Season 18 of Overwatch 2 has arrived, bringing a new support hero named Wuyang, along with big updates to Stadium, and a new battle pass featuring streetwear skins. Season 18 will also see at least two new crossover events in Overwatch 2, the first of which is already live. Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Dončić is featured in the Play Like Luca event, which features tons of free loot boxes, special Stadium builds for Cassidy, and a special title you can earn, Sharpshooter 77. The next crossover has been announced, with Persona coming to Overwatch 2 later in Season 18.The new battle pass is primarily focused on Streetwear, with Lućio, Pharah, Tracer, and Kiriko all getting Streetwear skins. The battle pass also includes Watermelon Wrecking Ball and Gladiator: LXXVI Soldier 76. The base battle pass costs 1,000 Coins, $10, and includes 80 tiers of rewards, with skins, emotes, player icons, and more. You can also pick up the Ultimate Battle Pass bundle from the store for $40, which includes two exclusive skins--Lily Roadhog and Poolside Wuyang--the premium battle pass, 20 tier skips, and 2,000 Overwatch Coins ($20).Season 18 also marks a few major changes coming to Stadium, Overwatch's MOBA-like competitive mode. This season marks the addition of quick play for Stadium, offering shorter matches without competitive ranking, and three new characters being added to the limited pool, Winston, Brigitte, and Pharah, with Tracer coming later in the season. Below you can see every item in the Overwatch 2 Season 18 battle pass.

August 26, 2025 Get Ready to Explore San Vansterdam, an Ever-Evolving Skateboarding Sandbox, and Experience the Best Skateboarding Gameplay in the Franchise Watch the skate. Early Access Release Date Trailer HERE. REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and Full Circle announced that skate., the next chapter of the award-winning skateboarding video game franchise, will launch into Early Access on September 16 for PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app. skate. is free-to-download, cross-platform,* and cross-progression,* making it as accessible as possible for both longtime skate. franchise fans, and newcomers alike.Set in the vibrant city of San Vansterdam, skate. is a multiplayer skateboarding destination offering a massive open world where players discover unique skate spots, land insane tricks and connect - or compete - with friends online. With four unique neighborhoods - Hedgemont, Gullcrest, Market Mile and Brickswich - each offering its own distinct vibe and challenges, the city is a huge playground for skaters. From parks and plazas to rooftops and massive ramps, every corner is packed with skateable spots, including the House of Rolling Reverence, a former church transformed into a trick haven for skaters.At the core of skate. is the restored and improved Flick-It System, brought back to life through the Frostbite™ Engine to deliver the best skateboarding experience we have ever offered. With unparalleled precision and control, Flick-It brings the magic of the franchise back to life for a new generation of players. skate. also“skate. is not just a return, it’s a complete evolution of the franchise that’s built to last," said Mike McCartney, Executive Producer of skate. “Our goal with skate. is to capture the freedom, creative expression and community of skateboarding, and share it with as many people as possible. From day one, our priority has been to honor the legacy of the franchise while pushing it into a bold new future - one built in partnership with our players.”In skate., players can discover new ways to explore and get vertical with new off-board controls, giving them total freedom to roam, climb and find epic new spots. Additional features like Quick Drop allow players to place ramps, rails, benches and more anywhere in the world to fine-tune their perfect spot. skate. offers players the ability to find their own fun with endless activities, including rotating world map challenges - such as Line Challenges, Own The Spot and Sessions - as well as high-energy Throwdowns with friends. The new Spectate mode lets players instantly find the action and use Spectaport to jump straight into any live session.Collaborative development with skate. fans and the community have always been a priority throughout our development process. Player feedback has been welcome all throughout playtesting and something Full Circle will continue to look at during the game’s Early Access period. During Early Access, players can expect to see new content every season, offering fresh challenges, cosmetics, music, world updates, and new events each season.