Electronic Arts, NHL and NHLPA Extend Multi-Year Deal to Bring More Hockey Games to Millions

CanadianCoyote

Registered User
Oct 11, 2020
466
781
Ontario, Canada
Official page is here, but quoted below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & NEW YORK (November 5, 2020) --Today, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA), the National Hockey League (NHL), and the NHL Players’ Association (NHLPA) announced a multi-year renewal to their partnership. The new agreement will allow EA SPORTS™ to accelerate authentic and innovative hockey simulation experiences for millions of players worldwide for years to come.

The new agreement arrives as the world enjoys the widely successful EA SPORTS NHL®. EA SPORTS NHL® 21 for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One has generated mass engagement with both existing and new fans as it achieved the most daily active players at launch for the franchise in the last three years. This year’s momentum builds upon incredible EA SPORTS NHL® growth as EA SPORTS NHL® 21 and NHL 94 Rewind*, the evolutionary take on the 16-bit classic, provides unique perspectives for all types of fans.

“We are thrilled to accelerate fun hockey experiences for years to come pushing the industry forward with our long-time NHL and NHLPA partners,” said Cam Weber, Executive Vice President & Group GM, EA SPORTS. “The EA SPORTS NHL franchise these past 30 years has become synonymous with hockey culture, and this extension will ensure it remains at the forefront of connecting millions of fans around the world to the sport through interactive entertainment.”

EA SPORTS NHL continues to introduce new fans to the sport through its realistic and entertaining approach to the game,” said Brian Jennings, NHL Chief Brand Officer & Senior Executive Vice President. “The past eight months illustrates how EA is a critical extension to real-world sports, as fans turned to EA SPORTS NHL to play and watch hockey while we temporarily paused during the pandemic. Our shared approach for competitive gaming has enabled the league to create a touchpoint to younger fans who may experience the NHL for the first time through EA SPORTS NHL. Sustained connection that enhances fandom is what EA delivers and we look forward to continuing the incredible partnership.”

“The NHLPA is proud to renew our long-standing partnership with EA, ensuring their exceptional NHL hockey franchise will continue showcasing the players to fans around the world for the coming years,” said Mathieu Schneider, NHLPA Special Assistant to the Executive Director. “The simulated experience of hitting the ice behind the console with EA SPORTS NHL continues to be an incredible way for fans to connect with the players and the game.”

The announcement follows the release of EA SPORTS NHL 21 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as Stanley Cup® winner Alex Ovechkin is the latest cover athlete in a long lineage of legends representing the EA SPORTS NHL® franchise. The also released NHL® 94 Rewind this year is illustrative of the indelible impact the NHL franchise has had on hockey culture and beyond, exemplifying the power of the nearly 30-year long partnership between the NHL, NHLPA, and EA.

NHL® 21
launched worldwide on October 16, 2020 for PlayStation®4 and Xbox One.
 

Just Linda

Registered User
Feb 24, 2018
6,652
6,539
Basically, yeah. They've extended their licensing agreement for multiple years. Doesn't specify for how long, though.

Excellent, thank you for translating for me.

I like the news. Also, I've paused NHL Legacy to type this lol
 

CanadianCoyote

Registered User
Oct 11, 2020
466
781
Ontario, Canada
EA top brass just dont give a damn.
They don't even need to with all the HUT Youtubers throwing countless piles of cash at their feet every year. As long as HUT is playable, EA brass could care less about devoting resources to NHL's other stuff; much like MUT and Madden.

There's no incentive to change with people blindly throwing money into Ultimate Team year after year and rewarding EA for doing nothing but exploiting people in a friggin' gambling system they slapped into an E10 game.
 

ted2019

History of Hockey
Oct 3, 2008
5,492
1,882
pittsgrove nj
Boy can’t wait to continue playing the exact same game every year. Glad they got this done, I would have hated some other company actually making improvements and updates beyond who plays for what team.

I simply don't buy the game anymore. No Roster Sharing = no money from me.
 

hamzarocks

Registered User
Jul 22, 2012
20,394
13,450
Pickering, Ontario
NHL used to be with 2K sports right? I dont know why but I feel like I played a game on original Wii that was NHL 2K 7 or 8. Think ovy was on cover.

EA games are pretty solid. Expecting NHL 22 to be really good for next gen systems
 

Matt UK

Registered User
Mar 31, 2012
286
65
Wales, UK
Very deflating to know we're stuck with this crap.

My hockey gaming is strictly Franchise Hockey Manager these days. I'm out of the EA cycle.
 

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