There were numerous rumors surrounding the announcement of NHL 25, with a few leaks indicating the game wouldn’t launch on old systems. It appears they were true. NHL 25 won’t launch on last-gen consoles, which is something of a shock considering some of the most popular titles in the franchise were on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Developers want to look forward, not backward.
In the past, titles in the NHL franchise enjoyed a broad launch to bring in as many players as possible. But this time, EA Sports opted for exclusivity to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. It’s a first, and it’s definitely going to rub some long-time players the wrong way. Unsurprisingly, many have yet to upgrade to the current-gen systems. They’re expensive, so we don’t blame you one bit! Unfortunately, that means missing out on a favorite franchise this time.
For now, check out the official reveal trailer here:
But you may want to reconsider. NHL 25 on current-gen systems features several gameplay improvements, such as the ICE-Q system, which we previously reported on, which completely changes how players experience hockey firsthand, with a strong focus on authenticity and intelligence on the ice.
NHL 25’s official release date is October 4, so you won’t have to wait long to play it.
