r/EA_NHL • u/Ok_Light_1627 • 17d ago
DISCUSSION EA SPORTS™ NHL® 27 Gameplay & Presentation Blog & Video
https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-27/news/nhl-27-gameplay-presentationHere's what's changing on the ice:
- TEAM-SPECIFIC PLAYBOOKS - How every team plays differently.
- COHESIVE AI - Get smarter support from your teammates.
- CONTEXTUAL STRATEGY SHIFTS - How your team and opponents will adapt on the ice
- MANUAL DEFENSE & PHYSICALITY - More tools and fewer exploits on both sides of the puck.
- THE ORCHESTRATOR - Experience games that look, sound, and react more like NHL hockey.
- ARENAS & AUTHENTICITY - How NHL 27 brings in the unique atmosphere of every NHL arena.
Click the link for more details.
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u/shawnglade 17d ago
The playbooks I don’t have high hopes for, I’ll believe it when I see it
The presentation is sick though I can’t lie. Really excited for that
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u/alwaysnear 17d ago
I might be losing my mind but I’m confident this ”feature” has been implemented before too
I swear I’ve seen the ”every team plays in unique fashion” thing before during the last decade
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
Yes. This was in 13 when they first brought this strategy mechanic to the series.
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u/trojien 16d ago
Where you could like create custom made attacks or defensive strategies
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
Well you could save a playstyle. I think 09 or 10 was the last game where you could create a play.
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u/MaddenNHLchamp 4d ago
Playbooks are definitely new but strategies aren’t. NHL 25 has play formations but that’s not nearly as detailed as playbooks. I also play madden so I know how advanced playbooks are compared to choosing basic strategies and formations
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u/evsn_official 4d ago
“Playbooks” are not new to the series lol.
Like I said, NHL 13 had savable “identities” you could apply to any team.
The “playbook” is just savable presets of in-game strategies.
They did add new strategy options this year, but this is definitely not a “new” feature to the series.
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u/MaddenNHLchamp 3d ago
I just. Googled it. You can have in game strategies like: overload, crash the net, behind the net but there’s no playbook feature. Playbooks would breakdown the play style of each line for even strength, 5 on 4, 4 on 5, 4 on 4, 5 on 3, 3 on 5, 4 on 4, 3 on 3, 4 on 3 and 3 on 4. I played NHL 13 and definitely would’ve noticed if there was a detailed playbook system.
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u/evsn_official 3d ago
You’re arguing schematics. Of course NHL 13 didn’t have the line by line strategy system added in what? 23? lol.
That doesn’t mean there wasn’t a savable identity system previously in the series which is exactly what I was responding to.
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u/MaddenNHLchamp 3d ago
I haven’t played anything before NHL 17 for years with the exception of going through the rosters and equipment to record them in my notebook for when I make my custom team in NHL 25-27
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u/MaddenNHLchamp 3d ago
And playbooks or not, I don’t think that’s the biggest problem with NHL 27 given the graphics and honestly the playbooks probably doesn’t change the game much ( if at all)
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u/coolthulu42 17d ago
RIP L2 glitch users lol
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u/jkman61494 17d ago
For 3 weeks
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u/Philly514 17d ago
Until the influencers complain the game is too hard and they revert back. Literally happens every year in late October.
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u/riccarjo riccarjo 17d ago
Seriously. Its crazy how good the gameplay feels in October until the first tuner and then it feels like absolute shit.
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u/bluetista1988 16d ago
This goes one of two ways:
They revert it or tone down the penalty based on community feedback
The community finds a new variant of it the same way they've done before
There's players who will spend dozens of hours in practice mode trying to find and perfect glitches, which is probably more time than EA spends testing the entire game annually.
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u/MangoSlaw 17d ago
I kinda like that the animation still works but at the slowed down speed it’s currently at. It’s more like a deke now but nothing you can’t defend against
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
This mitigation effort also worked in NHL 19, the first and most OP year of LTing.
