O.K....we all have our own ideas, BUT......
Yeah,everyone has their own ideas and E.A always tells us to communicate those ideas right here which I still don't think is sufficient for fluid& perpetual conversations! Certain ideas are easily communicated and understood like you want the players to skate on to the ice plus you want the Zamboni between the periods! O.K....all self explanatory! What happens,however when you have a complex idea and very innovative and would be groundbreaking in its implementation and effect on the game! I have such a quandary and I can just about guarantee everyone would like this idea i have which is totally original! I have something called the CPDS(Created Player Development System) and there's no way that E.A could have any idea of what I'm talking about or how to create it within the game! They would have to reach out to me!!Are the tunnel runouts going to be fixed?
After watching the trailer I noticed that the players walk weird when they come out on the ice will this be addressed and hopefully fixed before launch 😅 and also are starting goalies stats back before puck drop and are three stars of the game back where they come out on the ice?EA_Aljo ps were you able to get the answer about if tunnel runouts are for every mode this year?Custom rosters in be a pro
EA_Aljo Hi! I was wondering if this year we’re gonna be able to use custom rosters in be a pro. I feel like it’s something that takes a lot away from the mode when we don’t have it. I want to be able to see Dobson on the habs or ehlers on Carolina etc. In the past like last year for exemple even if we started a be a pro after the deadline it was still the pre-season rosters.
Transparent boards in defensive zone
Hi there, what about making the boards in the defensive zone (bottom of the screen from players perspective) transparent aslong as the puck is invisible and would be covered by the boards due to the camera perspective. In reality the players can also see the puck behind the net. or at least make an optional setting. Thanks for the feedback
Playoff series score in NHL 26 offline modes?
EA_Aljo have you heard anything about the dev team adding a “playoff series score” to the score clock in franchise mode, BAP & other offline modes? I tweeted out to David Pritchett a while ago about it and he kinda teased that it might be in the game but i’d like to get your answer too. Attached below is what i am talking about.
USHL in NHL 26
Are there any updates on when USHL teams will finally be playable in Play Now, Seasons, and as a selectable path in Be A Pro? The USHL is the only Tier 1 junior league still missing from the game. All CHL leagues have been included for quite some time now. Also, please consider bringing back the ability for players to compete in junior leagues (including the USHL) for a full four seasons, or at least one full season, followed by participation in the World Juniors. This would allow for a more authentic experience that better reflects the development path of real life hockey players. Additionally, it adds more players in the system for users to draft in Franchise Mode and will not just be limited to the three leagues in the CHL.The Future of NHL — A Living, Constantly Evolving Hockey Experience!
I think it’s time for the NHL series to move beyond the “annual release with minimal tweaks” approach and become a true living hockey experience that grows all year. Right now, the game mainly caters to the same loyal crowd every season. But if EA made an NHL game that was so exceptional that it kept those fans and pulled in new players who don’t even normally play sports games, it could become one of the most respected sports titles in the industry. Hockey is one of the fastest growing sports in the USA and with recent expansion in non traditional hockey markets drawing in more non sports watching fans then most sports, EA should and could capitalize. With today’s technology — especially openAI — there’s no reason this series couldn’t be the most authentic and immersive hockey game ever made. Continuous Live Updates Instead of drip-feeding features year after year, contract out the best dedicated developers to work with your current and give them the budget and team to build the best version possible now and update it all season with the assistance of ai to maintain. Might require an initial higher budget but lower budget to maintain. Move to a subscription-based model so the game keeps evolving without needing to buy a new copy every September. Instead the game is so good you just pay your yearly subscription to be able to play for another year. Etc. Weekly roster updates, evolving new animations, improved AI, and presentation tweaks rolled out year-round pausing only from July-August with big drop in September. Maintaining Yearly hype and bigger roll outs focused in August and September to maintain Buzz working with the NHL and NHLPA who like the yearly attention and marketing the game provides for the league. AI-Driven Player Realism & Complete Face Scans Every player at every level — NHL, AHL, CHL, national