“Community is the heart of skateboarding, and it’s the heart of skate.,” said Jeff Seamster, Head of Creative on skate. “From day one, we’ve aimed to create an open, welcoming space shaped by players. We’ve built this game alongside our community - listening, learning and evolving together. Whether you’re a seasoned skater or just dropped in, skate. is a place to express yourself, connect and grow. No gatekeepers, no barriers - just a city built for skating and a community that keeps it alive. Early Access is a huge milestone in that journey, and we’re hyped to keep growing San Vansterdam with our crew around the world.”skate. launches into Early Access on September 16 on PlayStation® 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation® 4, Xbox One & PC via Steam, Epic Games Store and EA app. Stay tuned - there’s much more to come from skate.For more information on skate., visit: https://www.ea.com/games/skate/skate.*Conditions & restrictions apply. See https://go.ea.com/skate-cross-play for details.PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT EAPressPortal.comAbout Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Jino Talens Integrated Comms Director jtalens@ea.com Source: Electronic Arts Inc. Multimedia Files:

IntroductionHello, I am Joseph Jegede, born in Nigeria, lived and studied in London, which is also where I started my career as a games developer. Before my game dev career, I was making websites and graphic designs as a hobby but felt an urge to make static images animated and respond to user input. I studied Computer Science at London Metropolitan University for my bachelor’s degree.I worked at Tivola Publishing GmbH, where we developed:Wildshade: Unicorn Champions (PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch)Console Trailer: YouTubeWildshade Fantasy Horse Races (iOS, Android)iOS: App StoreAndroid: Google PlayThis project was initially developed for mobile platforms and was later ported to consoles, which recently launched.I also worked on a personal mobile game project:Shooty GunRelease Date: May 17, 2024PlayBecoming an Environment ArtistWith the release of Unreal Engine 5, the ease of creating and sculpting terrain, then using blueprints to quickly add responsive grass, dirt, and rock materials to my levels, made environment art very enticing and accessible for me. Being a programmer, I often felt the urge to explore more aspects of game development, since the barrier of entry has been completely shattered.I wouldn’t consider myself a full-blown artist just yet. I first learned Blender to build some basic 3D models. We can call it “programmer art” – just enough to get a prototype playable.The main challenges were that most 3D software required subscriptions, which wasn't ideal for someone just learning without commercial intent. Free trials helped at first, but I eventually ran out of emails to renew them. Blender was difficult to grasp initially, but I got through it with the help of countless YouTube tutorials.Whenever I wanted to build a model for a prototype, I would find a tutorial making something similar and follow along.On YouTube, I watched and subscribed to Stylized Station. I also browsed ArtStation regularly for references and inspiration for the types of levels I wanted to build.Environment art was a natural next step in my game dev journey. While I could program gameplay and other systems, I lacked the ability to build engaging levels to make my games feel polished. In the kinds of games I want to create, players will spend most of their time exploring environments. They need to look good and contain landmarks that resonate with the player.My main sources of inspiration are games I’ve played. Sometimes I want to recreate the worlds I've explored. I often return to ArtStation for inspiration and references.Deep Dive Into Art-To-Experience Contest's SubmissionThe project I submitted was originally made for the 80 Level x Emperia contest. Most of the assets were provided as part of the contest.The main character was created in Blender, and the enemy model was a variant of the main character with some minor changes and costume modifications. Animations were sourced from Mixamo and imported into Unreal Engine 5. Texturing and painting were done in Adobe Substance 3D Painter, and materials were created in UE5 from exported textures.Before creating the scene in UE5, I gathered references from ArtStation and Google Images. These were used to sculpt a terrain heightmap. Once the level’s starting point and boss area were defined, I added bamboo trees and planned walkable paths around the map.I created models in Blender and exported them to Substance 3D Painter. Using the Auto UV Unwrap tool, I prepared the models for texturing. Once painted, I exported the textures and applied them to the models in UE5. This workflow was smooth and efficient.In UE5, I converted any assets for level placement into foliage types. This allowed for both random distribution and precise placement using the foliage painter tool, which sped up design significantly.UE5 lighting looked great out-of-the-box. I adjusted the directional light, fog, and shadows to craft a forest atmosphere using the built-in day/night system.I was able to use Emperia's Creator Tools plug-in to set up my scene. The