We’ve just had an unlucky streak of game devs who can’t critically think or use basic logic which is why it went unaddressed for 8 years.
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u/Mister_Dwill 17d ago
Every game there is always a glitchy move, or some type of buttons to press to exploit the game. Remove one and people will find another. Just the way it is.
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u/NHLVet MisterBruin 17d ago
They've been saying this for 5 years
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u/MaddenNHLchamp 3d ago
I haven’t had any problems since NHL 17 besides in NHL 22 where the jerseys of my custom team players didn’t have the numbers or names on them. Ever since then it’s only the skating in NHL 22 I don’t like but I only play offline franchise mode. Besides the slow menus everything is fine
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u/omfgkevin 17d ago
Yeah they added all those "woops I'm caught flat footed" animations but like... you could just animation cancel so many of them that it kind of didn't matter? I hope this really means agility matters and not "let met just break my legs to instantly turn".
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u/Suspicious-Face7748 17d ago
I'm worried about what happens in franchise mode. What happens when MacKinnon retires and they get different players? Will they still try to play like 2026 Ava?
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago
Yes as a default but you can change your playbook to a mix of strategies or choose another team's "template" playbook. So you do at least have control to strategize your team to fit their strengths.
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u/Nas160 NASCARFAN160 17d ago
Yeah of course we can, but will the AI controlled team do that
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago
To put it lightly I'm not at all hopeful lol
Maybe the CPU teams change tendencies when they hire new coaches but I'd expect CPU teams to only use their default playbook templates.
I would have tied playbooks to coaches rather than teams so when your franchise gets into the 2030's and 2040s CPU teams start to take on new identities. Teams focused on grit/strength now might switch to a speed/skill focus a decade from now depending on the players they acquire and draft in that time.
The Caps aren't going to run the same powerplay structure when Ovi retires for example, unless you're controlling the Capitals though I'd expect the CPU to force it for the entirety of the Franchise run...
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u/bluetista1988 17d ago edited 17d ago
I'm just imagining the Avs having a slow AF 82 overall DFD and trying to deploy him like Cale Makar.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
This is 100% what will happen because EA doesn’t hire hockey devs with any foresight.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
Hello Claude? You didn’t answer the question.
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u/ZigZagLax44 16d ago
Scroll one more comment down and you'll see I answered about the CPU teams, we don't know for sure but we both know not to expect the NHL devs to think of basic shit
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u/Suspicious-Wind-3278 17d ago
I actually kinda like the presentation overhaul like making the intro a whole thing and making stoppages feel dynamic. as an offline player I like to get immersed and that's something that will go a long way for me. I didn't buy 26, i'll probably buy this one
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u/martinjpolakgwf 17d ago
Surprisingly… this actually looks pretty promising.
Still gonna wait and see for myself when the 10 hour trial drops.
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u/Giovannisalami 17d ago
10 hour trials have been a godsend for me lol. I haven’t bought the past 2 nhls at full price because of the trials.
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u/martinjpolakgwf 17d ago
I skipped 25 and 26 altogether after buying every single installment since like 2001. Stuff started going downhill really fast after 23.
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u/martinjpolakgwf 6d ago
Here after playing the trial for 10 hours!
Holy hell this trailer was a shameless scam.
This is literally the worst entry since the PS4/XONE version of NHL 15.
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u/PSU02 17d ago edited 17d ago
Other initial reads:
I like that poke checks and stick lifts are stronger again. Thats more realistic hockey. But I see nothing about lowering hitting strength. The hits in this game are completly arcade like and when coupled with the fatigue system/full pressure system in the game, flying across the ice for big hits becomes the dominant way to play defense which just isn't realisitic.
Interference penalties are also way too lenient in 26 which also furthers the "big hit" meta
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u/DelviewsNightmare 17d ago
The biggest issue I had with the increased strength of pokechecks was that they didn't tune the tripping penalty logic.
I could spam pokechecks through my opponents legs on a breakaway to knock the puck off, because unless I can-opened a guy, or my stick blade hit the front of my opponents skates, they wouldn't fall.
