Posted in: Electronic Arts, Games, NHL, NHL, Video Games | Tagged: EA Sports, NHL 26
Check out the latest video and developer notes for NHL 26, as the team takes a greater look at ICE-Q 2.0 and its NHL Edge intergration
EA Sports dropped a ton of new details this week for NHL 26, as they go more in-depth about the integration between ICE-Q 2.0 and NHL Edge for those who wanted to learn about it. The team dropped the latest video you see here, as well as the developer notes we have for you below, as they explore how these two systems work together to provide a better experience in player attributes, better goalie systems, and the overall presentation to make it feel like you’re playing in a real hockey game. Enjoy the content as the game arrives on September 12, 2025.
Last year, we introduced ICE-Q, a new gameplay intelligence system that enhanced in-game player movement and responsiveness, providing fans with more control and a more authentic hockey experience. For NHL 26, we built on ICE-Q’s defining vision of True Hockey Intelligence by incorporating the data-driven insights of NHL Edge to impact how players perform in-game, leading to dynamic line construction and evolving tactics that bring the game to life. Altogether, it means AI players start to think, move, and play like real NHL superstars. Here’s a look at the different areas of the game that have been improved with ICE-Q 2.0:
In NHL 26, X-Factors received a full overhaul, bringing superstar players to life with unique, game-changing abilities. Players this year can look forward to tactical gameplay outcomes for superstar players — explosive speed, pinpoint accuracy, unstoppable force and more — as well as a host of new, unique animations thanks to 28 refined and enhanced X-Factors across five categories. This creates more meaningful gameplay effects for each X-Factor and ensures that all of them bring genuine strategic differences to each game. Additionally, players can take advantage of the all-new World of Chel X-Factor build system to create, tweak and experiment with their player builds. In NHL 26, X-Factors are now a formidable on-ice weapon that make superstars truly feel like superstars.
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