EA SPORTS™ NHL 27 FAQ

What is EA SPORTS™ NHL® 27?

EA SPORTS™ NHL® 27 brings every NHL team's identity to life on the ice, in the arena, and through the broadcast.

Experience Authentic Atmospheres across all 32 NHL arenas with real-world goal songs, a new broadcast package, and updated crowds.

A refreshed broadcast package featuring John Buccigross and Darren Pang delivers new commentary, modern graphics, updated visuals, and richer storytelling for a more authentic NHL presentation.

Connected Franchise lets you create and run your own online league with up to 32 human-controlled teams, complete with customizable rules, flexible scheduling, roster management, and powerful commissioner tools.

On the ice, 32 unique Team Playbooks powered by NHL EDGE data bring authentic team identities to life. From breakouts to special teams and late-game strategy, every matchup feels more distinct, making every shift matter.

What platforms is NHL 27 available on?

NHL 27 is available on current-generation consoles: PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S

Is NHL 27 single-player or multiplayer?

NHL 27 supports single-player and multiplayer gameplay, including local multiplayer, local co-op, online multiplayer, and online co-op.

Will NHL 27 support Crossplay?

Crossplay is available in  NHL® 27 with improved capabilities that let you play against AND with players in Ultimate Team and World of Chel for the most connected Chel experience yet. These improved capabilities mean that your competitor pool will continue to grow, and you can also team up with even more friends in your favorite online-enabled modes.

Crossplay allows players on PlayStation 5 and XBOX Series X|S to compete against each other in online modes, opening up a larger matchmaking pool and faster, fairer matchmaking. EA Connect integration provides a unified social experience for players across platforms, with shared leaderboards, player cards, and more.

Do I need to have an EA Account to purchase and play NHL 27?

You DON’T need an EA Account to purchase NHL 27. 

You DO need an EA Account to connect to the EA Server and play online modes.

You CAN play offline modes only without an EA Account

Do I need to play a previous EA SPORTS NHL game before playing NHL 27?

No. NHL 27 is built to be approachable for new players, even if you’ve never played the series before. The game includes an On-Ice Trainer feature that provides live tips and guidance while you play.

Is NHL 27 included with EA Play or Xbox Game Pass?

EA Play Members can play a 10-hour Early Access trial of NHL 27 starting September 4th. Plus, score recurring member rewards and more.

An EA Play membership is included with XBOX Game Pass Ultimate.

What editions are available?

NHL 27 is available to pre-order in two editions: Deluxe and Standard. For a full breakdown of what’s included with each edition, visit the pre-order details: https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-27/news/nhl-27-pre-order-details

When can I play NHL 27?

NHL 27 launches worldwide on September 11, 2026. 

Players who pre-order the Deluxe Edition can start playing early on September 4 with 7 Days of Early Access.

EA Play Members can also try NHL 27 early with a 10-hour Early Access trial beginning September 4.

How do you set up or join a league in Connected Franchise, and what roster options are available?

Commissioners can easily create a new league and share its automatically generated League ID directly or via group chat apps. Commissioners can also send direct invites to users, allowing them to choose from available open teams upon accepting. When users request to join a league via a League ID, they can select their preferred team, and the commissioner can accept or decline the request.

What tools do General Managers have to negotiate trades and claim players in free agency?

Connected Franchise puts you in total command of trade negotiations and free-agent bidding:

• Salary Cap Flexibility: Trades can help you exceed roster/cap limits, but all violations must be resolved before stepping onto the ice for a game, either through more trades, claims, or commissioner roster override transactions
• Propose Trades: Negotiate complex deals involving up to five players per transaction.
• Broadcast Your Trade Block: List up to five players on your team's Trade Block and explicitly state your positional, age, or salary requirements to the rest of the league, so rival GMs know exactly what you’re looking for and what you’re looking to give up.
• Free Agent Claims: Submit bids on available free agents, establish transaction priority lists, and drop players on the fly to accommodate incoming talent.

What powers does a commissioner have to manage the league, handle disputes, and advance seasons?

Connected Franchise includes a robust Commissioner Tool Suite designed to keep leagues organized, fair, and moving smoothly:

• Centralized Transaction Oversight: All proposed trades and free-agent claims are reviewed and processed centrally by the commissioner. Every action triggers automatic notifications sent straight to the league inbox.
• Oversight & Game Controls: Commissioners can force a 1-0 game result or override game results to handle disconnects or correct unfair outcomes.
• Roster & Rule Overrides: Commissioners can perform roster overrides to move players between teams, tweak rules mid-season, modify gameplay sliders, and send broadcast announcements straight to every GM's in-game inbox.
• The "Play" Tab & Stats Tracking: Track season history with comprehensive data screens, including head-to-head match details, updated standings, team stats, and complete individual game box scores.

To read more about Connected Franchise in NHL 27, click here.