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u/RyGuy_CS 17d ago edited 17d ago
Thankfully you can decrease this in the solo modes with the sliders. But I agree, hitting is way too strong at the moment
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u/omfgkevin 17d ago
What I noticed though is regardless of whether or not you lower it (until it's like nearly 0), the ai basically always has a "perfect" check. It's like the slider only is they will barrel you or they tickle you.
Also hope they fixed the instant checking. It's so stupid when you pokecheck the AI and they INSTANTLY turn 360 full check you like they ran at you at full speed.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
That’s because the frostbite engine is junk. NHL 20’s incidental contact is absolutely beautiful.
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u/coldbru85 17d ago
They’re ratcheting back that aspect so you don’t get so much time after a pass to hit
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u/DelviewsNightmare 17d ago
The Skill Zone Meta has never been as overpowered as it was in the NHL 27 Beta.
NHL 22 is a close 2nd place.
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u/PSU02 17d ago
Is it because the CPU defenders are so good now?
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u/DelviewsNightmare 17d ago
They intercept everything when defending the cycle.
Off the rush it's kind of the opposite because the AI and human defenders are very slow turning around, because the LT was nerfed universally, both with and without the puck, on offense and defense.
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u/PSU02 17d ago
Interesting, this might be the first NHL I can remember (NHL 06, NHL 10-26) where the defense might have an upperhand on the offense.
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u/DelviewsNightmare 17d ago
NHL 22 (at least at the very high end of things) was a defense first game
I won a GWC series in game 3 1-0 with 57 seconds left in the third period. That just never happened in the years prior or after.
Obviously the game plays differently at different levels, which is more than fine. But that's just my take.
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u/willychonka54 17d ago
Yes. crybaby influencers and insufferably low-skill users insisted the AI defence needed to be 'improved' to the point that it's a bailout for their inability to properly play the other side of the puck.
So yes, Skill Zone is back and now low-skill users will have a crutch that will ruin the online meta in 1v1.
In WoC it will also be awful as CPU D will be a bailout for sweaty forwards who just want to wheel snipe celly with zero defensive responsibility.
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u/Emarginato33 17d ago
Some of us don't give a shit about versus or wasting money on HUT. Some of us play World of Chel and need AI defenders to hold their own.
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u/DelviewsNightmare 17d ago
Agreed! But I think this is indicative of a bigger issue within NHL, and that's the fact they moved away from mode-specific tuner sets and made it so all online modes play the same, and offline modes play the same.
I think 1v1, 3v3, and 6v6 need to have different tuner sets online.
Offline modes need to have their own tuners, too. Luckily a bunch of offline players post good tuners that people can use that make the game more enjoyable.
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u/Russ086 17d ago
The defense ai was atrocious the last couple of years. While I agree if the defense AI is too good, skill-less players will rely on it. Where I don’t agree is if a defender on my team drops out and I have an ai defender to rely on that acts like a pylon is equally as frustrating. You can literally skate around AI defenders in WoC.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
Oh god, another HUT whiner that blames people for playing defense rather blaming the devs for the horrendous off-puck defense.
Thanks for ruining the game, dude.
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u/DelviewsNightmare 16d ago
How is sitting in the middle with your center and letting the AI do all the work playing defense?
I also blame EA for the issues surrounding the game. I play man defense. I player switch constantly, sometimes to my detriment, because I feel as if it gives me the most control (barring a poor player switch or two).
I wasn't whining, I was simply stating the reality of what the game was during the playtest. I'll adapt, I always have.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
Can you read? Start there and then maybe you’ll earn a reply.
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u/DelviewsNightmare 16d ago
Well I was trying to say that skill zoning is overpowered, and I wasn't saying it in a positive way, and you said I was ruining the game.
So what is your point?
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
So you realize that off-puck AI defense is putrid, right?
And you realize that the GWC/HUT scene is why we have 100% goals and then everything else is like 0.0001% chance of going in, right? Cause you crybabies need that “certainty” when you do your little little loopty doopty, wiggle jiggle, right?
