NHL 25 includes gameplay changes, skill based one-timers, a new WOC Live Events structure, HUT Wildcard Mode, and a simplified, single-path XP progression shared across HUT. Skill Based One-Timers enhance authentic gameplay and create unique moments. By reading the attacking zone and finding an open teammate, players are rewarded with the impact of a deadly one-timer, leading to heart-pumping scoring possibilities. The all-new Grudge Match System tracks the history of matchups between teams across all major online and offline modes and enhances the series with special X-Factors that are earned in previous matchups against rival teams. Additionally, the introduction of Sapien Technology and the power of our Frostbite Engine on next-gen consoles delivers a visual uplift to character likeness.

Fan-favorite Franchise Mode also gets a revamp, starting with the Franchise Hub, featuring streamlined navigation that gives players access to new, relevant and easy-to-digest information. This elevated Franchise Mode user experience is just one of the many updates coming to the mode, with more announcements coming in the weeks leading up worldwide launch. More details about each of these features will come in deep dive videos ahead of launch.

Built on an all-new logic-driven animation system, ICE-Q responds to contextual events with unprecedented realism and is the foundation of Chel’s gameplay overhaul. Next-Gen Vision Control skating allows players to walk the blue line, square up to the puck carrier, stay locked on goal and much more. The empowered AI helps players execute authentic plays with a refreshed playbook that improves power plays and opens up the ice for better overall positioning and offensive opportunities. Plus, Reactive Actions utilizes a series of new animations to make skaters more responsive in critical situations, increasing their urgency, collision avoidance and reliability.

Today's in-depth video delves into NHL 25's gameplay innovations and demonstrates how Hockey is Built Different. Thanks to the new logic-driven ICE-Q gameplay system, players can control every inch of the ice. From the overhauled skating system to the advanced AI of CPU-controlled players to authentic reactive player reactions, each aspect of ICE-Q brings more realism to NHL 25.

Next-Gen Vision Control

Next-Gen Vision Control is a revamp of Chel’s skating system, modernizing how players skate and navigate the ice more precisely. Walk the blueline and square up to the puck carrier while staying locked on goal for better shot opportunities. Or take advantage of narrow spaces to cut through traffic and get a shot off. 

When Next-Gen Vision Control is active, and the player has the puck in the offensive zone, they now skate with the net as the target. Players can now open up their bodies to go for goal, find an open teammate, or retain possession while moving around the zone.

When not in possession, the player targets the puck when Next-Gen Vision Control is active. This allows for more accurate pass pick-ups and can set up the opportunity for a Skill-Based One-Timer. This major innovation delivers a more fluid skating experience that looks and feels incredibly authentic.

Empowered AI

Empowered AI revolutionizes NHL 25 with a complete overhaul of the AI player system. CPU players now have heightened awareness and greater intelligence, which leads to better positioning on the ice and improved game reading. This innovation delivers more fluid gameplay and enables players to execute plays in a true-to-life fashion.

Chel’s In-Zone strategies, including Behind the Net, Overload, and Crash the Net, have been rebuilt to allow skaters to better utilize open space, making it easier to receive the puck and become an offensive threat. Rush Plays now create greater realism, with AI players intuitively reading the game to find space instead of simply crashing the far post.

Reactive Actions

Gone are the days of players getting tangled up and running into each other. Thanks to Reactive Actions, new collision avoidance animations allow players to glide past one another and look for space to receive the puck, just like the pros. Defense is also more dynamic with the introduction of panic turns, enabling players to turn on a dime and use their stick to shut down space. Players will also stick out their legs to block a shot or pass, and offensive teammates will lower their sticks into passing lanes if they feel they're in a good spot.

These enhancements ensure players are more aware of what happens during play and react in real time, creating a new level of authentic intelligence and improving the game’s second-by-second flow.

Skill Based One-Timers

The power of ICE-Q and the game’s ability to create more significant scoring opportunities have enabled the new Skill-Based One-Timers to deliver exhilarating hockey moments.

One-timers come to life through an in-game indicator based on an attacker’s openness and position on the ice. Once identified, players can pass the puck to set up the skill-based shot, which creates a greater opportunity to score when executed with perfect timing and precision.

For NHL 25, brothers Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes will be the first siblings to grace an EA Sports cover together, with their play on the ice personifying NHL 25’s significant evolution in gameplay intelligence.

