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  • 6 weeks ago
Transcript
00:00I'm Craig McHorris, and welcome to the NHL 26 Gameplay Deep Dive.
00:09I have always loved Chell, so I am beyond stoked to introduce what's new in-game this year.
00:15The headliner is the next evolution of Ice Cube.
00:18In Ice Cube 2.0, which is now powered by NHL Edge player Data,
00:23whose incorporation makes your favorite superstars think, move, and play more like themselves.
00:30To take us through the details, let's pass it off to Mike Englehart and David Pritchett.
00:35Thanks, Craig.
00:36This year, we're building on Ice Cube's defining vision of true hockey intelligence
00:40by incorporating the data-driven innovation of NHL Edge,
00:44which powers how superstars play in NHL 26.
00:47The NHL's groundbreaking puck-and-player tracking technology
00:50uses 14 infrared cameras placed inside all 32 team arenas
00:55to capture data from sensors embedded in every puck and tags sewn into players' sweaters.
01:00In NHL 26, Ice Cube 2.0 uses that treasure trove of NHL Edge player data
01:06to impact how players perform in games.
01:08For example, we've reviewed Ovi's historic trends and performance data
01:12and used that to update his character's attributes and tendencies,
01:15so his skills are aligned with his real-life self.
01:18And AI Ovi will naturally position himself in his patented power play spot
01:22at the appropriate time.
01:24Altogether, that means AI players start to think, move, and play like your favorite stars.
01:32Attributes are one of the main pillars of how Ice Cube 2.0
01:35incorporates NHL Edge data into the game.
01:38It's used to inform key player attributes like skating acceleration,
01:44top speed,
01:46slap shot power,
01:48and wrist shot power,
01:50giving in-game superstars true-to-life differentiation.
01:54So when you play with or against Conor McDavid,
01:57his acceleration and speed are aligned with the stats in the real world,
02:01a difference you really feel in-game.
02:03What makes a superstar stand out is their individual tendencies on the ice.
02:08Highlighting their signature moves,
02:10like dry saddle taking sharp angle shots on goal,
02:13and McKinnon's love for laying out the body
02:15brings their on-ice character to life.
02:17So far, we have 22 unique tendencies
02:19spanning both offensive and defensive impacts
02:22that have been crafted to make those in-game NHL players
02:25perform in lifelike fashion.
02:27One of the big components of Ice Cube 2.0
02:30is how it presents in-game.
02:32You can feel it as you play,
02:34but it really comes alive with new animations
02:36and visualized breakdowns.
02:39Expanded replay insights highlight everything
02:41from skating speed,
02:43shot speed,
02:44shooting percentage,
02:45and threat analyses on goal.
02:47New broadcast graphics showcase player comparisons
02:50at face-offs to amp up the in-game storytelling.
02:53Speaking of,
02:54multi-story replays will now highlight
02:57important sequential game narratives.
03:00We've also created new cameras
03:02to capture those big moments
03:04and give them the spotlight they deserve.
03:07The all-new Goalie crease control system
03:10brings players an upgraded awareness between the posts
03:12thanks to 81 new animations,
03:15close-range saves,
03:16poke checks,
03:17as well as upgraded AI positioning
03:19that gives goalies increased control over the blue paint.
03:22Previously,
03:23extended animation sequences
03:24saw goalies lock into positions
03:26as the action moved on around them.
03:28Now,
03:29real-time reactions allow goalies
03:30to respond fluidly
03:32to changes in puck direction
03:33with split-second reflexive responses
03:35that really add excitement
03:37to high-pressure moments.
03:39And if one slips past them,
03:40new goalie reactions
03:41let you feel their emotion
03:42when the opposition lights the lamp.
03:44The goalie crease control system
03:46provides an increased level of realism
03:48and effectiveness to the netminders
03:50that we know players have been waiting for.
03:52We also know that the community
03:54has been wanting
03:55a more impactful approach to X-Factors,
03:58so we've crafted an arsenal
03:59of 28 refined and enhanced X-Factors
04:02that span five different categories
04:04with unique animations
04:06and tactical gameplay outcomes.
04:08Each of those X-Factors
04:10has three tiers of impact
04:11which can be felt and seen
04:13more clearly in gameplay
04:14with new,
04:15distinct gameplay animations
04:17and presentation elements.
04:19The goal in reworking the system
04:20is to create more meaningful
04:22gameplay effects
04:23for each X-Factor
04:24and ensure they bring
04:25genuine strategic differences
04:27to each game.
04:28So when Evan Bouchard
04:30fires off his rocket X-Factor,
04:32its speed and power
04:33may catch the opponent's goalie
04:34by surprise
04:35and stun them in-game.
04:37X-Factors are now
04:38a formidable,
04:39on-ice weapon
04:40that makes superstars
04:42truly feel like superstars.
04:44As you can see,
04:45incredible updates
04:47to Chell this year.
04:48I'm excited for you
04:49to get into the game,
04:50get on the ice,
04:51and feel that superstar
04:52impact yourself.
04:53NHL 26 is available
04:55for pre-order now.
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