A new season of hockey will soon be upon us and, to complement it, EA Sports has unveiled NHL 25. This year’s iteration of the long-running sports simulation series was officially revealed recently, and we can now share its details with you.
This time around, the three Hughes brothers (Jack, Quinn and Luke) will adorn the game’s cover art. That will mark the first time signings have been featured within, as well as the first time that more than two people have shared cover athlete duties. It wasn’t too surprising, though, as the image leaked online the other day.
Using the Hughes’ dynamic playing abilities as inspiration, the folks behind NHL 25 built it using a new, Ice-Q, system. It is behind a new gameplay overhaul, and allows for unprecedented realism as players respond to contextual events. It will be aided by Next Gen Vision Control, which helps players walk the blue line, square up the puck carrier and keep their eyes on goal; Empowered AI which will lead to more authentic plays and more realistic positioning and offensive opportunities, and Reactive Actions. The latter adds new animations, which make players more reactive to on-ice situations, increasing their urgency, collision avoidance and reliability. It’s all logic driven in nature.
“The new ICE-Q gameplay system represents a foundational shift in how players will experience the game, with its deep intelligence giving them complete control of the ice,” said Mike Inglehart, Senior Game Design Director at EA Vancouver.
“Hockey is built different, with NHL 25 delivering greater authenticity, bigger team rivalries and inspired by the sport’s next-generation superstars who continue to redefine the game.”
“We feel incredibly honored to be on the cover of NHL 25,” said Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks. “Being featured alongside my brothers is the sort of thing you dream about as a kid but could never imagine happening in real life.”
“It was a very proud moment for all of us when we saw the Deluxe cover,” said Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. “It reminded us that on the ice, we’re competitors, always learning from each other, but off the ice, we’re brothers who love to play hockey.”
“Being on the cover with my brothers is incredibly exciting,” said Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils.
“We have a one-of-a-kind hockey story growing up together and now a one-of-a-kind cover. We can’t wait for fans to experience NHL 25.”
NHL 25 will also feature:
- Better player likenesses due to Sapien Technology and the Frostbite Engine
- Gameplay changes
- Skill-based one-timers, leading to better and more rewarding goals
- New World of CHEL live events structure
- Hockey Ultimate Team Wildcard mode
- A simplified, single path XP system throughout HUT.
- Grudge match tracking, which keeps tracks of rivals and introduces special X-Factors in those games.
- A more streamlined Franchise mode, which will be easier to use and track through a new Hub
The NHL 25 Deluxe Edition offers:
- 7 days of early access
- 4600 NHL points
- HUT NHL player pack
- HUT ‘Hockey is Family’ Objectives Choice Pack
- HUT Cover Athlete Choice Pack
- HUT Wildcard Starter Pack
- WOC Battle Pass XP boost x2
- Exclusive WOC Player Set
- Immediate Reward in NHL 24 (choice of Jack, Luke or Quinn at 99 overall)
- Those who preorder before September 13th get an additional HUT Hughes Brothers Choice Pack
- Fans can get a preorder loyalty offer to receive 10% off the NHL 25 Deluxe Edition
EA Play members also get a 10 hour free trial, which will start seven days before launch.
NHL 25 will be released on October 4, 2024, for Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5.