EA Sports NHL 25 Introduces Revolutionary Ice-Q Gameplay Intelligence System

EA Sports NHL 25 debuts October 4 with ICE-Q gameplay intelligence

GamesBeat Next is connecting the next generation of video game leaders. And you can join us, coming up October 28th and 29th in San Francisco! Take advantage of our buy one, get one free pass offer. Sale ends this Friday, August 16th. Join us by registering here. Electronic Arts is bringing hockey intelligence to fans around the world with EA Sports NHL 25, which debuts on the consoles on October 4. The game debuts on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it's powered by ICE-Q, which aims to give players the time and space to control every inch of the ice, delivering an authentic experience that replicates the NHL's elite talent. 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. Built on a new logic-driven animation system, ICE-Q responds to contextual events with 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. EA said 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, in a statement. " 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." 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. "We feel incredibly honored to be on the cover of NHL 25," said Quinn Hughes of the Vancouver Canucks, in a statement. "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 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.

NHL 25 First Details and Cover Stars Revealed, Will Include Revamped Franchise and 'Ice-Q' - IGN

Here's what to expect from the latest edition of EA's hockey franchise EA revealed the first details on NHL 25 on Wednesday, including the cover stars, the release date, and the new features that fans can expect. Chief among the new additions is a new system called "Ice-Q," which EA touts as a total overhaul of NHL's gameplay. It includes a host of improvements to the way that the players move around the ice, allowing players to walk the blue line, square up to the puck carrier, and more. Other enhancements have been made to the AI and reactions, with a new "Grudge Match System" tracking the history of online and offline modes and adding special X-Factors to heighten the drama. Brothers Quinn, Jack, and Luke Hughes, who play for the New Jersey Devils and Vancouver Canucks, will grace the cover of NHL 25. In a presentation shown to press ahead of the official announcement, EA said that the brothers participated in special motion capture sessions used to enhance the in-game animations and other facets of the gameplay. "We feel incredibly honored to be on the cover of NHL25," said Quinn Hughes. "Being featured alongside my brothers is the sort of thing you dream about as a kid but could never imagine happening in real life." While EA mostly focused on the gameplay for NHL 25's announcement, enhancements are also coming to Franchise mode and the graphics. According to the official release, Franchise will get a "revamp" starting with a new franchise mode, which will give players access to "new, relevant, and easy-to-digest information." The graphics, meanwhile, will be introducing improving hair, cloth, and realistic player skeletons similar to those introduced in Madden NFL. NHL 25 will share more information about the updates to Franchise, presentation, and more throughout September. NHL 25 will seek to build momentum for the franchise after NHL 24, which we awarded a 7, writing at the time, "What's new in NHL 24 shows a lot of promise. The Exhaust Engine introduces satisfying mechanics that make games feel more intense, though refinement to its balance is needed to keep the defensive team competitive. The improved checking system and inclusion of HUT Moments are significant features as well. However, most of the returning game modes remain nearly untouched from the last couple of years and the introduction of a battle pass, along with some annoyingly long wait times to get into games, make it harder to cheer for. NHL 25 is currently set to release on October 4. A Deluxe Version will be available featuring seven days of early access and bonus Hockey Ultimate Team awards. EA Play members will get a 10-hour trial beginning seven days before launch. For more, check out all the biggest games still to come in 2024.

EA Sports™ NHL ® 25 Brings Unprecedented Authenticity to the Game With All-New ICE-Q Gameplay Intelligence System; Launching October 4 By Investing.com

Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes are First Siblings to be Featured Together as EA SPORTS Cover Athletes ~Hockey is Built Different' - View the NHL 25 Official Reveal Trailer HERE; Pre-Order Now REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) is bringing true hockey intelligence to fans around the world with EA SPORTS™ NHL ® 25, coming to PlayStation ®5 and Xbox Series X|S on Oct. 4, 2024. Powered by ICE-Q, NHL 25 is built different giving players the time and space to control every inch of the ice, delivering an authentic experience that replicates the NHL's elite talent. 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. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240822396480/en/ 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. 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. 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 (NYSE:DLX) 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 includes gameplay changes, skill based one-timers, a new WOC Live Events structure, HUT Wildcard Mode, and a simplified, single-path XP (NASDAQ: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. 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. All pre-order editions and information can be found here. EA Play members get a 10-hour trial beginning seven days before launch, and NHL 25 in-game rewards and discounts throughout the season. Visit the EA Play website for more information. Developed by EA Vancouver, EA SPORTS NHL 25 will be available on Oct. 4, 2024 on PlayStation ®5 and Xbox Series X|S. For more information on EA SPORTS NHL, visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-25. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for all our Trailers and Videos. Join the EA SPORTS NHL community on TikTok and Instagram. You can also follow us on X at @easportsnhl to stay up to date on the latest news. Conditions and restrictions apply. See http://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-25/disclaimers for details. Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See https://www.ea.com/legal/ea-play-terms for details. Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. In fiscal year 2024, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.6 billion. Headquartered in Redwood (NYSE:RWT) City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, Need for Speed™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1 ®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news. EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc . (NASDAQ:EA) John Madden, NFL, FIFA and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. © 2024 Electronic Arts Inc. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, Frostbite, and the EA SPORTS and Frostbite logos are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. About the NHL The National Hockey League (NHL ®), founded in 1917, consists of 32 Member Clubs. Each team roster reflects the League's international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports " the Stanley Cup ®. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 191 million followers - league, team and player accounts combined - across Facebook (NASDAQ:META), Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including ESPN, WBD Sports and NHL Network (LON:NETW) in the U.S.; Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada; Viaplay in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and the UK; MTV3 in Finland; Nova in Czech Republic and Slovakia; Sky Sports and ProSieben in Germany; MySports in Switzerland; and CCTV5+ in China; and reaches fans worldwide with games available to stream in every country. Fans are engaged across the League's digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL ® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the League's inception, powered by SAP. NHL Productions develops compelling original programming featuring unprecedented access to players, coaches and League and team personnel for distribution across the NHL's social and digital platforms. The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities using the sport of hockey to celebrate fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. The NHL's Hockey Is For Everyone ® initiative reinforces that the official policy of the sport is one of inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms, boardrooms and stands. The NHL is expanding access and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities to play hockey, fostering more inclusive environments and growing the game through a greater diversity of participants. To date, the NHL has invested more than $100 million in youth hockey and grassroots programs, with a commitment to invest an additional $5 million for diversity and inclusion programs over the next year. NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © NHL 2024. All Rights Reserved. About the National Hockey League Players' Association The National Hockey League Players' Association, established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League. The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund was launched as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 24 years, more than 80,000 deserving children in 34 countries have benefited from the players' donations of hockey equipment. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $25 million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com. NHLPA, National Hockey League Players' Association and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of the NHLPA and are used under license. © NHLPA. All Rights Reserved.

