NHL 25 Skates Out on October 4 on PS5, Xbox Series, Features New Ice-Q Gameplay Intelligence System
It’s another year, and that means another new entry in your annual sports sim. EA has revealed that NHL 25 will be released this October 4 exclusively for current-gen platforms (PS5, Xbox Series X|S). Alongside that, some of the game’s new features have also been revealed, as well as the game’s cover athletes.
Before diving into the info, check out the reveal trailer where we see snippets of gameplay.
This year’s cover athletes are brothers Jack, Luke and Quinn Hughes. They are the first siblings to grace an EA Sports cover together. Aside from that, there’s also the all-new “Ice-Q gameplay intelligence system touted by EA,
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.
“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.”
In terms of what’s new on the gameplay front, here’s what EA shared with us:
- Skill based one-timers – 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
- New WOC Live Events structure
- 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
- HUT Wildcard Mode
- Simplified, single-path XP progression shared across HUT
- Sapien Technology delivers a visual uplift to character likenesses
For those getting the Deluxe Edition, here’s what’s included:
- 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
- Immediate Reward In NHL 24 (Choice of Jack, Quinn, or Luke Hughes at 99 OVR)
EA Sports NHL 25 hits the virtual ice this October 4 on PS5, Xbox Series X|S.
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