X-Factor, goaltending changes among notable updates for EA Sports NHL 26

The hype surrounding the latest edition of EA Sports NHL continues to grow with massive enhancements across the board.

Gamers have been clamoring for changes to be made to the series for years, with each year bringing both criticism and praise. NHL 26 is getting an overhaul on the technical side that we haven’t seen in years.

On Wednesday, EA Sports released more detailed info on ICE-Q 2.0, the new gameplay intelligence that will make certain attributes for players up and down every roster more responsive and more realistic than ever before.

Utilizing authentic NHL EDGE data analytics, ICE-Q 2.0 tailors to individual players in particular game situations, with certain attributes – acceleration, top speed, shot power -providing authentic differences in game situations, allowing users to have strategic advantages.

Player tendencies will also be prevalent in the new game. Players’ signature abilities, like Jacob Trouba’s physical tendencies and Leon Draisaitl’s ability to shoot from anywhere, are enhanced in a life-like feel.

How goaltenders react to the play in front of them has also been improved. Game designers have inserted 81 new animations for the masked figures, with goaltenders being able to adapt more seamlessly to plays, including better movements around the crease. Real-time reactions come from a better awareness of the netminders, including tracking changes in puck movement, before and after initial shot attempts.

The presentation of ICE-Q 2.0 is only adding to the different feel for the gameplay. New elements that will visualize breakdowns of stars’ feats and achievements. Extended replays will highlight more data insights, including shot and skating speeds, as well as threat analyses on scoring chances, expected goals and more.

On top of that, X-Factors had a massive overhaul. Superstars have been improved to have more realistic game-changing and unique abilities at certain points of the game. Individual animations have been added, with 28 enhanced X-Factors across five categories, making more useful gameplay effects, adding another layer of strategic differences to every contest.