EA Sports has inked a multi-year agreement with the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL) to incorporate the league's players and teams into NHL 25. The PWHL will make its debut in NHL 25 on December 5, featuring all six teams: the Boston Fleet, Minnesota Frost, Montréal Victoire, New York Sirens, Ottawa Charge, and Toronto Sceptres. These teams will be playable in modes such as Play Now, Online Versus, Shootout, and Seasons. Additionally, PWHL uniforms will be available in World of Chel and Hockey Ultimate Team. EA cautioned that not all player likenesses will be immediately accessible, promising to "continue to add more" players over time. The integration of the PWHL in NHL 25 also includes the Walter Cup, the PWHL's equivalent of the Stanley Cup.

This isn't the first time women have been featured in an NHL game; the trend started with NHL 22 when EA partnered with the International Ice Hockey Federation. Sarah Nurse graced the cover of NHL 23 alongside Trevor Zegras. Over the years, EA has integrated women into other sports games, including EA Sports FC, UFC, and PGA Tour. The PWHL is currently in its second season, with the Minnesota Frost clinching the inaugural Walter Cup.

In addition to the PWHL introduction, EA is rolling out a significant update for NHL 25 this holiday season. One of the highlights is the NHL Arcade event series, starting November 15 through World of Chel. This arcade-style, three-versus-three mode includes Big Head mode and power-ups like Supershot and Super Speed, along with varying-sized goalies. The action unfolds in a custom rink without glass or rules, offering a nostalgic nod to the NHL Hitz era.

NHL 25 is also introducing the 4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, a round-robin tournament featuring players from the USA, Canada, Finland, and Sweden. This will have a dedicated mode, and each nation's uniforms will be available across various game modes. The real-world 4 Nations Face-Off is scheduled for February 2025, so the NHL 25 update will likely go live around that time.

To entice players back to NHL 25, EA is offering free content to anyone who logs in between November 15 and January 2. This includes six vanity items for the arcade mode and a special pack for the Road to 4 Nations content, redeemable immediately. Players will also receive a PWHL 83 OVR team building choice pack, which will be redeemable when the PWHL integration goes live on December 5.

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