great thing about the tutorial is that it's interactive - as I complete the steps in the UE5 editor, the tutorial window updates and reassures me that I’ve completed the task correctly. This made the setup process easier and faster. Setting up panoramas was also simple - pretty much drag and drop.Advice For BeginnersOne major issue is the rise of AI tools that generate environment art. These tools may discourage beginners who fear they can’t compete. If people stop learning because they think AI will always outperform them, the industry may suffer a creativity drought.My advice to beginners:Choose a game engine you’re comfortable with – Unreal Engine, Unity, etc.Make your idea exist first, polish later. Use free assets from online stores to prototype.Focus on creating game levels with available resources. The important part is getting your world out of your head and into a playable form.Share your work with a community when you're happy with it.Have fun creating your environment – if you enjoy it, others likely will too.Joseph Jegede, Game DeveloperInterview conducted by Theodore McKenzie

Japan is once again building a landmark high-performance computing system — not simply by chasing speed, but by rethinking how technology can best serve the nation’s most urgent scientific needs. At the FugakuNEXT International Initiative Launch Ceremony held in Tokyo on Aug. 22, leaders from RIKEN, Japan’s top research institute, announced the start of an international collaboration with Fujitsu and NVIDIA to co-design FugakuNEXT, the successor to the world-renowned supercomputer, Fugaku. Awarded early in the process, the contract enables the partners to work side by side in shaping the system’s architecture to address Japan’s most critical research priorities — from earth systems modeling and disaster resilience to drug discovery and advanced manufacturing. More than an upgrade, the effort will highlight Japan’s embrace of modern AI and showcase Japanese innovations that can be harnessed by researchers and enterprises across the globe. The ceremony featured remarks from the initiative’s leaders, RIKEN President Makoto Gonokami and Satoshi Matsuoka, director of the RIKEN Center for Computational Science and one of Japan’s most respected high-performance computing architects. Fujitsu Chief Technology Officer Vivek Mahajan attended, emphasizing the company’s role in advancing Japan’s computing capabilities. Ian Buck, vice president of hyperscale and high-performance computing at NVIDIA, attended in person as well to discuss the collaborative design approach and how the resulting platform will serve as a foundation for innovation well into the next decade. Momentum has been building. When NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang touched down in Tokyo last year, he called on Japan to seize the moment — to put NVIDIA’s latest technologies to work building its own AI, on its own soil, with its own infrastructure. FugakuNEXT answers that call, drawing on NVIDIA’s whole software stack —  from NVIDIA CUDA-X libraries such as NVIDIA cuQuantum for quantum simulation, RAPIDS for data science, NVIDIA TensorRT for high-performance inference and NVIDIA NeMo for large language model development, to other domain-specific software development kits tailored for science and industry. Innovations pioneered on FugakuNEXT could become blueprints for the world. What’s Inside FugakuNEXT will be a hybrid AI-HPC system, combining simulation and AI workloads. It will feature FUJITSU-MONAKA-X CPUs, which can be paired with NVIDIA technologies using NVLink Fusion, new silicon enabling high-bandwidth connections between Fujitsu’s CPUs and NVIDIA’s architecture. The system will be built for speed, scale and efficiency. What It Will Do FugakuNEXT will support a wide range of applications — such as automating hypothesis generation, code creation and experiment simulation. Scientific research: Accelerating simulations with surrogate models and physics-informed neural networks. Manufacturing: Using AI to learn from simulations to generate efficient and aesthetically pleasing designs faster than ever before. Earth systems modeling: aiding disaster preparedness and prediction for earthquakes and severe weather, and more. RIKEN, Fujitsu and NVIDIA will collaborate on software developments, including tools for mixed-precision computing, continuous benchmarking, and performance optimization. FugakuNEXT isn’t just a technical upgrade — it’s a strategic investment in Japan’s future. Backed by Japan’s MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology), it will serve universities, government agencies, and industry partners nationwide. It marks the start of a new era in Japanese supercomputing — one built on sovereign infrastructure, global collaboration, and a commitment to scientific leadership. Image courtesy of RIKEN

Researchers from Inclusion AI and Ant Group proposed a new LLM leaderboard that takes its data from real, in-production apps.

