NHL 26  

Play like a superstar in EA SPORTS NHL® 26. That starts with ICE-Q 2.0, now powered by NHL EDGE data, so your favorite superstars think, move, and play like their on-ice selves. That includes data-informed Attributes and Tendencies which make star players perform in true-to-life fashion, with their playstyles and decision-making game-aware and impactful. A fine-tuned and enhanced arsenal of 28 X-Factors spans five different categories and is driven by unique animations, tactical gameplay outcomes, and tiers of impact, turning each into a formidable on-ice weapon. Superstars now truly feel like superstars.

The all-new Goalie Crease Control System brings an upgraded awareness between the posts with new close-range and reflex saves that allow for readjustments in reaction to puck deflections, poke checks, and improved AI positioning, giving goalies increased control over the blue paint. In a redesigned Be A Pro mode, each choice you make impacts your career, as you live out the authentic hockey journey from rookie to superstar, with fresh storylines, characters, challenges, and cut scenes.

It’s time to show out and tell the world to Check My Game.

GAMEPLAY

ICE-Q 2.0 powered by NHL EDGE

ICE-Q 2.0 utilizes powerful NHL EDGE data so you can think, move, and play like your favorite superstars. By informing player Attributes, Tendencies, and with the all-new Goalie Crease Control System, NHL EDGE data brings a deeper level of authenticity to Chel. Those genuine player skill updates and trademark tendencies enhance the action, whether you’re aware of Matthew Tkachuk’s relentless motor or not. Overall, it’s an impact you can see and feel on a strategic level, as ICE-Q 2.0 changes the way lines are constructed, along with players’ tactics from game to game and shift to shift.

ATTRIBUTES

The NHL EDGE data that powers ICE-Q 2.0 is used to inform player attributes like skating acceleration, top speed, slap shot power, and wrist shot power. This provides authentic differentiation for in-game superstars and offers players exciting strategic advantages.

TENDENCIES

What makes a superstar stand out is their individual tendencies on the ice. Highlighting their signature moves — like Draisaitl’s low shooting spot on the goal line and Trouba’s proclivity for laying the body — brings their on-ice character to life. It’s those unique ingredients that make superstars great, and those behaviours are complemented by dynamic new X-Factors for increased impact.

GOALIE CREASE CONTROL SYSTEM

The Goalie Crease Control System brings fresh fire to the netminder with an upgraded awareness between the posts, thanks to new close-range saves, poke checks, as well as upgraded AI positioning that gives goalies increased control over the blue paint. These real-time reactions allow goalies to respond fluidly to changes in puck direction with split-second authenticity.

ICE-Q 2.0 PRESENTATION

When you pick up the sticks, you can feel the difference that ICE-Q 2.0 brings, but now with all-new presentation elements, you get detailed, visualized breakdowns of that impact. Expanded replay insights highlight everything from skating speed, shot speed, and shooting percentage, to save zones, threat analyses on goal, and team stat comparisons. Enhanced broadcast graphics showcase player stats at faceoffs to amp up the in-game storytelling, along with new multi-story visual and audio replay packages that highlight important, sequential game narratives, like when a D-Man of Makar’s ilk orchestrates a steal that leads to a late game-changing goal.

X-FACTORS

X-Factors enhances an arsenal of 28 abilities over five different categories with unique animations, tactical gameplay outcomes, and tiers of impact. This makes X-Factors a formidable on-ice weapon, while also helping superstars truly feel like superstars, including with bold new presentation elements. So when Auston Matthews fires off his Quick Release X-Factor, its speed and power may catch the opponent’s goalie by surprise, just like he does on the regular IRL. In World of Chel, players can now also utilize the all-new X-Factor build system to endlessly create, tweak, and experiment with their player builds.

PRESENTATION

NHL VISUAL PACKAGE

From the addition of the Delta Center, home of the Utah Mammoth, as a playable arena; all-new net mesh behaviour, which makes the goal netting react in a more true-to-life fashion when you bury the biscuit in the basket; Dynamic Cinematic Lighting that turns all preplays and off-play camera moments into a thing of beauty; neck guards for players; a slick new update to the user interface and dynamic menu screen, and a font update for increased legibility so players like McDavid can finally enjoy their small ‘c’ — there are a grip of new updates to Chel’s overall visual package.