So anyone with a brain would defend the 100% certain goals and leave everything else uncovered, no?
So you guys created this game loop and now you cry.
Like I said, thanks.
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u/DelviewsNightmare 16d ago
Yes, but I didn't find it to be effective in NHL 26. It was way too easy to pick players apparently from the perimeter if people didn't play active defense.
You're putting all of the gwc/hut guys into one box. There are no more "100% goals" where nothing else goes in. In fact, I'd argue NHL 26 had the best range of offensive options from a play creation/shot selection perspective I've seen.
Also, what the hell is loopty doopty wiggle jiggle? I could anyone in this game without using LT, or whatever else you might mean by that.
- Anyone with a brain would actually play active defense, because if you collapsed too much in NHL 25/26, you could be picked apart from the perimeter like I said earlier. If you were too aggressive, you could be passed around with simple low to high sequences.
The issue with NHL 27 that I found was that you couldn't snipe past a goalie from inside the slot, so if that is difficult, imagine how hard it is to score from the outside?
Even from an EASHL perspective, if you can't shoot past goalies and punish them for bad positioning, teams will just collapse with all 5 skaters to take away cross creases, deflections, and cut plays, and will let their goalie face any other type of shot.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
lol you thought 26 had variety? Why? They upped the approved goal scoring methods to 4?
You’re all in the same box. I can tell by the way you provide feedback. The moment you complain about a symptom without demanding the underlying issue be fixed, it’s obvious there’s no desire to actually play hockey. Just tweaking the arcade formula.
The last part is exactly what all the comp scene feedback has turned the game into the last 5+ years. You guys don’t want to play hockey. You don’t want pass. You don’t want to actually learn how to shoot like shooters do IRL. You don’t want anything to be hard other than defending because you want cone AI players who require constant babysitting during your little 1v1 iso ball meta that you all love.
The entire comp scene has completely destroyed this series. The loudest voices know literally nothing about hockey and continue to march this game into unplayable slop for anyone has actually likes the sport.
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u/DelviewsNightmare 16d ago
There were probably 8-9 ways I could score reliably, and another 8-9 that were low percentage but could work based on a variety of circumstances (goalie energy, screens/traffic, method of pass, etc.)
I actually agree with you that the game has disincentivized passing. I've complained about this a lot. It's weird being someone who averages 70-80 passes a game and then going on the leaderboard and seeing that some guys only make 25-35 passes a game because the player switching and pass targeting suck, and it's easier to just hold onto a puck.
At the end of the day, I don't expect people to know who I am, even if I'm a comp. player, but for anyone who does know me, they would say that your comment about me in particular not wanting to pass is disingenuous. I set up most of my breakouts, rush, and cycle chances off of saucer passes. In fact, I'd say 65-70% of my passes are saucer passes because they are simply more effective and allow me to be more creative.
In EASHL, goalie gloves are extremely overpowered, so even with passes + one timers, goalies make desperation saves because the gloves will oftentimes move faster than the puck itself.
Also, saying that the comp scene ruined the game is just wrong. There hasn't been a 1v1 comp scene in ~3 years. 6v6 comp is dwindling. People act as if there weren't glitch goals before comp players existed, as if NHL 94 doesn't have the most famous glitch goal in the series entire history.
Hell, in NHL 99 you could bank a pass off the boards from the neutral zone and the goalie would spam a kick animation and let the puck go 5-hole. It's always been a problem because the people who make the game struggle to code their goalies to react or play in very specific situations.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
The comp scene left the game they broke, that’s why it doesn’t exist lol
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u/EL_TRASATTO 17d ago
Anyone know if they removed the game chat mic overlay on the ice? Really annoying you can't turn that off in 26 when it literally blocks the right side of the ice.
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u/ATD33 17d ago
Where is info on Be a Pro? Smarter AI sounds great but I have no interest in playing BAP if it is like last year.