The Galactic war rages on… Countless Helldivers have laid down their lives to protect Managed Democracy. The call was put out for more recruits, and it’s been answered.Introducing the Legendary Warbond*, Helldivers 2 x Halo: ODST. Play Video Enter The Obedient Democracy Support Troopers (ODST), AKA The Helljumpers! This new equipment set from the Ministry of Defense will give your Helldivers the look of the fabled unit every Super Earth citizen had on their school lunch box as kids. Jam-packed with iconic weaponry, armor, patterns and more.Are you ready to jump in? Firepower View and download image Download the image close Close Download this image MA5C Assault Rifle An iconic rifle; the definition of reliable and having taken down countless aliens bent on wiping out humanity, it is time to turn its sights on enemies of MANAGED DEMOCRACY. It comes equipped with the convenient ammo counter and a built-in compass – let it guide you to victory. M6C/SOCOM Pistol They say keep your friends close and your sidearm closer. Well, we say that. The standard-issue ODST sidearm is your silent ally in the field -equipped with a built-in laser sight, flashlight, and, for the first time in Helldivers 2, a suppressor to support stealth gameplay. Because sometimes the best way to enforce PEACE is quietly… M90A Shotgun This powerful shotgun carries a kick and has a handy flashlight mounted on it so you can see the fear in your enemies’ eyes before you teach them a valuable lesson about LIBERTY. ​​ M7S SMG Silent and deadly, this SMG is the model ODST’s primary weapon. With caseless ammo and a non-removable suppressor; this weapon is ready to spread FREEDOM to every corner of the galaxy. Armor A-9 Helljumper Armor Set Step into the armored boots of a legendary Lance Corporal who served the ODST with immense bravery and courage under fire. Passive boost – Feet First. A-35 Recon Armor Set Sleeker and stealthier than the A-9 Armor, this set is made to move and groove, with a helmet modeled after an iconic intelligence officer’s headgear. Passive boost – Feet First.Feet First passive Make less noise from movement Range when finding points of interest increased by 30% Immune to leg injuries Capes Honored Heirloom This cape, emblazoned with the ODST logo, is passed down to a Jumper’s bravest child in the event of their untimely demise. Eye of the Clandestine Some soldiers fight on the front line, and some from the shadows. Wrap yourself in secrecy with this sleek, subtle cape, and slip away from the light. You can also honor the Helljumpers with ODST-themed player cards, a new player title, and the Mean Green vehicle pattern for your hellpod, shuttle, exosuit, and FRV. Helldivers 2 x Halo: ODST lands August 26 at 5am PT / 1pm BST The Legendary Warbond marks a brand-new tier in the Warbond lineup, and we’ve gone all-in to make sure it lives up to the name. This one’s a tribute to a long-requested crossover, packed with details that fans will love to discover. The Helldivers 2 x Halo: ODST Legendary Warbond lands in the Acquisitions Center for 1500 Super Credits – a step up from previous Warbond tiers, and packed with gear worthy of the legend. A quick heads-up: Legendary Warbonds aren’t compatible with the new Premium Warbond Token launching August 26. So if you’re planning to deploy with ODST gear, make sure your Super Credits are locked and loaded. This is the moment we’ve been waiting for. Squad up, drop in, and let’s crush every enemy of Freedom and Managed Democracy TOGETHER. Move out! *Requires base game, paid purchase of Super Credits, and game progression to unlock.

Figure Technology, a seven-year-old blockchain-based lending company, has filed a registration statement with the SEC for an IPO of its Class A common stock. The filing offers a chance at vindication for Figure co-founder Mike Cagney.

