NHL 26 Launches September 12, But You Can Play Early With The Deluxe Edition

The next entry in EA’s annual hockey game series, EA Sports NHL 26, arrives on September 12. We still don’t have full details about the upcoming game, but it’s looking to introduce a few new gameplay changes, including updated movement using the ICE-Q 2.0 tech, reworked Be A Pro mode, and new HUT Seasons and team-building mechanics. The game will be available for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, but is skipping out on a PC and Switch 2 release. Nevertheless, PS5 and Xbox players can preorder the game now. EA Sports NHL 26 is available in multiple physical and digital versions, and preordering gets you a bunch of extra in-game content and digital bonuses. You can even get 7-day early access by preordering the Deluxe Edition.

EA Sports NHL 26 Preorder Bonuses

EA Sports NHL 26 preorder bonuses differ between each version. However, there are a few bonuses you get regardless of which edition you choose, including:

HUT NHL Player Pack
Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR (NHL 25)
World of Chel Battle Pass XP Boost (x2)

These bonuses are included for everyone who preorders the standard or Digital Deluxe Editions. Keep in mind that the Matthew Tkachuk 99 OVR is for ES Sports NHL 25, not the upcoming NHL 26, but it can be redeemed immediately.

Additionally, EA Play members get a few more preorder perks, including:

10-hour Early Access Trial starting September 5
10% off digital pre-orders, NHL Points, and more
Monthly World of Chel Pack for six months
Season Pass XP Multiplier Tokens
3,000 World of Chel Coins

There are even more preorder bonuses that are exclusive to the two versions of NHL 26 available, and we’ve listed them in the sections below.

$70 | September 12

Along with the base game and above preorder bonuses, you’ll also get 500 NHL Points. These can be used to unlock all sorts of cosmetics and upgrades, giving you a nice boost at the start of your NHL 26 career. Physical preorders are available for $70 at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and GameStop. Digital preorders are also available.

$100 | Releases September 5

The $100 digital-only EA Sports NHL 26 Deluxe Edition includes the full game, plus all the preorder bonuses listed above. Preordering this version also grants you 7-day early access to the full game starting September 5. There’s also a selection of exclusive in-game items included with this version. Here’s everything you get with the EA Sports NHL 26 Deluxe Edition: