Prime Video’s Madden Documentary Has a Debut Trailer Featuring Worried EA Developers, Disgruntled NFL Stars, and an Angry Joe Rant

Prime Video’s It’s In The Game: Madden NFL has its first trailer, showcasing the ups and downs of development over the last 36 years.

The four-part documentary kicks off on November 26, and includes interviews with a number of EA developers as well as NFL stars (some of whom are upset about their in-game ratings) in a bid to shine a light on Madden’s trials and tribulations over the decades.

The trailer reveals concern about the state of the game from John Madden himself, who apparently wasn’t a big fan the first time he saw a game demo. It also includes a short segment on the negative reaction to some of the Madden games, with disgruntled fans letting EA know how they feel in various comments (“still trash… big pass” etc). There’s even a clip of YouTuber Angry Joe doing one of his famous rants, screaming: “Every year it’s the same thing!”

There are hints at dramatic events such as EA struggling with deadlines, signing licensing deals, and competition from other video games. There’s no mention of the infamous Madden Curse, but it seems like any documentary on Madden would have to at least touch on it.

FIRST LOOK: @PrimeVideo has dropped the trailer for a new series chronicling the rise of the @EASPORTS Madden franchise. 🏈🎮 pic.twitter.com/bU0PVaBS6q

— Boardroom (@boardroom) November 11, 2024

Here’s the official blurb:

It’s one of the biggest video games of all time, a groundbreaking brand that became a worldwide phenomenon, spanning generations — but it almost never happened… Now, 36 years after the first game’s release, EA Sports gives viewers unprecedented access to the makers of the game that changed the game, and our culture too.

Image credit: Prime Video.

Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at [email protected] or confidentially at [email protected].