The devs could add all the stuff we want if they had the time and budget
This statement is not based in reality. I understand that it's somewhat unreasonable to expect everyone on this forum to grasp the complexity of developing a videogame - especially the younger crowd who thinks adding a feature to a game is just a matter of pressing a button that says, 'add this feature'.
The truth of the matter is, adding a new game feature can trigger changes across physics, AI, animation, networking, UI, and sound, often requiring new assets that must be created, tested, optimized, and seamlessly integrated. Designers must balance the feature through multiple test cycles, and if it impacts multiplayer, ensure smooth network synchronization without lag or exploits. In large studios, the process also demands careful coordination across multiple teams to avoid disrupting production schedules.
That’s why nothing really changes, even when fans threaten boycotts.
I've been around this game and its community for longer than I want to admit. Every single year there's a subset of the community who feel personally attacked by EA because their very specific needs aren't being met. Sometimes it's a bug that's plagued the series for a while, sometimes it's a mechanic they haven't taken the time to fully understand. These people insist on creating threads, tweets - anything they can to generate some kind of 'viral' campaign to 'boycott this year's game'. It never works because aside from our typical gripes year after year, EA continues to put out a hockey game that the majority gravitate to.
The best sports games ever made happened because of dedicated human devs with the freedom to go all-in
Again with the AI generated replies. You need to prompt the AI to include what you would consider one of the "best sports games ever made" in order for it to formulate a coherent point. Without providing an example as a standard to hold EA to, you're just saying things with no substance.
The only way I see that happening is if the business model changes so EA actually makes more money giving us everything at once
Again - this statement holds no water. "If the business model changes, EA makes more money and we get everything we want".
Yes and if NASA just figured out zero point energy, humanity would no longer be held captive to burning fossil fuels. Like what's NASA even waiting for? Do they even want to make money? I think we should boycott NASA until they just change their business model to invent zero point energy. It's so weird they just dont' do it already.
If they made the perfect NHL game today, half the player base could skip buying next year.
I know right? Why don't they just make the perfect NHL game? What are they thinking?
That’s where the yearly subscription idea comes in, it guarantees them the same (or more) revenue while letting the dev team keep improving the same game all year instead of drip-feeding us just enough to sell the next one.
As EA_Aljo mentioned, even in a subscription based model, you'll still see similar development timelines with full feature releases still likely being 12-18 months apart.
You’re overcomplicating what I’m talking about. I’m not asking for “press a button, add a feature” — I’m pointing out that basic depth and realism that used to be in the game has been stripped out of Franchise, Be a Pro, and Presentation for years, and despite fans asking, it’s never been brought back. We’re not talking brand-new, physics-breaking innovations here. We’re talking about basic features that were already in NHL over a decade ago, ran fine, and made the experience better.
You also can’t ignore the fact EA has a monopoly on licensed hockey games. There’s no competition breathing down their neck, and they’ve shifted focus to HUT because it’s the cash cow. I get why they do it — it makes money — but pretending that doesn’t affect where time and resources go is just being willfully blind.
That’s the point of bringing up the business model. I’m not even saying necessarily“give us everything at once,” just bring back the core features that made past games great. Right now, there’s no financial reason to do that. But if a model like a subscription guaranteed long-term revenue while letting devs work on one evolving game instead of chopping it into yearly releases, they could bring those features back and still keep the lights on.
We’re talking about basic features that were already in NHL over a decade ago, ran fine, and made the experience better.
What features? My dude - you need to understand that in order for ChatGPT to provide a response that has some substance, you need to prompt it properly. You're just saying platitudes like "realism needs to be brought back" and "they just need to change their entire business model". These statements mean nothing without actual examples of exactly what you mean.
just bring back the core features that made past games great
like what? provide some actual examples instead of word salad from ChatGPT.
But if it’s really good and you want to keep playing, most people would keep their subscription going year after year
Again with this "If the game was good, people would buy it". Like.. my guy... please understand the vagueness of these statements makes them drip with insincerity.
it is just a fail safe for EA to roll out a better, higher quality game with many more feature missing and for players to continue subscribing if it is worth it.
How?! Please provide an actual specific example of how a 12-month development cycle would differ under a subscription model. You haven't laid out any specifics other than "if they made the game great, people would subscribe"
Here is a great example of what EA NHL was to what EA NHL is now. This shows that they have removed and revamped the same mode for years. This content was there prior and in a large part the older version (revamp) offers so much more then the new (revamp) of this mode.