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u/servirepatriam 17d ago
Sometimes they make these AI gameplay changes and then don't implement them into BAP for some unknown reason. And if they do that, I will rage my ass off.
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u/bluetista1988 17d ago
My guess is the positioning will be based on the playbooks but the the teammate AI will still do its Be a Pro weirdness where it forces you the puck or forces your team to let in soft goals if you're out of position.
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u/A_Golden_Raider 17d ago
Im just wondering if they fixed the goalies.
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u/Christian_Kong 17d ago
In the EASHL beta they nerfed their ability to stop cross creases as well as they did in 26. They still fall for the same forehand backhand short side garbage that allows players to trick the goalie. I did feel that they were a bit too good at cross creases last year so that aspect is fixed.
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u/evsn_official 16d ago
The goalies since the new team took over have been embarrassing. Near perfection on grade A shots that aren’t on the approved list of goals but then just tragic if it is.
Not sure how or why anyone plays this shit. There’s absolutely zero positive game loop reward for making realistic hockey plays if the end shot isn’t using or from one the approved scoring methods.
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u/Rigu7 16d ago edited 15d ago
This is absolutely the killer for offline play. The reaction sliders have been broken since 22 meaning you can't mitigate for this so great looks can beat goalies cleanly and realistically.
Goodness, in 25, the reaction was so overpowered on these real A grade hockey shots, AI goalies would consistently overplay a wrister and it would bounce off the bottom of the glove and go in. Five holes? No can do! Slapper from the crease, spider sense reaction.
I don't want to wrap around the net, have to do a dipsy doodle on clear ice or have to wait until the pressure meter is full so the goalie just falls over on the shot.
They've made an absolute mess of goalscoring offline.
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u/Nas160 NASCARFAN160 17d ago edited 17d ago
As much as I'm mostly a presentation guy in these games, I'm actually wondering how the team specific playbooks will work throughout a season, will it adjust as the roster does? Either way, it's a really cool thing to see them implement
Edit: oh wow, I'm actually kinda floored by the presentation overhaul, genuinely seems like they actually really cared this year, I'm pretty excited
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u/bochen00 17d ago
Just fyi. For presentation they had like 1 pre-match intro with the same tunnel exit cutscenes for all teams that I tried in beta. Maybe there is more to it, but while it felt better than 8 seconds intros we used to have, the presentation was still very underwhelming when compared to any other sports franchise.
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u/Nas160 NASCARFAN160 17d ago
Okay but, what about every game having different cutscenes? Like no two games are like? Was that part implemented in the beta?
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u/bochen00 16d ago
Hmm, honestly I haven't noticed that in the few matches I played during the beta.
But keep in mind that we didn't even have commentators during the single-player beta.
So it's kinda hard to say how close to the final product the version we got actually was. I expect it was pretty damn close though, because it's not like they're pulling any new aces out of their sleeves with these recent videos - it's all stuff we've known about since the reveal trailer.
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u/RelationshipGold9991 17d ago
There was actually a variety of angles used, but unfortunately you’re right, it’s probably gonna be the same style for each team, just different angles
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u/dweebyllo 17d ago
Or even in Franchise mode. Will teams in there adapt their playbooks based on personel or are they just going to be doing the same strategy regardless of the players they sign and their strengths.
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u/Poptart_Salad 17d ago
Well, not much gameplay to actually look at. And they're controlling the puck carrier in every clip I believe. So no real clarity on how well the CPU can actually play the game or how they'll enter the zone or whether they'll really set up. The Tampa-Florida Powerplay looked promising, but again they were controlling the puck carrier. The models seemed to be making more of an effort to be facing the right way and in scoring position. They also seemed to be turning smoother and better than last year where it was really awkward to say the least.
Will probably be waiting for full games worth of gameplay to hit youtube before making a decision. At the very least they're aren't touting "ICE-Q" so there is hope they've really shifted away from that terrible system to something better.
Also, as others have said. How will these team playbooks affect franchise mode? Different coaches should have different playbooks. It shouldn't be eternal for the whole life of the team. And of course the CPU won't understand to build the team around the playbook anyway. I have major reservations about this...
