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

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.

Kat Bailey is IGN’s News Director as well as co-host of Nintendo Voice Chat. Have a tip? Send her a DM at @the_katbot.