EA has pushed NHL 26 update 1.3.0 to live servers on December 2, and it pairs a roster refresh with one of the widest gameplay patches the series has seen so far. The build touches almost every mode. Players will notice tweaks to AI forechecking and goalie reactions, fixes to icon passing and penalty detection, several Be A Pro objective corrections, World of CHEL quality of life improvements, and a set of Hockey Ultimate Team stability and reward changes that include a new win streak feature for Ranked.
Patch Notes – NHL 26 – 1.3.0
Gameplay
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- Improvements to AI forechecking behavior to exit Neutral Zone Trap to apply pressure if offensive team is choosing not to break out
- Adjusted AI diving shot logic to weigh opposing team acquiring the puck higher
- Fixed a case around leg vs stick contact weighting for the stick in physics where the puck carrier legs were stronger than intended against opposing stick checks
- Delayed penalties are now called if the player kicks the puck without a stick
- Fix to icon passing where it was sending the puck in the player facing direction instead of towards the intended receiver
- Goalie reaction improvements to dump ins and shots taken from sharp angles
- Animation improvements to passes out of toe drag animations
Be A Pro
- Lowered the form score targets required for advancing lineup positions (Top 6 Forward, Top 4 Defense, Power Play 1–2, and Performance Challenge Side Quests).
- Fixed an issue with challenge objectives for the “Get on Power Play 2” Swagger & Humble challenges, now tracking goals instead of points.
- Fixed an issue where failing the “Move up to the 1st line” challenge could show incorrect dialogue options.
- Fixed an issue with the games played objective for the “Become Starting Goalie” Humble challenge.
- Fixed an issue where coach audio did not align with on-screen text during the “Stay on 1st Power Play” conversation.
- Fixed an error causing Long Term Endorsement Part 2 challenges to appear before Part 1 in certain endorsement scenarios.
- Corrected the runner-up conversation trigger, so skaters who place as Lady Byng runner-up no longer receive a Vezina Trophy runner-up conversation.
- Adjusted timing so the Calder Trophy winner conversation now occurs after the awards ceremony.
- Resolved an issue where tying for most goals and leading in points in the Rocket Richard Trophy race could incorrectly result in a runner-up conversation with your agent.
- Fixed an issue where the “Make the playoffs” challenge appeared when the coach’s goal was to “win the division.”
- Fixed an issue where headlines referencing struggling players could appear while the player was injured.
- Fixed an issue where the headline with the Stanley Cup prop might not display after a Cup win.
- Fixed an issue where the Top 3 Draft Pick headline did not display the intended finger pose.
- Fixed an issue where a “Disappointing season” headline appeared after Round 1 despite winning the Calder Trophy the same year.
- Fixed an issue where players could become team captain at the start of their first NHL preseason if likability was maxed out.
- Fixed an issue where the “Magnetic” X-Factor could be slotted into Be A Pro; this ability has now been removed as intended.
- Fixed an issue where the attribute requirement to upgrade Big Tipper was incorrectly tied to Body Checking.
- Fixed an issue where Backhand Beauty was unavailable as an X-Factor for Sniper archetypes.
- Fixed an issue where Shooting% objective does not track correctly in Stay on Powerplay 1 – Humble challenge
- Surfaced Activity Feed screen containing
- Message Center
- Player & Pick Trading
- Signings
- Contract Renewals
- Player Injuries
- Waiver Declarations
- Waiver Claims
- NHL Team Call Up
- AHL Team Assignments
World of CHEL
- Added in the ability to preview Loadouts in the store prior to purchasing.
- Fixed a crash when players were deep linked from live events to the Store page through a hidden button callout.
- Fixed an issue where the Rewards Widget disappeared when switching from Rewards to Play tabs.
- Resolved an overlap issue where XP Token icons and buttons covered the Season Pass header after deep linking into Objectives.
- Fixed a backend UI bug where the pause menu failed to load, leaving players stuck in the rink after the first period in EASHL 3v3 Clubs.
- Fixed a visual issue where changing handedness during the loadout tutorial did not update the skater model.
- Resolved an issue where the message “Objectives are unavailable” appeared when all weekly objectives were completed.
- Fixed a desync that could occur when the AR leaderboard was triggered in EASHL Clubs.
- Resolved a rollover event timer issue where the timer remained stuck at “01s” with a grayed-out tile for Ones Eliminator in WoC.
- Fixed visual issue where the mute icon appeared in black on the Player Summary tab.
- Improved contrast of grayed-out text in the abuse reporting screen.
- Fixed black text appearing after returning from the “Report Content” screen.
- Fixed overlapping UI elements in Objectives when navigating via deep link banners.
- Fixed display issue where the Rewards Widget disappeared when switching tabs in the Mode Hub.
Franchise Mode
- Fixed a crash when accessing “View Draft Class”.
- Fixed an issue where the contract interest bar carried over from negotiations to the offer overlay but not the contract details.
- Fixed inconsistencies in goalie save percentage between player cards and stat spreadsheets.
- Adjusted overlay logic so regular season stats no longer appear during playoffs for other players.
