# NHL 26 > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/NHL_26 > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/NHL_26.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_26 > Source revision: 1355402606 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Ice hockey video game 2025 video game NHL 26 Standard edition cover art featuring Florida Panthers' Matthew Tkachuk lifting the Stanley Cup Developer EA Vancouver Publisher EA Sports Series NHL Engine Frostbite Platforms PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X/S Release September 12, 2025 Genre Sports (ice hockey) Modes Single-player, multiplayer ***NHL 26*** is an [ice hockey](/source/Ice_hockey) [simulation video game](/source/Simulation_video_game) developed by [EA Vancouver](/source/EA_Vancouver) and published by [EA Sports](/source/EA_Sports).[1] It is the 35th installment in the [NHL video game series](/source/NHL_(video_game_series)) and was released for the [PlayStation 5](/source/PlayStation_5) and [Xbox Series X/S](/source/Xbox_Series_X_and_Series_S) on September 12, 2025.[1][2] ## Gameplay The gameplay of *NHL 26* uses ICE-Q 2.0 technology, an evolution of the ICE-Q technology first implemented in *[NHL 25](/source/NHL_25)*. ICE-Q 2.0 incorporates NHL EDGE tracking data to inform player attributes such as skating acceleration, top speed, slap shot power, and wrist shot power. These data-driven attribute adjustments are applied to both user-controlled and AI-controlled players, with the intent of producing in-game behaviors and performance profiles that more closely resemble those of the corresponding real-world NHL players.[1][3][4][5] *NHL 26* also revamps the Be A Pro game mode for the first time since *[NHL 21](/source/NHL_21)*, allowing players to start their Be A Pro career in the semi-finals of the [IIHF World Junior Championship](/source/IIHF_World_Junior_Championship), which will then determine the player's position in the [NHL draft](/source/NHL_entry_draft).[3] The option to play in the [Memorial Cup](/source/Memorial_Cup) tournament or the [Champions Hockey League](/source/Champions_Hockey_League) tournament also still exists.[6] Once drafted, the player can build up to an [NHL](/source/National_Hockey_League) superstar or get demoted to the [AHL](/source/American_Hockey_League). The game mode introduces voice acting by other NHL players, as well as new cutscenes, such as seeing your player in the NHL draft, tunnel walkouts, and a [Stanley Cup](/source/Stanley_Cup) celebration in the locker room.[7] ## Reception Reception Aggregate scores Aggregator Score Metacritic (PS5) 73/100[8] (XSXS) 70/100[9] OpenCritic 43% recommend[10] Review score Publication Score IGN 6/10[11] *NHL 26* received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to review aggregator [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic),[8] and 43% of critics recommended the game, according to [OpenCritic](/source/OpenCritic).[10] The player on the cover (Matthew Tkachuk) has received rippled backlash due to his support of [Donald Trump and his administration](/source/Second_presidency_of_Donald_Trump).[12] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Passey_2025_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Passey_2025_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Passey_2025_1-2) Passey, Taven (September 3, 2025). ["When Can You Play NHL 26? Full Early Access Guide"](https://www.si.com/esports/sports-games/when-can-you-play-nhl-26-early-access). *Esports Illustrated On SI*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-EA_NHL_26_Home_2-0)** ["EA SPORTS NHL 26 Home"](https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26). *Electronic Arts*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bengel_2025_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bengel_2025_3-1) Bengel, Chris (September 8, 2025). ["NHL 26 review: Goalie crease control, 'Be a Pro' mode helps EA Sports franchise remain as enjoyable as ever"](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/news/nhl-26-review-goalie-crease-control-be-a-pro-mode-helps-ea-sports-franchise-remain-as-enjoyable-as-ever/). *CBS Sports*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dator_2025_4-0)** Dator, James (September 10, 2025). ["NHL 26 review: Is this year's game worth buying?"](https://www.sbnation.com/nhl/1079192/nhl-26-worth-buying-review-features). *SB Nation*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["NHL 26 Gameplay"](https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26/features/nhl26-gameplay-with-iceq2). *EA SPORTS*. Retrieved August 24, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** @Thrash94Gaming (August 20, 2025). ["EA confirming what I was getting hounded for saying yesterday World Juniors is an additional, not a replacement for the memorial cup #NHL26"](https://x.com/Thrash94Gaming/status/1958163007835406692) ([Tweet](/source/Tweet_(social_media))) – via [X (formerly Twitter)](/source/X_(formerly_Twitter)). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["NHL 26 Be A Pro Deep Dive"](https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26/news/nhl-26-be-a-pro-deep-dive). *www.ea.com* (Press release). August 19, 2025. Retrieved August 24, 2025. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-MC_PS5_Reviews_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-MC_PS5_Reviews_8-1) ["NHL 26 (PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews)"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/nhl-26/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-MC_XSXS_Reviews_9-0)** ["NHL 26 (Xbox Series X Critic Reviews)"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/nhl-26/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. Retrieved February 15, 2026. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-OC_Reviews_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-OC_Reviews_10-1) ["NHL 26 Reviews"](https://opencritic.com/game/19071/nhl-26). *[OpenCritic](/source/OpenCritic)*. Retrieved February 15, 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-IGN_review_11-0)** Deschamps, Marc (September 12, 2025). ["NHL 26 Review"](https://www.ign.com/articles/nhl-26-review). *IGN*. Retrieved October 25, 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Granfors, Andreas (February 25, 2026). ["Matthew Tkachuk's gesture to Donald Trump stuns fans"](https://www.thehockeybeast.com/olympics-ice-hockey-men/matthew-tkachuks-gesture-to-donald-trump-stuns-fans/). *The Hockey Beast*. Retrieved May 21, 2026. ## External links - [Official website](https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26) v t e NHL series Main series 1990s NHL Hockey ('92) NHLPA Hockey '93 NHL '94 95 96 97 98 99 2000 2000s 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 06 07 08 09 10 2010s 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2020s 21 22 23 24 25 26 Other games 3 on 3 NHL Arcade NHL Slapshot NHL Legacy Edition NHL '94 Rewind Cover athletes Healy (NHL Hockey) Brind'Amour / Richter / Moller ('93) Sandström / Moog ('94) Kovalev / McLean (95) Stevens / Yzerman (96) Vanbiesbrouck (97) Forsberg (98) Lindros (99) Pronger (2000) Nolan (2001) Lemieux (2002) Iginla (2003) Heatley / Sakic (2004) Näslund (2005) Lecavalier (06) Ovechkin (07) Staal (08) Phaneuf (09) Kane (10) Toews (11) Stamkos (12) Giroux (13) Brodeur (14) Bergeron (15) Toews (16) Tarasenko (17) McDavid (18) Subban (19) Matthews (20) Ovechkin (21) Matthews (22) Zegras / Nurse (23) Makar (24) Q. Hughes (25) M. Tkachuk (26) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [NHL 26](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_26) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NHL_26?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.