REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - Nov. 13, 2024 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced a multi-year partnership with the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL), which will bring the players and teams into EA SPORTS™ NHL® 25. The partnership advances EA SPORTS commitment to grow and authentically represent women’s sports within its games, promoting and championing the next generation of athletes. In addition to the PWHL integration, EA SPORTS will provide new ways to play NHL 25, starting with NHL Arcade launching this Friday and 4 Nations Face-Off content coming early next year in time to celebrate the heavily anticipated mid-season, international tournament hosted by the NHL and NHLPA and featuring NHL stars from Canada, Finland, Sweden, and the USA.
“We are thrilled to bring the PWHL into NHL 25 as part of a massive holiday update giving players all-new ways to play, starting in a couple of days with the frenetic energy of NHL Arcade through to the launch of 4 Nations Face-Off in the New Year,” said Bill Dollar, EA SPORTS NHL Executive Producer. “EA SPORTS continues to drive inclusivity and authenticity through its games, and in partnership with the PWHL, we will amplify the excitement of the women’s game for all fans.”
Professional Women’s Hockey League Comes to NHL 25 This December
Launching December 5, the PWHL in NHL 25 will feature all six teams - the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres in Play Now, Online Versus, Shootout and Season Modes. In addition, PWHL uniforms will be available in World of Chel, with players*, logos, and uniforms available in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). To fully immerse players in the authentic PWHL experience, the update will include The Walter Cup and advanced body skeletons through SAPIEN technology integration.
“Our partnership with EA SPORTS opens new doors to elevate women’s hockey across all levels,” said Amy Scheer, Senior Vice President of Business Operations, PWHL. “Through this alliance, we’ll develop in-game and out-of-game experiences that strengthen the bond between our teams, players, and fans, bringing the PWHL closer to the global hockey community.”
“EA SPORTS is proud to support the PWHL, which has pioneered the growth of women’s hockey in North America,” said Andrea Hopelain, GM & SVP, Publishing, EA SPORTS. “We look forward to working together to help elevate and grow women’s hockey to new and existing fans worldwide, starting by bringing PWHL teams and athletes to EA SPORTS NHL 25.”
The integration of the PWHL in NHL 25 reflects EA SPORTS ongoing commitment to authentically representing and growing women's sports in-game by capturing the excitement of game day and showcasing the emergence of the next generation of elite athletes. Having initially showcased the women’s game in NHL 22 through the International Ice Hockey Federation agreement, Toronto Sceptres forward Sarah Nurse starred as a cover athlete the following year to celebrate their inclusion into Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). The addition of PWHL teams and players complements recent women's leagues and features introduced in EA SPORTS FC™, UFC, and PGA TOUR over the past few years.
Alongside the in-game PWHL integration, NHL 25 features a breadth of new content coming for the holiday season, giving players new ways to experience the fast-paced world of hockey:
NHL Arcade
The NHL Arcade event series will begin on November 15 within World of Chel, offering players a unique and fun arcade-style 3-on-3 experience with the return of Big Heads and power-up features that can be collected on the ice and used against opponents. Power-ups include Supershot, Freeze, Super Speed, Small and Big Goalies, and more.
Played in the NHL Arcade Arena, a bespoke rink with no glass, rules, or stoppages, NHL Arcade will include multiple events throughout the year to make the experience fresh for players. Stay tuned to EA SPORTS NHL social channels for more information on NHL Arcade following its release on November 15.
4 Nations Face-Off
New content for NHL 25 will continue into 2025 with the integration of 4 Nations Face-Off, a round-robin tournament hosted by the NHL and NHLPA featuring four international teams packed with superstars.
4 Nations Face-Off content will feature NHL players from Canada, Finland, Sweden and the USA and will be included in Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT), Play Now, Online Versus, Shootout and a bespoke Tournament mode. The nations’ uniforms will also be available in World of Chel as part of the major tournament update.
New Content and NHL 25 Offers This Holiday Season
Players who play NHL 25 between November 15 and January 2* will receive 6 NHL Arcade Vanity Items in World of Chel and an 84 Road to 4 Nations Face-Off Player Choice Pack redeemable immediately. With the Road to 4 Nations Face-Off Player Choice pack, players can represent their nation by choosing one of four available items from the country they choose to play. In addition, players will receive a PWHL 83 OVR Team Building Choice pack, redeemable on December 5, along with the PWHL integration, which contains a choice of 1 of 6 PWHL players.
- November 15 - Arcade Series, Free Content Drops, Redeem Road To 4 Nations Face-Off Player Choice Pack in HUT
- December 5 - PWHL In-Game Update and PWHL Choice Pack Redemption
- New Year - 4 Nations Face-Off
Developed by EA Vancouver, EA SPORTS NHL 25 is rated E10+ and is now available globally on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. For more information on EA SPORTS NHL, visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-25.
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*As final PWHL rosters are confirmed, NHL 25 will continue to add to the real-life player likenesses in-game as part of a multi-year effort to authentically represent the league.
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