The Battlefield 6 open beta is currently in its second weekend, and players are still adsorbing the latest entry to the franchise. Meanwhile, Digital Foundry has shared its technical breakdown from the first weekend of Battlefield 6's open beta, and the early verdict is very good. That's not to say that the open beta was flawless. In the opening minutes alone, DF broke down some of the issues with the destructible environments. There are occasional glitches, including pieces of rubble floating in air without being connected to the structure around them. Battlefield 6's buildings appear to fall apart using a state-based system rather than registering unique damage or breaking points. Yet it's still an improvement over Battlefield 2049 and Battlefield 5.Visually, DF saw the best results when running the SSGI option on PC, which allowed for more natural lighting, and suggested that this feature should be included for PlayStation 5 Pro. Unsurprisingly, the PS5 Pro performed better than the standard PS5, but the gap wasn't as great as it was between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S. In a side-by-side comparison, the S noticeably struggled to keep up with the on-screen details that the X handled more smoothly.Continue Reading at GameSpot

Experience all-new QB DNA and Coach DNA, Signature Quarterback Play, Adaptive Coaching, explosive movement, and true NFL presentation as Madden NFL 26 launches for the first time on Nintendo Switch 2 and Amazon Luna. REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Just in time for the NFL season, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) and EA SPORTS™ have released EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL 26 — the most explosive, authentic, and immersive football experience in franchise history. Built from Sundays and powered by AI-driven systems trained on thousands of real NFL plays, the game debuts all-new QB and Coach DNA for player-specific traits, signature playstyles, and adaptive strategy. Players will experience dynamic Football Weather, enhanced physics-based gameplay, and deeper customization across Franchise and Superstar modes — all on PlayStation®5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™2, Amazon Luna, and PC.Madden NFL 26 Available Now“Madden NFL 26 is a true leap forward in authenticity and control,” said Daryl Holt, SVP and Group GM, EA SPORTS. “With smarter quarterbacks, adaptive coaching AI, and our breakthrough QB DNA and Coach DNA systems, every snap feels true to the NFL fans love. Explosive movement, dynamic weather, and authentic stadium atmospheres capture the passion and drama of the game. And with Madden NFL 26 now on Nintendo Switch 2, we’re bringing that unmatched realism and energy to more fans than ever before.”Through a new partnership with Nintendo announced in the spring, EA SPORTS brings the authentic Madden NFL experience to Nintendo Switch 2 for the first time. By launching on Nintendo’s console, Madden NFL 26 expands its reach to a broader, more diverse audience—offering explosive gameplay and immersive NFL action anytime, anywhere.Fans everywhere can now hop in and experience Madden NFL 26’s game-changing AI innovations with QB DNA and Coach DNA, delivering more immersive NFL atmospheres on game day, and expanding fan-favorite modes with new depth and strategy across every snap in its feature set:QB DNA: Star NFL quarterbacks move, look, and feel more like the superstars they are. Leveraging AI-powered machine learning, QB DNA introduces unique pocket behaviors, signature throwing motions, and distinct scrambling styles that mirror real-life NFL signal-callers, delivering the most lifelike quarterback gameplay in franchise history.Coach DNA: Coaches employ real philosophies and adaptive strategies based on nearly a decade of NFL data. Dynamic coach suggestions and multi-player counters provide smart play recommendations and strategic depth, making every matchup feel authentic and challenging.Powerful NFL Movement & Physics Expansion: Experience the league’s unmatched athleticism with updated player movement, physics-based interactions, and new mechanics like Custom Defensive Zones, Adaptive Coverage, and enhanced D-line stunts and twists.Football Weather: Extreme weather conditions such as snow, fog, and rain impact visibility, movement, stamina, and ball security, add a new layer of realism and strategy to every game.True NFL Gameday Experience: From the Skol chant in Minnesota to Baltimore’s pre-game light show, authentic team traditions, dynamic halftime shows, and custom broadcast packages immerse players in the sights and sounds of the NFL.Franchise mode: Introduces four new coach archetypes with evolving abilities, a deeper Weekly Strategy system featuring custom Play Sheets, and enhanced player health management with real-time status updates. Stay connected to your league through the new Approval Rating system, plus weekly recaps from Scott Hanson and commentary from Rich Eisen.Superstar Mode: Import your Road to Glory player and shape their NFL career with evolving storylines, draft-impacting performances, and weekly goals. Manage relationships, development, and durability through the new Sphere of Influence and Wear & Tear systems as you rise from college