Earlier this week, we were invited to learn about NHL 27. At that point, some of its new features were introduced, alongside this year’s cover athlete: Macklin Celebrini. As you likely saw, they also shared the cover art for both the Standard and Deluxe Edition.
During the presentation, we learned that NHL 27 will be released on the 11th of September. When it is, it will be available for PS5 and XBOX Series. However, those who purchase the Deluxe Edition will receive early access starting on September 4th.
This year, the game will feature a new commentary team made up of well known play-by-play commentator, John Buccigross, and colour commentator, Darren Pang. The team said that they held a lot of auditions, and decided on these two veteran commentators afterwards.
There was also a lot of talk about team identity, and how every barn in the League feels different. To help differentiate each arena, and make home games feel like true home games for each of the 32 teams, they’ve improved the presentation. This means better lighting, team colours and presentations filling the arenas (by way of the digital boards, jumbotrons and on-ice overlays). However, they’ve also extended this to include things like the shark head in San Jose, which can be seen on one of the cover art images, as well as the cannon in Columbus and the fortress in Las Vegas. The crowds will also be newly redone, with better models, more lifelike reactions and the like.
The new commentators helped shape the presentation, providing insight into how to make the experience feel more like watching a game on TV. As such, there are more player highlights, animations featuring goalies stretching (as an example) and more lifelike visual displays.
Afterwards, discussion moved onto playbooks, and talk about how each team plays differently. They said that each team will have a unique playbook based on how they tend to play, and that information will be provided by more in-depth NHL Edge tracking data from real life. We assume that this will change, given that some teams (like the Leafs) will be introducing new coaches this year. However, it was said that things could be adjusted, and that users could try out other teams’ playbooks.
Players will also act more realistically than before, which is something that is always said before the release of a simulation sports game. The developers who talked about this year’s iteration shared that dump and chase will be more effective because non-player-controlled wingers will race towards the puck after it’s been dumped. Cross-crease scoring will also be more challenging, and defenders will go after players’ skates when they are on breakaways.
Apparently many fans have been asking for a Connected Franchise mode, and that’s going to be delivered in NHL 27. You’ll be able to create a connected league with up to 31 others, and can adjust how often games are played, how much can be played at once and things like that. The menus are said to be very intuitive, easy to use and quick, allowing for easy set up. Plus, they said that games will be paced well.
More will be revealed over the remainder of the summer, leading up to NHL 27’s launch. Here’s hoping that the issues we had with last year’s game will be addressed.