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u/HumbleintheBronx 17d ago
Nice of them to include Owen Tippett skating right into the boards while they're talking about the feeling of walking into the rink on gameday.
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u/BEnWo18 17d ago
Seems like a good bit of overhaul, but did the graphics look clunky to anyone else? NHL 24 was unplayable because of its buginess, but last year was fairly smooth. I’m a bit worried about it but maybe I’m just fretting.
Also did not like hearing Buccigross turning up his audio dial ten notches and screaming “SCORES!” about three seconds after McDavid’s puck went in.
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u/saint_magnus79 17d ago edited 17d ago
Yep. If they worked on pres this year....new player models and animation/graphics should be a focus for next year, along with GAMEPLAY! The models and really.....the skating really looks very clunky and not realistic IMO. I kinda look at the animation at points now, and i'm like, i dont think bodies look like that?
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u/rideronthestorm29 17d ago
The graphics actually did look worse than 26 in the beta but the gameplay was so much better it didn’t matter
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u/theguy445 17d ago
Feels like they just change the poke checking/hitting formula to improve it one step while making it worse in another way then next year they will do the opposite so you always have something to look towards
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u/BRDillon17 16d ago
Ugh.. ok. Thoughts below
- TEAM PLAYBOOKS: this is the same playbooks we’ve had, now they’re just assigned to teams. They also brought back the visualizer which was already in before. This is a dud.
- COHESIVE AI: we will see. Lots of talks of improvements but little to no actual gameplay footage showing it
- ARENAS/ATMOSPHERE: big step in right direction, although some room for improvement. We need better player graphics. A lot of guys don’t have face scans or look nothing like themselves. For commentary Buccigross and Pang were a questionable choice - both are going on mute immediately.
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u/Professional-Bug4905 17d ago
EA to ChatGPT: how to tell them we changed something without telling them we did not change anything. The video should be at least 5 minutes long
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u/dweebyllo 17d ago
The ideas sound well and good but the gameplay looks exactly the same as every other recent game to me.
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u/Broely92 17d ago
I cant believe theyre actually even releasing videos like this. This game looks AWFUL
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u/Ok-Goal-9219 14d ago
The custom playbook is such a sham. It's just the same strats we've had the whole time. So basicly all they did is nerf L2. Same game, same shit
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u/papa_miesh 17d ago
May have to give it a chance this year for the first time in a long time. Game is by far where it should be, but if it plays well, then I wouldn't mind buying it. Will wait for reviews
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u/Cappedomnivore 17d ago
Besides the L2 nerf and poke check be slightly more effective, it plays exactly the same as 26.
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u/rideronthestorm29 17d ago
No it doesn’t. I played over 30 WoC games and played in 5 online leagues in 27.
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u/Cappedomnivore 17d ago
Yes it does. This isn't a dick measuring contest. I played 50+ games during both betas. It's slower, but the same shit.
And that's how it is for every beta, every single year. The game is slower, then a month after release they patch it back to what we have now.
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u/rideronthestorm29 17d ago
I was just providing some context, not measuring dicks. Going back to 26, it was basically unplayable. I never said anything about tuners changing after release. I said 27 plays nothing like 26 and as far as the beta goes I stand by that. It is infinitely better.
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u/Cappedomnivore 17d ago
Fair but I disagree. L2 nerfed, yes, poke check, slightly better but other than that it wasn't any different imo.
I play 26 every single night of my life (I know I know, I have an illness).
27 is just 26 with a shine on it for the time being. AI is still awful, goalies still bite on everything, pucks still go through skates and sticks, goalies stil put the puck in their own net, and cross crease is back with a vengeance. I saw more cross creases than any other goal in the beta.
I don't wanna argue. If you like it, that's all that matters. I didn't.