star to NFL legend.Madden Ultimate Team™: Build your dream roster with NFL legends and stars, tackle new dynamic MUT Events, and rise through 50-player Leaderboard Campaigns. NFL Team Pass delivers team-specific rewards and ever-evolving ways to play.The Madden NFL 26 Soundtrack features 77 songs across menus and stadiums, offering expanded control, variety, and immersion. New this season, players can customize their menus playlist with both new releases and iconic stadium anthems. The soundtrack includes music from Twenty One Pilots, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, BIA, and Luke Combs, plus over 30 stadium classics from Green Day, Rage Against The Machine, Foo Fighters, and more — all curated to amplify the energy and authenticity of the NFL experience.Additionally, Madden NFL 26 is now available on Amazon Luna, bringing the authentic football experience to even more players through cloud gaming. Luna lets fans play instantly on devices they already own — including Fire TV, tablets, mobile phones, smart TVs, and more — with no downloads, installs, or updates required. Wherever Luna is available, players can enjoy all that Madden NFL 26 has to offer, including modes like Franchise and Superstar.On mobile, Madden NFL 26 Mobile delivers the ultimate football experience on your phone, packed with more control, strategy, and customization than ever before. This season brings a fresh slate of features, including Dual Player Cards that cover multiple positions and unlock unique chemistry boosts. Fine-tune your roster with over 20 upgradeable Player Traits, and take your lineup to the next level with Player EVO — a new system that lets you absorb higher OVR players to power up your favorites. Whether you're a returning veteran or new to the game, Madden NFL 26 Mobile offers deeper gameplay, more flexibility, and a true NFL experience — right at your fingertips. Download Madden NFL 26 Mobile for free from the App Store® or Google Play™ today.EA Play members can live every stadium-shaking moment with the EA Play* 10-hour game trial, available now. Members also score monthly Ultimate Team™ Packs, as well as receive 10% off EA digital purchases - including game downloads, Madden Points and DLC. For more information on EA Play please visit https://www.ea.com/ea-play.Stay tuned for more Madden NFL 26 details on the official Madden NFL website and social media (Instagram, X, TikTok, and YouTube).*Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details.For Madden NFL 26 assets, visit: EAPressPortal.com.Madden NFL 26 is developed in Orlando, Florida and Madrid, Spain by EA SPORTS and will be available worldwide August 14 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2, Amazon Luna and PC via EA app for Windows, Steam, Epic Games StoreAbout Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission. Erin Exum Director, Integrated Comms [email protected] Source: Electronic Arts Inc.

August 11, 2025 Advanced League-Backed Positional Data Now Drives Hockey’s Most Lifelike Experience Off The Ice; NHL EDGE Brings Advanced Analytics to Chel REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) today announced a groundbreaking new partnership with the National Hockey League to integrate official NHL EDGE data directly into EA SPORTS™ NHL® 26, marking a new era for authenticity in sports gaming and entertainment. This collaboration brings the same advanced analytics used by NHL teams into the hands of players and fans, powering the all-new ICE-Q 2.0 gameplay system for the most realistic hockey gameplay ever.Electronic Arts presents new partnership with the National Hockey League to integrate official NHL EDGE data directly into EA SPORTS™ NHL® 26For the first time in franchise history, real-world Puck and Player Tracking data - captured by infrared technology and arena cameras across all 32 NHL rinks - is seamlessly woven into the fabric of NHL 26. The NHL EDGE system tracks millions of data points, from skating acceleration and top speed to shot power, shot location and save types, all of which now inform on-ice behavior in NHL 26. ICE Q 2.0 powered by NHL EDGE ensures the in-game action mirrors the intensity and individuality of the NHL’s best.With ICE-Q 2.0 players will notice significant differentiation between superstar athletes. Real NHL data directly influences player attributes and personal tendencies like skating speed, shot power, signature playstyles, and even goalie reactions, elevating the experience with authentic intensity and strategic depth. This unique integration allows every player to live their NHL dream - moving, thinking, and playing just like their favorite athletes."The energy from the NHL is electric, with its diehard fans and the talent and physicality of the athletes. It's our job to translate that energy from the ice to the screen and make it as realistic as possible," said Cam Weber, President, EA SPORTS. "By harnessing the very same data points the NHL uses to inform all sorts of game-time strategies, EA SPORTS is doubling down on innovations and partnerships to make the most true-to-life reflection of hockey possible."