Hughes brothers named NHL 25 cover stars

The Hughes brothers have already established themselves as prominent NHL stars, but on Thursday, the trio's impact extended to the sports video game realm. The brothers -- Quinn, Jack and Luke Hughes -- are this year's cover athletes for EA Sports' NHL 25, making them the first siblings to appear on an EA Sports NHL video game cover together. "(It's) really special," Jack told The Athletic. "The fact that the three of us, three brothers, (are) on the cover. Really cool for us to do that. I'm looking forward to seeing the cover come out. We'll definitely have a big printed version framed and hung up in our house." The brothers will be featured on the game's deluxe edition cover, sitting beside each other in a locker room wearing their respective jerseys. Jack will be featured solely on the game's cover for the United States, while Quinn -- the reigning Norris Trophy winner -- is on the cover of the Canadian and international versions. The trio will succeed Colorado Avalanche star defenseman and NHL 24 cover star Cale Makar. The last time the NHL series featured more than one cover athlete was when Anaheim Ducks star Trevor Zegras and PWHL Toronto star Sarah Nurse were both featured on the cover of NHL 22. After having Quinn in a motion-capture suit for the game, EA Sports got the idea to feature all three brothers. "They're all impressive in their own right in terms of hockey," said NHL 25 senior producer Chris Haluke. "But what stood out to us and what helped us come to this decision is their exceptional hockey intelligence and how nicely that ties into "Ice-Q," which is one of our prominent features among the many in our game. Their tremendous skating ability. Their offensive and defensive explosiveness. They are exceptional in terms of their on-ice, their off-ice capabilities. They are the next generation of superstars in the NHL." While each brother could make the argument to be featured, elder brother Quinn, 24, was happy all three brothers shared that distinction. He relayed the news to his brothers that the trio would make sports video game history. "I think it was cooler that it was going to be the three of us," Quinn said. "Because every year there's a new guy on the cover. But there's never been three guys on the cover together. And definitely not brothers." "It's something you always dream of but you never really realize that it could actually happen. For the three of us to be on together, it's so special. It's a great honor for all of us," Luke, 20, said. The Hughes brothers' history with the game dates back to the days of NHL 14 when Martin Brodeur adorned the cover. But they didn't just play exhibition games or online matches against other avid players. Each brother took charge of a franchise in season mode. They took turns making trades and improving their rosters to their liking. They would then simulate the regular season before playing each other in the playoffs. With each team in the same division, the two lower-seeded brothers would play each other in the first round before meeting the top-seeded brother in Round 2. The last team standing would be the winner. "You wouldn't even win the Cup, you'd just scrap it. (Start) another league," Jack, 23, said. For those wondering who the best general manager might be between all three brothers, it appears Quinn holds that title. "He would trade his entire team," Luke said. "One time he had every first-round pick in the next year's draft. He just built from the draft." "I remember last summer, I go through this phase where I play for 10 hours and play for two days. Back to back, 10 hours. And then I'd be in the 2035 season," Quinn said. Quinn earned the Norris Trophy after a career season in which he scored 17 goals and 92 points in 82 games with the Vancouver Canucks. He also added 10 assists in 13 playoff games this past spring. Luke was a Calder Trophy finalist and was named to the NHL's All-Rookie Team after a nine-goal, 47-point campaign this past season with the New Jersey Devils. Jack, his Devils teammate, scored 27 goals and 74 points in 62 games last season. This year's edition will feature "Ice-Q" technology, an innovation from the EA Sports NHL team that will allow players more control over their skaters through enhanced vision control, improved artificial intelligence from teammates and reactive actions that will result in more spatial awareness and increased reactions to on-ice play as it happens. "Not only does it feel great and give you a different way of tactically attacking in the zone but it also looks and starts to blur the line between the real game and how it's played today and the video game itself," senior game design director Mike Inglehart said. When asked if EA Sports had other enhancements and improvements for some of the game's other features, the developers said they'd reveal more in some "deep dives" ahead of the game's launch. Inglehart, however, said that the game's franchise mode will have a "massive revamp" and there will be some added details to "skill-based one-timers" in the game. The game's soundtrack has also yet to be released. Jack Hughes added that he'd like to see the game implement a "Road to Glory" feature, similar to what was implemented in the recent College Football 25 video game also from EA Sports. Players can choose from one of four player paths and work their way up through their collegiate career before being drafted to the NFL while living the life of a student-athlete through practices, interactions with teammates/classmates and even NIL deal negotiations. You can also export your player from the game to Madden NFL 25 and continue your player's career through "Superstar Mode." "That'd be sick," Jack said. "But it's too tight now. Not enough time." The closest the NHL video game series has to that is the "Be A Pro" mode where users can create a player before playing through the Canadian Hockey League as a major junior prospect before being drafted and continuing their career as a professional. "We could definitely bring Jack in for a design meeting to see what other ideas he has that he hasn't shared with us yet," Inglehart said. EA Sports NHL 25 will be released on Oct. 4.