing.
The MVP Bundle is a good deal if you're planning to play both games seriously. If you're only into Madden and have zero interest in College Football, this might not be the best value for you.
Early Access Dates for Madden and College Football
One of the other big confirmations from this pre-order announcement is the release and early access dates.
· College Football 26 Early Access: July 16–18 (standard release likely July 19)
· Madden 26 Early Access: August 11–13 (standard release likely August 16)
This is major. Now you can officially make plans for your summer—maybe even book a vacation that doesn't fall during launch week (we've all been there).
It's also a reminder that if you want that early access, you need to pick up the Deluxe Edition or the MVP Bundle. The standard edition of either game will not include early access.
A Word of Caution About the Travis Hunter Deadline
If you want the 99 OVR Travis Hunter, you must pre-order by April 29th. That's a pretty quick turnaround from the announcement, giving players just a few days to decide. It's a little frustrating that they set such a short deadline for a key reward, and I don't love being pushed into a quick decision, especially for something this expensive.
It would've been better if they had given people a couple of weeks to consider their options, but that's the nature of these early-bird promotions. If you miss this window, you'll still be able to pre-order the games and get early access/points, but you'll miss out on one of the best bonus cards.
Where to Pre-Order
As of now, pre-orders are live through the EA website, but not yet available on the Xbox Store. I prefer to wait and buy through the Xbox Store so everything links up cleanly with my account and my Game Pass setup. If you're on PlayStation, check the PS Store as well—availability may vary by platform.
EA's site will likely give you the option to pre-order for all platforms (Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PC), so if you want that Travis Hunter reward, don't delay. But again, if you'd rather wait until it's available through your console's store for convenience or payment preferences, just remember—you'll forfeit that 99 OVR reward if you wait too long.
Is the MVP Bundle Worth It?
Let's break it down:
You Should Get It If:
· You plan to play both Madden 26 and College Football 26
· You like Ultimate Team or microtransactions and value getting $80 worth of points
· You want early access to both games
· You don't want to miss out on high-end pre-launch content like Travis Hunter
You Might Skip It If:
· You're only planning to play Madden 26 and don't care about College Football 26
· You don't spend money on points or microtransactions
· You're waiting for Game Pass access (usually added months after launch)
· You missed the April 29th deadline and lost interest in the Travis Hunter reward
What This Means for Madden 26
So what does all of this tell us about Madden 26 as a game? Well, for one, the marketing cycle has officially begun. That means we'll be getting a full reveal likely in late May or June, along with trailers, deep dives into new gameplay mechanics, and early impressions from EA Game Changers or influencers.
We don't yet know the full feature list, but it's safe to assume that Franchise mode, Ultimate Team, Superstar, and The Yard (if it returns) will all be back with tweaks. The community will be watching to see what improvements EA makes to gameplay, presentation, and the Franchise depth chart, especially after years of feedback.
Final Thoughts
It's officially Madden season again—or at least the prelude to it. And with College Football 26 launching just a few weeks before Madden 26, we're getting a summer stacked with EA Sports football content. The MVP Bundle is an ambitious offer meant to tie both fan bases together, and for players who love both NFL and NCAA football games, it's an exciting time.