NFL Rivals Reveals Major Updates

NFL Rivals, the free-to-play mobile football game from web3 developer Mythical Games, is entering its third year - and it’s not holding back. Launching after scheduled maintenance on August 20 at 3 AM ET, Year 3 brings with it a full slate of gameplay changes, system overhauls, and new content designed to reset the playing field and make the game more approachable for new players without taking away the depth veteran players expect.

During Year 2, a clear problem emerged: new players were leaving the game early. The skill gap between long-time players and fresh starters had grown too wide, and it often felt like the only way to keep up was by spending money. That’s a tough sell for a mobile game - even one backed by blockchain tech. Mythical Games heard the feedback and is using Year 3 as a clean slate, rebuilding a number of systems from the ground up.

Locked Cards and Mint Tokens Take Over

One of the first major changes is the retirement of Base Cards. These older cards were considered outdated and no longer fit the evolving meta. Starting August 20, they’ll be automatically converted into Training Points. Similarly, Training Tokens are being converted into Rank Up Tokens, and while Blueprints will still be part of the upgrade process, how they fit in is still under wraps.

Going forward, most cards you pull from packs will now be Locked Cards. These are off-chain cards that you can use and upgrade, but can’t trade or sell unless you spend Mint Tokens to convert them into NFTs. Mint Tokens are based on rarity, not card type, and this new system is meant to make packs cheaper and more generous, while still keeping the web3 element intact for players who want to dive deeper into trading.

NFL Rivals Reveals Major Updates

Introducing Ranks and Card XP

The upgrade system is getting a major rework. Instead of using Training Points to upgrade cards, Year 3 introduces Card XP (CXP). You’ll earn CXP by burning other cards, and minted cards will give you more XP, although they’ll take longer to burn due to their on-chain nature.

Milestones are out - now you’ll progress through Ranks, unlocked using Rank Up Tokens or duplicate cards. You can even mix and match the two. Minted cards from the new season will come with five extra levels, a bonus rank, and a special star - so expect them to stand out right away.

Stadiums Mode Adds Unlimited PvP

If you’ve wanted to play more but felt limited by fuel mechanics, you’re in luck. Stadiums Mode is one of the most exciting new additions in Year 3. It’s a real-time, skill-based PvP mode with unlimited play. No energy system, no timers - just head-to-head matches where skill and team-building really matter.

There are ten stadiums in total, each with different difficulty levels, environments, and gameplay modifiers. You’ll pay Coins to enter, and unlock new stadiums by earning Trophies. Rewards come in the form of Crates, which scale with your wins, stadium progression, and League standing.

NFL Rivals Reveals Major Updates

Leagues and Events Getting a Major Revamp

Leagues are being completely redesigned. Daily games are gone - instead, League standings will now be based on the total Coins you earn in Stadiums and Events. Crates can give you bonus cards that help push your League rank even higher. Each League now runs for seven days, and the higher your standing, the better the rewards.

Events are staying mostly the same but will now require Coins to enter. The difficulty of Events you can join is based on your current League tier, and segmentation has been fine-tuned to better match skill levels. That means more competitive matches, and a clearer path to climb the ranks.

Synergy, Crafting, and Squads Adjustments

Crafting is set to play a bigger role this season, thanks to the new card locking system. Synergy is being reset across the board, and Synergy Cash from Year 2 won’t carry over. In Year 3, only minted cards will benefit from Synergy bonuses, making those Mint Tokens even more valuable.

Squads are also getting some backend tweaks. Now, squad rankings will be tied directly to how each member performs in Stadiums and Events, which should make competitive play more meaningful for active squads.

NFL Rivals Reveals Major Updates

Over 800 New Cards Coming

Year 3 kicks off with the Launch Set - a brand-new collection of over 800 cards covering all 32 NFL teams. Every card in this set will be locked, representing what Mythical Games is calling “the new standard” for NFL Rivals cards. Each team will have a special Legendary card rated at 145–150 PWR, adding even more variety to team-building strategies right from the start.

Year 3 Starts August 20th

NFL Rivals will go down for maintenance at 3 AM ET on August 20 to roll out all the Year 3 updates. Once it’s live, players can expect a fresh experience that resets the meta, improves matchmaking, and makes it easier to get started - without removing the long-term progression that has kept hardcore fans coming back.

Whether you’re a returning player or looking to jump in for the first time, Year 3 could be the best time yet to start building your dream team in NFL Rivals.