Loading Times / Slow Menus

[Jono078]

I am absolutely gobsmacked at how long it takes to get to Madden's main menu. I was totally expecting them to nail this part of the game for next-gen.

This is up there with my slowest loading game. It's highly frustrating especially when sports games are meant to be quick and accessible.

Then there's the issues with the Franchise menus, they are INCREDIBLY slow! Why is this a thing in 2021?

I won't ask if anyone is experiencing the same because I'm positive you are. But what are your thoughts on this?

I really really wish some other dev could put out an alternative to Madden. They've been in cruise control for too long.

[secondsolution]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I'm enjoying the game and haven't found the franchise menus to be slow, but my god that initial load to get to the main menu is insane for next gen. What is it even loading? It reminds me of trying to load into GTA, but that's loading a whole game world and not a menu. It will be good when we have the retail version and can use quick resume.

[Jono078]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I'm enjoying the game and haven't found the franchise menus to be slow, but my god that initial load to get to the main menu is insane for next gen. What is it even loading? It reminds me of trying to load into GTA, but that's loading a whole game world and not a menu. It will be good when we have the retail version and can use quick resume.

Exactly - feel like I'm loading into GTA!

I can only assume it's the connecting to EA part that slows it down.

[ShadyFan25]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I also noticed the Franchise Mode menus were a little slow. One thing that bothers me is how it takes so long to load into a guys player card to see stats/awards. Stuff like that shouldn't be so many button clicks away.

[BaylorBearBryant]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I noticed this too. It is really slow compared to other next gen games.

[Hooe]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I'm enjoying the game and haven't found the franchise menus to be slow, but my god that initial load to get to the main menu is insane for next gen. What is it even loading? It reminds me of trying to load into GTA, but that's loading a whole game world and not a menu. It will be good when we have the retail version and can use quick resume.

There was also a very notable issue with GTA V's initial load time in particular which was recently solved by a rather intrepid PC player of the game. Rockstar actually acknowledged the player in their fixing of the issue and, if I recall correctly, rewarded him financially. If you're technically minded, it's actually pretty fascinating to read about.

As to Madden, I have to assume that the initial title screen load is masking a lot of online check-ins for up-to-date MUT / Yard content, ensuring the latest roster and content updates are downloaded, etc.

[cthurt]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

Glad this is being brought up because I was expecting faster load times in this years game I gave them a pass for last year's game but this is ridiculous developers not taking advantage of what these systems provide is just and I know this word is frowned upon on OS but LAZY.

In comparison on 2k I can boot up the game and go into MyNBA and click to play a game and be into the introduction of that game while Madden is still loading at the main menu.

[Hooe]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

Glad this is being brought up because I was expecting faster load times in this years game I gave them a pass for last year's game but this is ridiculous developers not taking advantage of what these systems provide is just and I know this word is frowned upon on OS but LAZY.

In comparison on 2k I can boot up the game and go into MyNBA and click to play a game and be into the introduction of that game while Madden is still loading at the main menu.

Given how blazing fast the game loads from press-X-to-start-game to actually being on the field (especially compared to the minute-long load times on Gen-4; it's almost instantaneous now), I honestly doubt the long startup time is simply a file access issue that's slowing things down. It's pretty obvious EA does take advantage of the consoles' super-fast hard drive read tech for in-game load times.

If I'm right and it is the game phoning home a bunch for things - which, I think I am because when it takes a really long time, you occasionally get a message complaining about not being connected to the EA servers - then, well, EA can't exactly make The Internet go faster and they don't deserve to be called lazy for that lol.

[larma]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I was also amazed how tediously long the initial loading time is. It's especially noticeable now that I've experienced more next-gen games. FIFA 21 manages to do this in fraction of the time (while still taking some time to connect to EA servers), so I don't see why Madden takes ages.

[Jono078]

Re: Loading Times / Slow Menus

I would really really love to know why it takes so long and what EA's reasoning (excuse) for this is.

There's no reason Madden shouldn't be one of the fastest loading games from boot-up of the console to getting into your first game.