Following the official announcement of NHL 26, EA SPORTS introduced players to the first video in the 2026 Deep Dive series.
Today’s video explores NHL 26’s gameplay innovations and demonstrates how superstars perform more authentically, thanks to the enhanced ICE-Q 2.0 gameplay system powered by NHL EDGE (NHL Puck and Player Tracking) data.
ICE-Q 2.0 Powered by NHL EDGE
Last year, EA Sports introduced ICE-Q, a new gameplay intelligence system that enhanced athlete movement and responsiveness in-game, delivering greater control and more authentic hockey gameplay to fans worldwide. For NHL 26, ICE-Q’s True Hockey Intelligence vision has been upgraded, incorporating NHL EDGE data to transform how players perform on the ice, resulting in dynamic line strategies and evolving tactics that bring games to life. With these improvements, AI-controlled players now think, move, and perform like true NHL superstars.
Below are key gameplay areas enhanced by ICE-Q 2.0:
-
Attributes: NHL EDGE data driving ICE-Q 2.0 better reflects player attributes like skating acceleration, top speed, slap shot power, and wrist shot power. This creates authentic differentiation between game stars and provides strategic advantages to players.
-
Tendencies: NHL EDGE data identifies signature traits and behaviors that make sports superstars stand out, integrating their signature plays into the game—like Draisaitl’s impossible-angle shots and Trouba’s physical positioning. A total of 22 distinct offensive and defensive tendencies make virtual athletes play like their real-world counterparts in NHL 26.
-
Goalie Crease System: This new system gives players greater control over net coverage, with goaltenders adapting positioning through angle and depth adjustments for more consistent saves. Featuring 81 new animations for point-blank stops and poke checks, goalies react with heightened awareness—tracking puck redirections after initial saves and displaying dynamic real-time reactions when the puck enters high-danger areas.
-
ICE-Q 2.0 Presentation: Beyond feeling ICE-Q 2.0’s impact, players will see gameplay systems reflected through new visual elements highlighting superstar performances. Extended replays showcase deeper stats—from shot and skating velocities to goal probability analysis, expected goals metrics, and more. New audio upgrades and replay enhancements spotlight narrative sequences, while side-by-side comparisons and fresh camera angles heighten broadcast immersion and storytelling.
Refined & More Impactful X-Factors
In NHL 26, X-Factors receive a complete overhaul, bringing sports superstars to life with unique abilities that can shift game outcomes. Players can expect extra tactical depth in superstar gameplay—explosive speeds, unmatched precision, and more—alongside new signature animations, enabled by 28 refined X-Factors across 5 categories. This creates more significant gameplay effects for each X-Factor and ensures all provide distinct strategic advantages during gameplay.
Additionally, players can utilize the new World of Chel X-Factor system to create, adjust, and test their athlete builds. In NHL 26, X-Factors are now formidable weapons that make superstars truly feel like superstars.
NHL 26 launches September 12 for PS5 and Xbox Series.
