NHL 26 Has A Surprisingly Early Release Date, 10-Hour Xbox Game Pass Trial Included

EA has unveiled its latest new sports game today in the form of NHL 26, which is releasing surprisingly early for an NHL title – it’s usually out in early October, but they’ve pushed it forward by a month to September 12th, 2025.

This newest entry in the series features ICE-Q 2.0 technology that’s fueled by NHL EDGE positional data “so your favorite superstars think, move, and play like their on-ice selves”. This means real-world data extends to areas such as player attributes and player tendencies – the likes of skating speeds, shot power, unique behaviours and signature moves. There’s also a new Goalie Crease Control System that’s said to result in more responsive netminders with smarter positioning and more natural saves.

Beyond that, Be A Pro mode is finally getting the long-awaited revamp fans have been asking for, featuring “fresh storylines, new characters, high-stakes challenges, and cutscenes [to] make the experience more realistic and engaging than ever before”, while the all-new HUT Seasons (for Ultimate Team) will be centred around team-building mechanics, ranked matches and an offline cup known as the HUT Cup Chase.

As mentioned, September 12th is the release date for NHL 26, although early access actually begins on September 5th for Deluxe version buyers, as well as for EA Play and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members who will get a 10-hour trial.

For those who want the cheapest version, the Standard edition of NHL 26 retails at $69.99 and comes with a few pre-order bonuses – 500 NHL Points, a HUT NHL Player Pack, 2 WOC Battle Pass XP Boosts and a Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR for NHL 25’s Hockey Ultimate Team as an instant reward.

We’ll leave you with more details about NHL 26 along with some screenshots down below:

Excited for NHL 26 on Xbox? Let us know down in the comments section.