A Closer Look at the NHL 25 Grudge Match System

EA shared a closer look at the Grudge Match System in NHL 25 today, showcasing how players can engage in storied real-world rivalries or create their own throughout a season in both online and offline modes. The new system also introduces dynamic new presentation elements that enhance rivalry matchups, both before and during the game.

Grudge Match in Franchise, Season, and Be a Pro

Each NHL team will have historic rivals (at least one) that feed into the Grudge Match system throughout the season. These rivalries will be built on relevant team relationships from modern-day hockey, with some legacy franchises having a wider collection based on their extensive history in the league. Newly created rivalries can be lost based on the outcome of games, making gameplay in NHL 25 even more dynamic. 

Grudge Match in EASHL and HUT Rivals

Players engaging in these online modes will establish rivalries throughout the NHL 25 cycle. Hotly contested games will inform the relationship between these teams, and as players and clubs return year after year, these Grudge Matches will bear more significance. 

Grudge Match Impact Players

Every Grudge Match will feature an Impact Player on each team. Impact Players are determined by their statistics and will receive Impact X-Factors based on their performance in the previous match-up.

Grudge Match Presentation

Rivalries evoke emotion. There are several presentation elements to Grudge Match that are designed to mirror the intensity of these games. These include crowd cheers or jeers, new coach reactions, and collections of in-game player-specific insights outlining key stories and statistics that connect to the history of the match-ups between the teams. 

Make sure to visit the official deep dive blog for more details on NHL 25’s Grudge Match system.

The Standard Edition of NHL 25 releases on October 4 for Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5. The Deluxe Edition arrives 7 days earlier on September 27. Here’s what’s included in each edition. The NHL 25 EA Play trial will also arrive on September 27, allowing EA Play members 10 hours of playing time.