The fact that a game from 2012 can outperform a mode in content and to some degree presentation is depressing on some many levels. This is their major selling point for NHL 26 and they can't even keep up with one of their own trailers.
(175) NHL 26 - Be A Pro Deep Dive - YouTube
The basis that they run on yearly games does not work anymore. I don't think a subscription based game would be ideal either but something does need to change for the better as this business model does not work for the game overall. It went from being a "AAA" title winning awards to a "AA" that barely survives a year with content or sustainable gameplay.
The fact that a game from 2012 can outperform a mode in content and to some degree
You're not forced to play NHL 26. You can go back and play NHL 12 if you truly and honestly believe that BAP mode is far more feature rich than the mode coming out in '26.
This is their major selling point for NHL 26 and they can't even keep up with one of their own trailers.
No it's not. It is part of a list of features such as Ice-Q 2.0 (I'm very interested to see the ai adjustments here), a refresh of the X-Factor system and new HUT seasons - the details of which are still unknown.
That said, I am personally quite disappointed in this year's lineup of 'new' features. I'm not an offline guy at all - so the BAP updates don't do much for me. HUT is a cash-cow I don't like supporting, so those updates don't excite me either. Not a single mention of any changes to World of Chel, so chances are - we're getting minimal updates there in terms of features, customization, etc.
What does have me excited are the gameplay changes. Having played the beta, the noticeable gameplay difference had me looking forward to playing the final release.
I'm still holding out hope there's some kind of online element being added to franchise mode (a la GM Connected) in some kind of post-release feature update, but that hope is fading daily.
this kind of stuff could all be added in one offseason if EA wanted to
Please stop acting as if EA is refusing to add features because they don't want to. If you don't fully understand the complexity of game development, you shouldn't be commenting on the work ethic of those who do.
it’s insane that the depth, weight, and realism of a true NHL simulation keeps getting ignored.
Again with the AI-Generated slop responses. You need to realize most people can see right through these posts. They're filled with empty platitudes that mean nothing because you haven't prompted the AI with enough information to appear knowledgeable about the basic features of the game.
I played MVP Baseball 05 for six years after its release because they gave players full customization in and out of franchise mode, with way more depth. If EA isn’t going to give us proper player scans, accurate equipment sizes no and styles, and the ability to edit attributes inside Franchise — along with the option to fix their terrible generic faces and hairstyles for non-scanned players — it just shows they don’t want to give full customization by design. They’re afraid that if offline players had that kind of freedom, people wouldn’t feel the need to buy every year.
The generic faces haven’t changed in over a decade, and there’s zero incentive to make offline modes feel like a real NHL season experience. The devs are capable of it — it’s EA holding it back for money.
For me, making NHL great again has less to do with raw gameplay and more to do with the depth of a true simulated NHL experience. Most of the features I’ve listed are about realism, not mechanics: interviews, storylines, authentic and fluid commentary, in-season scrimmages and drills, news articles, off-ice interactions (not just in Be a Pro), full customization, more cutscenes showing players, fans, arenas, and broadcast walk-ins while commentators go over keys to the game. These are all features that used to exist in some form years ago, only to be stripped down and drip-fed back slowly by design.
And honestly, this kind of stuff could all be added in one offseason if EA wanted to. A subscription model would ensure players keep paying every year even with full customization. Hell, if they don’t want to include it by default, then monetize it — charge us to unlock full customization or for updated scans. At least give the option. Fans have been asking for years, and it’s insane that the depth, weight, and realism of a true NHL simulation keeps getting ignored.
Community ManagerThe generic faces haven’t changed in over a decade, and there’s zero incentive to make offline modes feel like a real NHL season experience. The devs are capable of it — it’s EA holding it back for money.
This is not true. Nothing is held back for money reasons. If anything is held back it's because it's not ready for release. Again, a subscription model most likely wouldn't get more accomplished. The dev team would still be doing the same amount of work.
Community ManagerYou also can’t ignore the fact EA has a monopoly on licensed hockey games. There’s no competition breathing down their neck, and they’ve shifted focus to HUT because it’s the cash cow. I get why they do it — it makes money — but pretending that doesn’t affect where time and resources go is just being willfully blind.
Did you see there's a big BaP update coming? There also have been numerous updates to Franchise Mode in recent years. HUT of course gets updates since it's one of the most popular modes. That doesn't mean we're ignoring other modes though. The focus hasn't shifted to HUT. The focus is on the game as a whole. We can't do major overhauls of every mode every year though.
Community Manager