- Improved tuning for coaches when constructing their defense pairings to no longer ignore defenseman with offensive & skating x-factors
Game Modes
- Added Spengler Cup under Tournaments
Hockey Ultimate Team
- Additions to Hockey Ultimate Team
Ranked Objectives
- New Season 2 Ranked Objectives will be added, allowing players to earn Season 2 Ranked Collectibles through gameplay.
Ranked Collectibles
- Season 2 Ranked Collectibles will become tradable for upgraded rewards through new high-value Collectible Sets.
Ranked Rewards
- Ranked rewards will be scaled up, with additional Ranked tiers added so players can earn more rewards throughout the season.
New Win Streaks
- New Win Streak feature in Ranked will arrive early December, granting bonus progress for consecutive wins to help players climb tiers faster.
- Fixed a crash when animating placeholder cards with synergy boosts in My Collection.
- Fixed an Internal Error when resetting Cup Chase after changing season settings.
- Fixed a gameplay crash triggered by passing the puck to another player.
- Fixed a crash when scrolling Quick Lineup with R2.
- Fixed crashes when viewing Ultimate Rank Floor in Rewards & Unlocks.
- Fixed an error when completing Wildcard Draft and Redraft.
- Fixed critical Internal Errors when entering HUT.
- Fixed crashes and FTRD errors during HUT Champions matchmaking.
- Fixed a crash when purchasing or opening the Captain Pack.
- Fixed Internal Error when matchmaking across HUT modes.
- Cup Chase rewards and Undefeated reward displays now show correct information.
- Team logo changes no longer cause Captain Chemistry cards to display OVR “0.”
- AP count now updates correctly when multiple AP line combinations are used on the same line.
- Captain Chemistry Salary Cap indicator now shows the correct icon.
- Fixed incorrect AP/SP/FP text appearing in certain languages.
- Fixed Salary text overlapping icons in some languages.
- Fixed misaligned logos and event name translations.
- Fixed overlapping event/nationality/team logos on MSPs.
- Fixed incorrect art or white borders on Chel Week 3–4 MSPs and collectibles.
- Fixed Next Gen Additional Players showing as “Pending Item” in Packs.
- Fixed Alexander Ovechkin’s 900th goal milestone card showing as basic art.
- Fixed Set Requirements showing “Pending Item” for Collectible Tickets.
- Fixed Team of the Year rewards text visibility issues.
- Fixed debug text appearing in Ranked/Postgame screens.
- Fixed multiple win-streak progression issues
- Deep Link banners no longer trigger FTUE incorrectly.
- HUT main menu banner now correctly routes to the intended mode.
- Fixed Ranked Summary animation not triggering after matches.
- Fixed inability to relegate when appropriate.
- Fixed “Play Next Game” showing opponent username early (prevents early dashboarding).
- Fixed Set search results repopulating cards already added.
- Fixed goalie controls breaking after certain Quick Swap + Pull Goalie combinations.
- Fixed non-NHL goalie helmets not appearing in gameplay.
Art
- Fixed an issue where neck guards were causing some clipping
- Fixed an issue in the Victory sequence where uniforms would deform
- Fixed an issue where some heads in creation zone had their eyeballs overlapping their eyelids
Equipment
- The following equipment has been added in NHL 26
- CCM FTW Stick
- CCM FTW Glove
- CCM FTW Skate
- CCM FTW Helmet
Center Ice Updates
- The following center ice designs and lines have been added or updated in NHL 26
PWHL
- Seattle Torrent
- Vancouver Goldeneyes
AHL
- Abbotsford Canucks
- Bakersfield Condors
- Chicago Wolves
- Coachella Valley Firebirds
- Hartford Wolf Pack
- Hershey Bears
- Iowa Wild
- Milwaukee Admirals
- Providence Bruins
- Rockford Icehogs
ECHL
- Greensboro Gargoyles
- Savannah Ghost Pirates
- Trois-Rivieres Lions
- Utah Grizzlies
Canadian Hockey League
OHL
- Flint Firebirds
- Kingston Frontenacs
QMJHL
- Halifax Mooseheads
- Val-D27or Foreurs
WHL
- Prince George Cougars
- Penticton Vees
Uniforms
- The following uniforms have been added or updated in NHL 26
NHL
- Chicago Blackhawks 2D Third
- Colorado Avalanche 2D Third
- Dallas Stars 2D Third
- Los Angeles Kings 2D Third
- Minnesota Wild 2D Anniversary
- Pittsburgh Penguins 2D Third
AHL
- San Jose Barracuda 2D Third
- Texas Stars 2D Third
- Tucson Roadrunners 2D Third
ECHL
- Allen Americans 2D Home
- Atlanta Gladiators 2D Home, Away and Third
- Rapid City Rush 2D Away and Third
- Trois-Rivieres Lions 2D Third
- Worcester Railers 2D Home and Away
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NHL 26
Developed by EA Vancouver
- Genre: Simulator, Sport
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
- Modes: Single player, Multiplayer, Co-operative
- Release: 2025-09-12
- Publisher: EA Sports
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Age Rating:
PEGI 12 / ESRB E10+
