The main criticism, repeated time and time again, is that each year's updated version is an improvement on cheap madden 22 coins the last. Since EA Sports has the exclusive license, it is the only company that can make the "simulation-style" NFL game. Thus springs an argument that EA Sports is in no pressure to meaningfully improve the game every year. In 2020, an enthralling tweet campaign in the Twitterverse urged the league to launch EA as its official partner- #NFLDropEA. But despite the outrage over social media that also included coordinated review-bombing on Madden's Metacritic pages, Madden 21 sales were in the ascendancy. This year's Madden 22 did well, as well, and the series remains the top-selling sports franchise in history.

The critics are the minority that is vocal, but one of the minority groups whose work is to be extremely vocal. We're talking about YouTubers, who make their living by watching and documenting themselves playing a sport they say they don't like.

The diversity of YouTuber focuses speaks to just how vast the game today. There are YouTubers such as Belton who post videos of their own games or playing of users who upload tips and tricks, then there are people who are dedicated to the game of Madden.

Last fall, one channel named SOFTDRINKTV published a 14-minute clip that was titled "The Madden with the Worst Madden of All Time," followed a week later by a 19-minute film titled "Madden NFL 22 isn't good - review." They returned to the same place recently by releasing a video called "Everything Wrong with Madden NFL 22 (in 16 minutes)." The narrative of that one opens memorably and, if not a bit dramatically: "This is the kind of game that can make you want to put a the thumbtack into your eyes. If your playing Madden 22, the gift of life is turned into something of a curse. You will no longer want to live. It can cause existential dread."

Just like any other subculture Madden includes its very own slang. Throws that are precise have the meaning of "lasers" (self-explanatory). Most of the time, a great throw is described as a "dot" which means you'll get "dotted up" -- which has changed from "dart" (less self-explanatory). Similar to strong defensive coverage, good defensive coverage used to be "bagged," though recently I've come across YouTubers commenting on being "booked." However, the most logical one in my opinion is "mossing" an individual as in when the receiver jumps over a corner to grab the ball from the air, inspired by Randy Moss.

But the resentment of Madden seems to be just as much a part of the popular culture, even though it appears somewhat performative at times. The subreddit r/Madden has almost exclusively "rants" about why Madden is a mess, and usually only a short video clip of a glitch or bug. The #Madden22 tag on TikTok is a mix of highlights, as well as calling for the busted plays EA must fix.

However, in the event that dislike a video game this often, why do you continue to play it every year?

In the case of Andrew Belton, Madden earns him a salary. He's been playing since 2005 Madden but more importantly that was the time he joined YouTubing, which began in last year's Madden. The channel has expanded to the point where he makes a living doing it. In fact, enough for him to move out of his parents' place and into a new apartment in Brooklyn. (He also sells ebooks using Madden tips via his Patreon account, which, he estimates, contributes a third to his income.)