NHL 25’s dedication to hockey intelligence is personified by this year’s cover athletes. While Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes each have created impressive careers in their own right with unique skill sets, they are renowned as a family for their exceptional skating ability and hockey IQ. As the first siblings to grace the cover of an EA Sports title, their ability to anticipate the game perfectly matches the way that ICE-Q opens up NHL 25 and gives players time and space to create plays.

Key Features:

• ICE-Q: This is true hockey intelligence. Built on an all-new logic-driven animation system, ICE-Q responds to contextual events on the ice with unprecedented authenticity and is the foundation of Chel’s gameplay overhaul. The result? A trio of new features that give players more control over the action than ever before, a major upgrade to the reliability and accuracy of CPU players, and a massive new animation set that makes gameplay a more seamless and realistic experience.  
• NEXT-GEN VISION CONTROL: An on-ice evolution. Next-Gen Vision Control provides fresh abilities, improvements, and a user-initiated skating mode that ups the responsiveness, explosiveness, and expression on the ice for human and AI players alike. Now, walk the blueline to help create space on the play, square up to the puck carrier, thread the needle through an opponent's defense, and stay locked on goal for better shot opportunities. Plus, all-new behaviours and visual reactions make skating feel more authentic than ever.
• EMPOWERED AI: A completely overhauled AI player system heightens CPU skaters’ awareness of other players and positioning on the ice, giving them more fluid and helpful reads to execute in a true-to-life fashion, keeping your tactics in motion during high-paced action. Plus, a refreshed playbook improves power plays, 5-on-5 offensive plays, and opens up the ice for better overall positioning and opportunities at both ends of the ice.
• REACTIVE ACTIONS: A series of brand-new animations make skaters more responsive in critical situations, giving them more urgency and, ultimately, more reliability during plays. Reactive Actions reward players for proper on-ice positioning, increase collision avoidance, and offer authentic visual reactions for players to recognize and take advantage of in those high-action moments.
• SKILL BASED ONE-TIMERS: Read the attacking zone, find an open teammate, and be rewarded with a deadly one-timer you can see, feel, and hear the impact of. Skill Based One-Timers create authentic gameplay tension as offensive excitement and expectation mix with defensive concern and anticipation, each pass creating unique moments and opportunities for high-scoring probability shots.
• GRUDGE MATCH: Hockey is at its best when the competition is fierce. The all-new Grudge Match System tracks the history of matchups between teams across all major online and offline modes in NHL 25 to add more context, stakes and heat to showdowns with your rivals. 
• NEXT-GEN CHARACTERS: The next best thing to the real thing. Thanks to the introduction of Sapien Technology to the NHL franchise and the power of our Frostbite Engine on next-gen consoles, all of NHL 25’s in-game characters have received a serious visual overhaul. That includes new cloth wrap and strand hair updates that deliver authentic, lifelike models. 
• HUT: The all-new Wildcard Mode implements unique rulesets per competition cycle, keeping players on their toes and ready to adapt with each and every cycle. Plus, all of the XP earned in Squad Battles, Rivals, and Wild Card are now combined into a single progression path, meaning that every HUT mode rewards you the same, no matter where you play.
• FRANCHISE MODE: Franchise Mode gets a revamp in NHL 25. Starting with the Franchise hub, streamlined navigation gives players access to new, relevant, and easy-to-digest information.We’ll reveal more Franchise updates in the coming months.
• WOC LIVE EVENTS: Get ready for all new ways to play through  an expanded  World of Chel Live Event schedule. We’ll keep you up to date with all the details closer to launch.

The EA Sports NHL 25 Deluxe Edition includes seven days of early access, 4600 NHL Points, HUT NHL Player Pack, HUT “Hockey is Family” Objectives Choice Pack (x2, 82 OVR), HUT Cover Athlete Choice Pack (84 OVR, 1 of 8), HUT Wildcard Starter Choice Pack (84 OVR, 1 of 6), WOC Battle Pass XP Boost (x2), Exclusive WOC Player Set, and Immediate Reward In NHL 24 (Choice of Jack, Quinn, or Luke Hughes at 99 OVR). Players who pre-order* NHL 25 Deluxe Edition by September 13 receive an additional HUT Hughes Brothers Choice Pack (84 OVR). Fans can also get a pre-order loyalty offer to receive a 10% off pre-order of the NHL 25 Deluxe Edition.

EA Sports NHL 25 will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S on October 4, 2024.