AI Logic Needs Improvement ( NHL 26 Urgently )

Question

Playing HUT and I have recorded tons of videos of the many issues regarding AI logic that have become frustrating.

Most games I lose are from Defensive line changes. Often I will see them on full energy change up while opposition drives through the neutral zone. This was a common problem in NHL 24 but has become worse than ever. Next I'm chasing just to get out skated by Wheels Elite, for a cheesy forehand backhand or forehand run the goalie goal... I have issues also where I'm controlling my defensive player to the puck carrier and my AI Defensive player gets in my way instead of staying with his check. Then I get slowed down trying to get away from my own teammate...

Now Forwards often when we get gassed from the O-zone ragging in my D-zone I try to make a line change and nothing happens If I say select my 2nd line that has full energy. I have to then switch to 3rd line and then back to 2nd for it to work. Often I'm stuck fighting against the pressure system passing D to D because my Forwards are getting charged and interfered with without the puck. Then I'm caught in slowness due to cycling to find a outlet.

Next in the O-zone. If I have a winger with the puck on the sidewall why doesn't my Center go down low? Instead he stays still? I try to player switch and it doesn't register.

Lastly goalies! In what world of professional hockey does a goalie not hug the post properly? Heck even a 4 year old goalie can do better. I get this is a video game but come on now with this arcade nonsense.

Maybe it's time to make the devs go to hockey development school so they can learn how logical hockey works? AI is horrendous!

Sadly I doubt this will ever get fixed in NHL 26 or further since all EA cares about is taking our money and giving us half finished games... 71 customers left from my hometown so I hope more do also.

kidshowtime1867 · Answer

DeathcoreRitchy3 wrote:Maybe it's time to make the devs go to hockey development school so they can learn how logical hockey works?Not getting the exact hockey experience you want doesn't mean the developers don't understand the game, it just means making a title that satisfies every player's vision of "realistic hockey" is genuinely difficult. Some of it comes down to playstyle, and some comes down to learning what the game rewards.AI quirks are real, and nobody's dismissing them. Anyone who's played games for any length of time knows they're part of the deal. But the AI tends to perform a lot better when you're playing within the systems the developers built rather than against them. That's not a knock on your hockey knowledge, it's just how these games work.Instead of debating whether the dev team understands hockey, it might be worth digging into how to get the most out of the AI as it currently exists. Those of us still enjoying NHL 26 have found that paying attention to patterns — figuring out what the game expects from you in different situations — goes a long way. It won't fix every frustration, but it usually improves the experience more than waiting for a patch will.DeathcoreRitchy3 wrote:I have recorded tons of videos of the many issues regarding AI logic that have become frustrating.&nbsp;Then why not post some so we can see if it's the AI or a skill issue?DeathcoreRitchy3 wrote:71 customers left from my hometown so I hope more do also.&nbsp;&nbsp;

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AI Logic Needs Improvement ( NHL 26 Urgently )

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