Can't speak for Xbox One but on PS4 its basically the same game as far as the features and UI go as last year, but the gameplay out of the box is phenomenal. I used to destroy the CPU on all madden in my franchises and the game would get boring after a couple seasons, even with slidrs heavily weighted toward the CPU. This year, though, I'm playing on All-Pro and I'm having realistic games and losing about half the time with the Browns. I'm a pretty good player, so this is saying a lot about how much better the AI plays.
Drew Brees picked my defense apart, I just couldn't stop him. Lost 17-34. I decimated the Steelers secondary because they tried to keep Polamalu close to the line of scrimmage and the rest of their secondary is trash, and I was all over Big Ben because they have no OL. Fucker escaped about 6 sacks, but I still got him 7 times. Won that game handily. Couldn't run on the Titans at all, but they couldn't pass on me. Won a low scoring game. Won a close scrappy game against the Ravens where neither of us did much on offense. So far each team I've played is a unique challenge based on their roster and scheme strengths and weaknesses, which I've never felt has been the case in the past, at least not to this level. Once you had a formula to win it prettty much worked universally in the past, this year you have to adjust your game to your opponent a lot more.
The running game has been dramatically improved; its a bit challenging at first because I'm conditioned to sprint 100% of the time but it punishes you for that this year. Your OL actually matters now, you have to have vision and patience, set up blocks and hit holes correctly to have success. 3-4 defense still kind of blows though, better off switching to a 4-3 like every year. Hopefully they'll get that right eventually.
I have not played online as I find in years past to have just been a cheese fest, so I can't say what that's like this year. But franchise mode or whatever they're calling it now vs the CPU is actually very enjoyable. I recommend getting it this year, its the first one in a few years where I don't have buyer's remorse.