Addressing Development and the NCAA
As an offline player mostly, I honestly think the gameplay of 26 is great. I have 194 hours in the game already. I've had a lot of fun playing the games. I can understand complaints from people where it "looks the same" because it basically is the same as 24 and 25, just refined and actually working correctly (still wish you'd let us map puck protect to X on ps5).
We need to address development in Franchise mode moving forward. Give us a practice mode in franchise with skill drills like FIFA to develop our players. Why can we not have access to the ECHL? With the CHL players gaining NCAA eligibility, we can really get some depth in franchise mode by adding the ECHL and something that at least emulates the NCAA. We don't even need (though I really hope we do get them) NCAA licensed teams, just some sort of system that allows us to play with all of the prospects in the pool. I know you can scout "USA" but something a little more specific would be fun.
NCAA Tournament mode would be amazing and give a fresh update to the continuously untouched tournament mode.
I think it's important for EA to address the NCAA players for 27.