teams, and all notable prospects(perhaps an agreement with NCAA College Hockey) — scanned player face likeness's authentic up to date and updated in-game regularly. Automatically generate accurate skating stride, posture, shot release, and puck-handling animations for every player using real-world tracking and broadcast footage. No more manually editing skating styles — every player moves and plays like their real-life counterpart from day one. Updates dynamically during the season as players evolve their style. Extend to goalies with realistic stance, movement patterns, and save selections tied to actual NHL data. New and authentic commentary featuring different teams or even real, Nhl authentic broadcast teams with intermission, report, player, interviews, etc. Ability to give fans true customization with players body types equipment looks and sizes etc. to make the players look true to their style. Baggier pants(Tkachuk) , tighter or looser/bigger or smaller shin pads bigger helmets/heads or smaller etc. also the ability to customize not only their facial hair leanght but hair styles and length as well. On-Ice Authenticity Realistic skating & physics tuned with player tracking and advanced motion matching.(already in motion but with yearly open AI assistance this could accelerate rapidly) Smarter AI that adapts to your tactics and real NHL systems. True-to-life puck pickups, physical battles, and special teams play. Off-Ice Immersion & Storylines Dynamic season narratives shaped by trades, injuries, rivalries, and playoff races. Cinematic cutscenes for locker rooms, press conferences, draft day, award shows, and celebrations. Behind-the-scenes content like training camps, player charity events, and contract negotiations. Social media & fan reaction systems that respond to your season’s successes and controversies. Franchise mode team practices drills and coaching feedback in season with practice jerseys and even storylines within the fabric of the team. Chemistry actually mattering and likability within the culture of the team. Adaptive Presentation Commentary that reacts to what’s actually happening — win streaks, rookie debuts, milestone goals, playoff scenarios. Historic callouts when records are about to be broken not just when it happens but during pregame commentary. Authentic crowd and arena behavior tied to in-game moments, from chants to momentum swings. Expanded Game Modes & Events World Juniors, World Cup of Hockey, and Olympic hockey for national teams. Outdoor games like the Winter Classic and Stadium Series with unique visuals and ice conditions. Integration of leagues like the PWHL alongside NHL, AHL, CHL, and international tournaments. Fan-Requested Additions Pre-game cinematic intros, reactive crowds, in franchise attendance lower or higher based of performance and enhanced broadcast camera work. Smarter AI teammates with organic passing and positioning. Dynamic fighting engine with emotional context and momentum swings. Signature player celebrations and idle animations. Legends/Era mode with historic teams and players. Skills competitions integrated into All-Star and career modes. Return of GM Connected — play a live, up-to-date Franchise mode reflecting the real NHL day-to-day. PC Release — bring the series back to PC with full crossplay support, opening the game to an untapped market, increasing HUT revenue, and enabling a thriving online and customization/modding community. Why This Model Works Higher value = more loyalty = More money for EA If the game was truly exceptional, and EA allowed the creative passionate developers who want to make the game as great as possible to fully do their job and change their business model players would gladly pay a higher initial price and stay subscribed annually. We all Keep our other entertainment apps even if we don't use them at times because they have value and we know we will continue to use them. Something with true value is worth paying extra and sustaining. Steady revenue from subscriptions + existing HUT income reshapes and improves EA revenue exceeding their current trend. Constant engagement through seasonal content drops, commentary updates, and ongoing fixes gives the fans what we have been asking for year after year. Room to grow into more leagues, events, and innovations without being locked to a yearly reset cycle.(while still working with the NHL and NHLPA to create marketing and Buzz about the game every year in August and September with yearly big changes still as we get closer to the start of the real season perhaps no updates from end of season July-September then bam a new drop to insure you will keep your subscription. NHL could lead the sports gaming world with this model instead of waiting for competition to force change. If the game was truly next-level and constantly evolving, I think most of us would gladly keep paying to play it year after year. this is how much more potential revenue this model could make EA while also providing the best consumer fan experience to date. What do you all think, please let me know?
