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How to Fix "Something Went Wrong" in Madden 23

Encountering the "something went wrong" error message in Madden 23? You‘re not alone – this unhelpful popup crashes the game for countless gamers across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

According to widespread player complaints on forums and social media, the vague "something went wrong" alert points to server connectivity issues on EA‘s end. When starting up Madden 23, your console or PC fails to communicate properly with the EA servers for account authentication and entitlements verification. This triggers the dreaded error, closing the game instantly.

In this comprehensive guide, you‘ll learn how to troubleshoot and resolve the "something went wrong" message in Madden NFL 23 through server status checks, network resets, reinstalls, and more.

Why "Something Went Wrong" Happens in Madden 23

The "something went wrong" error primarily stems from the game‘s inability to reach EA‘s servers on startup, typically due to:

  • EA Server Outages – Downtime, maintenance, or crashes disrupting availability. EA reported over 182 hours of outages in 2022.

  • Network Connectivity Issues – Problems with your ISP or home network blocking access to EA servers.

  • Corrupted/Incomplete Game Files – Errors during installation or patches breaking game files.

  • Console Firmware Bugs – Flaws in PS4, PS5, Xbox firmware preventing proper authentication.

  • Account Conflicts – Mismatch between your console login and EA account credentials.

Here‘s an example of the error message:

Something went wrong error popup in Madden 23

Without a connection to EA‘s back-end systems, Madden 23 cannot validate your account status and entitlements (i.e your ownership), load your profile, enable online features, or even start the game properly. This leads to an abrupt crash.

How to Fix "Something Went Wrong" in Madden 23

Use these troubleshooting steps to get back on the field when facing "something went wrong" in Madden 23:

1. Check EA Server Status

Visit the EA Server Status page or @EAHelp on Twitter. Server outages for maintenance/upgrades are relatively common. If EA services are down or degraded, you‘ll have to wait for them to come back up before playing.

2. Restart Your Network Devices

Power cycle your modem, router, console, PC, and any network extenders to flush out errors:

  • Unplug modem and router for 60 seconds to clear caches and force new IP address.

  • Restart your console by long pressing the power button for 10 seconds till shutdown.

  • Reboot your PC to refresh network adapters.

This re-establishes the network connection required for EA server access.

3. Sign Into EA Account Online

Navigate to EA.com on a web browser, sign into your EA account, and accept any updated terms and conditions or prompts:

Sign into EA website

This synchronizes your account credentials before launching Madden 23 to avoid any conflicts.

4. Update Console Firmware and Game

Install the latest firmware, patches, and updates:

  • For PlayStation, check for PS4/PS5 system software updates.

  • For Xbox, make sure your Xbox One or Series X/S OS is up to date.

  • For PC, update your GPU drivers, Windows OS, and DirectX.

  • For Madden 23, install any available game updates.

Outdated software can cause dependencies and connectivity issues.

5. Reinstall Madden 23

If you still get the error, completely reinstall Madden 23:

  1. Uninstall the game.
  2. Power cycle your console or restart PC.
  3. Reinstall Madden 23 from disc or your library.
  4. Fully download all patches and updates.

This forces re-downloading clean files in case any are corrupted. Be sure to backup your franchise mode and other saves first!

6. Test EA Server Connection

After reinstalling, check connection status within Madden 23:

  1. Load Madden 23.
  2. Go to Settings -> Network Settings.
  3. Select Test EA Server Connection.

You should see a "Success" result before launching games.

Temporary Fixes vs Permanent Solutions

The steps above include both temporary workarounds and permanent solutions for "something went wrong" in Madden 23:

  • Temporary fixes get you gaming quicker when EA servers are down but the issue will resurface. These include resetting network devices, manually signing into EA, or waiting for outage resolution.

  • Permanent solutions address the core problem behind the error for ongoing fix. This requires keeping firmware/software updated, reinstalling game files, resolving account conflicts, etc.

Ideally combine temporary and permanent solutions – get back online quickly now while addressing the root cause to avoid future issues.

Preventing "Something Went Wrong" Moving Forward

While you cannot always avoid EA server problems, utilizing the following tips can reduce instances of the error:

  • Check EA Server Status before launching Madden 23
  • Maintain a fast, stable internet connection
  • Keep your console OS and Madden 23 game updated
  • Periodically reinstall games to fix corrupted files
  • Avoid clicking through Madden 23 quickly during launch

Following best practices for installation, performance, and connectivity cuts down on potential conflicts between game files, accounts, and servers.

Fixing "Something Went Wrong" is Possible!

Though irritating, the "something went wrong" error message in Madden 23 is solvable through proper troubleshooting. Patience and systematically working through server status checks, network resets, reinstalls, and game/firmware updates can get you back on the field playing in no time.

Let me know in the comments if you‘re still seeing the error after trying these fixes or have any other questions!