The Madden NFL 2005 series returns with another year of football action. The major changes this time around concern defensive play, with the introduction of the Hit Stick, which allows precise and context-sensitive tackling through the use of the second analog stick. There is also defensive playmaker control, allowing on-the-fly position changes, and defensive hot routes.
The franchise mode has been expanded with new features such as Storyline Central, an "EA Sports Radio" show hosted by Tony Bruno, and newspaper articles featuring real licensed papers from around the US. Players can also experience the morale of their players, which changes throughout the season depending on their contracts, win-lose performance, and other factors.
The game introduces online play for the Xbox via Xbox Live and online league play for the first time on both PS2 and Xbox. This adds a new level of competition to the game, allowing players to team up with friends or compete against others around the world.