“The partnership with EA SPORTS and NHL EDGE is about more than just numbers, it’s about bringing the soul of our game to life for a new generation,” said Brian Jennings, NHL Chief Branding Officer and Senior Executive Vice President. “We’ve spent years developing our best-in-class Puck and Player Tracking system to help grow the game and create new fan experiences. By placing league-grade analytics in the hands of every fan, we’re deepening the connection between the real NHL and Chel, and setting a new standard for sports gaming immersion.”Developed by EA Vancouver and EA Bucharest, EA SPORTS NHL will be available on September 12, 2025 on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S. Players who pre-order the Deluxe Edition will receive up to seven days early access and a host of in-game items and rewards. EA Play members can play like superstars with EA SPORTS™ NHL 26 in the EA Play** 10-hour early access trial starting September 5th, 2025. Members also score perks, including 3,000 WOC Coins and Season Pass XP Multiplier Tokens, as well as receive 10% off EA digital content including pre-orders, game downloads, NHL Points, and DLC. For more information on EA Play please visit https://www.ea.com/ea-play.To keep up-to-date with the latest game news and information, visit https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26 and follow our social channels.PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT EAPressPortal.com*Conditions and restrictions apply. See ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-26/game-disclaimers for details.** Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details.About Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognised for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.© 2024 Electronic Arts Inc. Electronic Arts, EA SPORTS, Frostbite, and the EA SPORTS and Frostbite logos are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc.About the NHLThe National Hockey League (NHL®), founded in 1917, consists of 32 Member Clubs. Each team roster reflects the League’s international makeup with players from more than 20 countries represented, all vying for the most cherished and historic trophy in professional sports – the Stanley Cup®. Every year, the NHL entertains more than 670 million fans in-arena and through its partners on national television and radio; more than 191 million followers - league, team and player accounts combined - across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube; and more than 100 million fans online at NHL.com. The League broadcasts games in more than 160 countries and territories through its rightsholders including ESPN, WBD Sports and NHL Network in the U.S.; Sportsnet and TVA Sports in Canada; Viaplay in the Nordics, Baltics, Poland and the UK; MTV3 in Finland; Nova in Czech Republic and Slovakia; Sky Sports and ProSieben in Germany; MySports in Switzerland; and CCTV5+ in China; and reaches fans worldwide with games available to stream in every country. Fans are engaged across the League’s digital assets on mobile devices via the free NHL® App; across nine social media platforms; on SiriusXM NHL Network Radio™; and on NHL.com, available in eight languages and featuring unprecedented access to player and team statistics as well as every regular-season and playoff game box score dating back to the League’s inception, powered by SAP. NHL Productions develops compelling original programming featuring unprecedented access to players, coaches and League and team personnel for distribution across the NHL’s social and digital platforms.The NHL is committed to building healthy and vibrant communities using the sport of hockey to celebrate fans of every race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status. The NHL’s Hockey Is For Everyone® initiative reinforces that the official policy of the sport is one of inclusion on the ice, in locker rooms, boardrooms and stands. The NHL is expanding access and opportunity for people of all backgrounds and abilities to play hockey, fostering more inclusive environments and growing the game through a greater diversity of participants. To date, the NHL has invested more than $100 million in youth hockey and grassroots programs, with a commitment to invest an additional $5 million for diversity and inclusion programs over the next year.NHL and the NHL Shield are registered trademarks of the National Hockey League. NHL and NHL team marks are the property of the NHL and its teams. © 2025 NHL. All Rights Reserved.About the National Hockey League Players’ AssociationThe National Hockey League Players’ Association, established in 1967, is a labour organization whose members are the players in the National Hockey League. The NHLPA works on behalf of the players in varied disciplines such as labour relations, product licensing, marketing, international hockey and community relations, all in furtherance of its efforts to promote its members and the game of hockey. In 1999, the NHLPA Goals & Dreams fund was launched as a way for the players to give something back to the game they love. Over the past 25 years, tens of thousands of deserving children in 44 countries have benefited from the players' donations of hockey equipment. NHLPA Goals & Dreams has donated more than $26 million to grassroots hockey programs, making it the largest program of its kind. For more information on the NHLPA, please visit www.nhlpa.com.NHLPA, National Hockey League Players’ Association and the NHLPA logo are registered trademarks of the NHLPA and are used under license. © NHLPA. All Rights Reserved. Natalia Lombardi Global Public Relations Manager [email protected] Source: Electronic Arts Inc. Multimedia Files:

