Hughes Brothers Star as NHL 25 Cover Athletes
The Hughes brothers are your NHL 25 cover athletes! All the details on the game's new ICE-Q system, Next-Gen Vision Control and more.
Ahead of its full reveal today EA Sports offered a glimpse of what’s to come for NHL 25 at a special virtual preview event. They revealed their cover athletes for NHL 25, a dynamic brotherly trio to kick things off. Quinn, Jack, and Luke Hughes are making history as the first siblings to be featured together on the cover of EA SPORTS NHL 25. This year’s entry in the franchise is coming on October 4th, 2024, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and looks to bring a new level of hockey intelligence or “ICE-Q” to the virtual rink.
Hughes brothers make EA Sports NHL history
The brothers shared their excitement to star on the cover of NHL 25 in such a unique way. All three will be on the Deluxe Edition of the game. The base edition artwork will be different depending on your region. Quinn Hughes will dawn his Canucks jersey for Canada and most of the worldwide regions, whereas Jack will represent the U.S. market in his Devils jersey.
Quinn of the Vancouver Canucks shared, “We feel incredibly honoured to be on the cover of NHL 25. Being featured alongside my brothers is the sort of thing you dream about as a kid but could never imagine happening in real life.”
Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils added, “It was a very proud moment for all of us when we saw the Deluxe cover. It reminded us that on the ice, we’re competitors, always learning from each other, but off the ice, we’re brothers who love to play hockey.”
New “ICE-Q system”
Along with the cover reveal, we were also introduced to some of the new gameplay mechanics that power NHL 25 with the new “ICE-Q system.” This system offers players the time and space to control every inch of the ice, delivering an authentic experience that mirrors the elite talent of the NHL. The Hughes brothers’ exceptional play on the ice perfectly embodies the game’s significant evolution in gameplay intelligence. The ICE-Q system is built on a new logic-driven animation system that responds to contextual events on ice like turn overs.
Next-Gen Vision Control in NHL 25
Next-Gen Vision Control skating allows players to walk the blue line, square up to the puck carrier, stay locked on goal, and much more. The AI helps players pull off authentic plays with a refreshed playbook that improves power plays and opens the ice for better positioning and offensive opportunities. “Reactive Actions” make skaters more responsive in critical situations, increasing their urgency, collision avoidance, and reliability.
Mike Inglehart, Senior Game Design Director at EA Vancouver, had this to say about the new gameplay upgrades, “The new ICE-Q gameplay system represents a foundational shift in how players will experience the game, with its deep intelligence giving them complete control of the ice. Hockey is built different, with NHL 25 delivering greater authenticity, bigger team rivalries, and inspired by the sport’s next-generation superstars who continue to redefine the game.”
NHL 25 includes several gameplay changes, including skill-based one-timers, a new WOC Live Events structure, HUT Wildcard Mode, and a simplified, single-path XP progression shared across HUT.
Grudge Match System and Sapien Tech
The all-new Grudge Match System tracks the history of matchups between teams across all major online and offline modes, enhancing the series with special X-Factors earned in previous matchups against rival teams. Additionally, the introduction of Sapien Technology and the power of the Frostbite Engine on next-gen consoles delivers a visual upgrade to character likeness.
Franchise Mode also gets a revamp
The Franchise Hub will see streamlined navigation that gives players access to new, relevant, and easy-to-digest information. This elevated Franchise Mode user experience is just one of the many updates coming to the mode, with more announcements coming in the weeks leading up to the worldwide launch.
Get ready for puck drop this fall with NHL 25
NHL 25 is set to make a significant impact with its innovative gameplay mechanics and the historic inclusion of the Hughes brothers on the cover. The new ICE-Q system and Next-Gen Vision Control promise to deliver an unparalleled level of realism and control, reflecting the elite talent of the NHL. Mark your calendars for October 4th, 2024, and get ready to hit the virtual rink with the Hughes trio leading the way.
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