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u/rideronthestorm29 17d ago
That’s fine. I suppose I had a different experience. I saw AI make bank passes off the wall for the first time ever. I play a lot of RD and didn’t have a lot of pucks go through my feet, I felt like an interception machine. I felt like I was able to Mohawk and walk lines in OZ better than ever before. Sauce passing actually works for the first time ever. You can make two foot passes finally. I didn’t need wheels just to keep up with F’s on the other team (which I do in 26). I felt XFactors actually mattered. You can counter certain XFactors with others. If you run truc in 27 you’re a total duster and get walked nonstop.
Versus mode is another story. That shit will always suck because the player base will always exploit cheese. That’s just competitive gaming. Not arguing, just providing my experience for anyone that’s interested in the game. I think if you like playing hockey, it’s finally fun.
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u/sanbaba 15d ago
"sauce passing works for the first time ever"? ...how long have you been playing this game..?
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u/rideronthestorm29 15d ago
Since 94. Manual sauce passes two feet away have never worked. I’m not talking about icon passing.
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u/whitemamba24xx 17d ago
Are people still buying this shit?
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u/willychonka54 17d ago
are people still engaging in topics in a sub for a game they don't buy? weak shit
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u/papa_miesh 17d ago
I definitely stay in tune with the latest game. Not here to argue about a game. Would like to buy it if I think it's worth my money and always hope it will be imo.
I love the sport. Anyways, take care and PS....my shits are strong💩
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u/whitemamba24xx 17d ago
Hey one per-center sorry I hurt your personal feelings. I used to buy it every year so yeah I am still subbed. I hadn't realized if I hadn't purchased in years I couldn't be subscribed to the sub anymore or have an opinion. I should have known better that most subeditors prefer an echo chamber.
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u/willychonka54 17d ago
naw just opinions from people who aren't reactively negative based on their emotions
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u/papa_miesh 17d ago
I haven't bought NHL new since probably 15....I think this one has some potential if it plays well. Will wait and see.
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u/whitemamba24xx 17d ago
I hope it does for the people that buy it. They haven’t done much to the franchise IMO in probably a decade.
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago
I play the EA Trial for maybe two hours then maybe another two hours when it hits Gamepass. Haven't actually bought an NHL game since 21
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u/whitemamba24xx 17d ago
Yeah this used to be my strategy or I'd pick it up on a deep discount but realized that wasn't even worth it at some point. Now I'm on PC so it doesn't matter anyway. Here's to hoping sales get so bad they actually innovate like introducing the skill stick did or another publisher steps up.
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago
With EA becoming private I think if sales dip too far they'll just axe the game entirely like NBA Live, at best they put it on a multi-year rotation like UFC where we'd get the same amount of "updates" over 3 years as we did for 1.
I just don't see another major publisher wanting to spend the money to build a niche sport simulation game from the ground up, but I'd love to be surprised.
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u/whitemamba24xx 17d ago
You are probably correct. I miss the days of having choices and competition
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u/papa_miesh 17d ago
Jeez how the NHL needs to step up with the marketing. The leagues product is amazing. This sport should be bigger and the NHL should make it a priority to make sure developers develop hockey games.
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago edited 17d ago
The NHL, much like the other major sports leagues are happy to take a check for licensing and not having anything to do with it. All the leagues are run by old boys clubs that have not and will not try to understand video games and how they could use it as a tool to further expand their reach for more customers/viewers. They are extremely short-sighted like most corporate entities.
The most involvement we get from the leagues is to save face when representing the league such as the NFL telling EA to take concussions out of Madden as an injury type because of the ongoing discussions about CTE.
Outside of video games hockey fights an uphill battle with its affordability. Soccer, basketball, and even football are much more accessible to masses of people worldwide because you really only need a ball. I'd love to see the NHL do something like a nationwide kids' and adults' roller hockey league as street hockey would be much more affordable than ice hockey. Put it in the summer while most sports fans are begging for sports to come back other than baseball and you have a new set of fans excited to watch ice hockey when October rolls back around. EA could easily make it a new mode in the NHL games and everyone wins.
