EA SPORTS NHL has released the first deep dive trailer for NHL 26's revamped Be A Pro mode [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YXarJ9r31Q&ab_channel=EASPORTSNHL], we break down what is new below. As previously mentioned, the pricey pond hockey introduction that has been a long running joke in the community has been removed. NHL 26 X-Factors Be A Pro careers will begin with a new starting point, the semi-finals of the World Junior Hockey Championship. The Memorial Cup can still be played before your draft. Players must prove themselves in pre-season, and can be sent to the AHL. Players can spend the entire season in the AHL and win the Calder Cup, complete with a trophy celebration. A players performance will impact progression and line promotion. Multiple new cutscenes and cinematics have been added, as well as voice actors for the first time in NHL franchise history. These cutscenes include the NHL draft, entering the dressing room for the first time, tunnel walkouts, and Stanley Cup Finals celebrations. These cinematics include new facial animations and emotions. Be A Pro will feature less conversations than previous games, with each conversation having more consequences on your relationship with your brand, teammates, or management. New media scrums will have on and off ice impacts. The revamp to NHL 26's X-Factor system will allow players to emphasize certain traits and playstyles, shaping your character to your liking. The Be A Pro HUB has also received a facelift, pictured below. EA SPORTS NHL 26 [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/33d20847-c887-4406-a75b-32e200449e5e.png] EA SPORTS NHL 26 There were no specific mentions of updates to the contract negotiation process in NHL 26 so it will be interesting to see how that is handled. Using some metrics from PlayStation trophy tacker and from Thrash [https://x.com/Thrash94Gaming/status/1956440808527376530] it is evident how popular the Be A Pro mode is within NHL games and how much time players dedicate. These changes shown in the trailer are great on the surface, lets hope ICE-Q 2.0 along with these updates allows for a fresh Be A Pro experience. NHL 26 is set to release Sept. 12 [https://thehockeynews.com/gaming/latest-news/ea-sports-nhl-26-to-release-sept-12], those who pre-order the deluxe edition get access Sept. 5. For more NHL Gaming news make sure you bookmark The Hockey News Gaming Site [https://thehockeynews.com/gaming/] or follow our Google News Feed [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMws-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen].