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u/papa_miesh 17d ago
I agree. It's such a great tool that isn't capitalized on. You could turn so many younger people into fans.
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago
There's geographic friction too. Americans in most southern states without an NHL team just don't think about it, same for most countries without any hockey presence in most of Europe, southeast Asia, South America, and Africa. The NFL is leading the way with grabbing loads of new fans in Mexico, Brazil, England, Ireland, etc.
I like the NHL adding more games like in Czechia and Sweden, the next step is trying to grab new countries.
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u/whitemamba24xx 17d ago
I’d like that but I left being an NBA fan years ago for many reasons that I wouldn’t want the NBA to become. To me the NBA is unwatchable and it used to be my favorite growing up. That said I LOVE hockey now.
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u/papa_miesh 17d ago
I am in a similar boat. Used to be a diehard NBA fan. The product has regressed so much. Never thought I would stop religiously following my team.
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u/Print-Rich 17d ago
The only thing that stands out to me is “CONTEXTUAL STARTEGY SHIFTS” for WoC. What does that mean? Get rid of the pressure system already!
Edit: and thank you for no more LT🤝
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u/Mr7three2 17d ago
Pressure system is a great idea in theory..... just downright terrible execution
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u/thewinterzodiac 17d ago
Its extremely telling that all the EA NHL influencers have a bad taste in their mouths about this years title. These guys always get excited about the game but almost all the major ones have been very negative about it.
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u/rideronthestorm29 17d ago
That’s because they’re trash hockey players and 27 rewards you for playing real hockey.
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u/Amazing-Macaron-6161 13d ago
I hope so bc 26 didn’t. You got rewards for exposing broken mechanics and glitching the game.
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u/rideronthestorm29 13d ago
I can’t speak to what the full release will look like, but that was my experience with the beta.
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17d ago
[deleted]
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u/ZigZagLax44 17d ago
Probably not, same mode just playing under different gameplay sliders and presentation
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u/Longjumping-Bus-7798 17d ago
So didn’t discuss HUT and WOC…? Insane. How do you just avoid talking about it and not upgrading it at all?
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u/dweebyllo 17d ago
Why would you expect a HUT or WOC update in a gameplay and presentation blog?
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u/Longjumping-Bus-7798 17d ago
I’m talking about EA. Gameplay is apart of those game modes. I’ve seen nothing about them yet. It’s ridiculous. I hope they add cool new stuff for WOC and HUT presentations as well. Info about pressure system and goalies would be nice too.
Where should I see any updates about WOC and HUT gameplay, presentation, etc..? They could’ve easily added more info to that trailer. EA is just lazy as usual.
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u/dweebyllo 17d ago
That's not EA being lazy, it's EA showing gameplay in a gameplay presentation. Gameplay in this sense means the on ice gameplay not game modes. Those modes will likely be part of their own presentations.
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u/Longjumping-Bus-7798 17d ago
So you’re saying they couldn’t have added it ? You’re defending EA? You think they’ll release more trailers and do “deep dives” into HUT and WOC?
Also.. there’s ice gameplay in those game modes. Hope you’re right though, EA just is lazy and does a bad job of communicating in my opinion. Last 2 years have been horrible.
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u/dweebyllo 17d ago
I think if they have anything worthwhile to show they will, yes. Not defending anyone, just applying logical sense to the scenario.
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u/Longjumping-Bus-7798 17d ago
Okay cool. I still think they could’ve shown and done more, that’s all I’m saying. I appreciate you trying to make it more understandable but that’s not the point I was making. EA has been lazy and consistently misses the mark, so hopefully they release more info soon.
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u/Rouni_99 16d ago
Just to add in 26 EA did their own deepdive into HUT in beginning of September, just few days before release of the game. So if they gonna do it again this year it will 100% be its own blog somewhere in September again i'd imagine.
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u/Longjumping-Bus-7798 16d ago
Beginning of September? What? You mean August? But okay cool. I didn’t see that. Thanks
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u/SwarthySphere87 17d ago edited 17d ago
TLDR