August 13, 2025 REDWOOD CITY, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA) unveiled the official incoming class of EA SPORTS FC 26 ICONs, featuring the most fan-requested ICONs to-date. This year’s class includes a blend of legendary men’s and women’s players of recent generations who inspired fans globally with their world-class talent. All new men’s ICONs are now available in FC Mobile, while fans who pre-order* EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Edition by August 26 will receive one of fifteen ICONs (untradeable) from Early Access Launch.The Next Wave of Generational Talents and Fan Favourites Reach ICON StatusWATCH: CLASS OF FC 26 ICONS REVEAL TRAILERThe EA SPORTS class of FC 26 ICONS includes:Zlatan IbrahimovićAlex MorganAndrés IniestaToni KroosCaroline SegerGiorgio ChielliniSissiFrancesco TottiMarceloSteffi JonesOliver KahnCha Bum-KunWith seven out of twelve incoming ICONs having recently retired, the class of FC 26 ICONs allows fans to play with and celebrate the legends who helped shape the modern game. Players can use the new class of ICONs with Competitive Gameplay in Football Ultimate Team™, utilizing smoother dribbling, faster passing, more stamina, and unlimited control.For fans of Clubs in FC 26, some of the new ICONS will be amongst the 13 historic players to inspire distinct Archetypes to give fans the option to fit their play style. Each of the new Archetypes will come with their set of unique characteristics, and a new customization experience giving fans more control over how they develop their Pro.Zlatan Ibrahimović (Target)Alex Morgan (Finisher)Toni Kroos (Maestro)Oliver Kahn (Shot Stopper)Andrés Iniesta (Creator)“I’m excited to be able to further my legacy in FC 26 as an ICON,” said USWNT legend, Alex Morgan. “To be recognized among the game’s ICONs is an honor, and I hope to continue inspiring the next generation of players who dream of leaving their mark on the field.”“No matter what they say, Zlatan is back,” said FC 26 Ultimate Edition cover athlete, Zlatan Ibrahimović. “For the fans who always believed in me, you can now play as Zlatan, as an ICON, the way it was meant to be.”As part of EA SPORTS FC’s continued commitment to incorporate community feedback, players in FC Mobile can join in right away, with all new men’s ICONs now available in FC Mobile. FC Mobile will be celebrating the new class of ICONs with several new in-game offerings:ChroniclesPlay through the career highlights of Zlatan Ibrahimović to receive his ICON player item for your FC Mobile Ultimate Team.ChallengesComplete a series of in-game challenges throughout August events to get specific ICON player items for your FC Mobile Ultimate Team.Live EventsNew FC Mobile Live Events featuring player items and star passes.PRE-ORDER EA SPORTS FC 26 TODAYFans who pre-order* EA SPORTS FC 26 Ultimate Edition by August 26 will receive 1 Debut ICON (untradeable) from a roster of 15, including the new class of 26 ICONS — plus fan favourites R9, Thierry Henry and Steven Gerrard. The Debut ICON will be available from Early Access Launch, which will upgrade to a Champion version in November.Debut ICONs available from September 19 will recognize an early moment in their career when they demonstrated their potential of being a generational talent.Champion ICONs available from November, will commemorate an iconic moment when the player earned major silverware during their career and cementing their ICON status.Pre-orders are now available for EA SPORTS FC 26, which will launch on PlayStation®5, PlayStation®4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, Amazon Luna, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. EA SPORTS FC 26 will be available worldwide to play on September 26, 2025 with early access through the Ultimate Edition beginning September 19, 2025*.EA Play** members, the Club is Yours in EA SPORTS FC™ 26 with the EA Play 10-hour early access trial, starting September 19, 2025. Members also score member rewards including seasonal Ultimate Team™ Draft Tokens and Clubs rewards, as well as receive 10% off EA digital content including pre-orders, game downloads, FC Points, and DLC. For more information on EA Play please visit ea.com/ea-play.For more information on EA SPORTS FC 26, please visit ea.com/fc26 and ensure you’re following our global social channels for all the latest upcoming news and announcements for EA SPORTS FC.*Conditions and restrictions apply. See ea.com/games/ea-sports-fc/fc-26/game-disclaimers for details.**Conditions, limitations and exclusions apply. See EA Play Terms for details.PRESS ASSETS ARE AVAILABLE AT EAPressPortal.comAbout Electronic ArtsElectronic Arts (NASDAQ: EA) is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The Company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers.In fiscal year 2025, EA posted GAAP net revenue of approximately $7.5 billion. Headquartered in Redwood City, California, EA is recognized for a portfolio of critically acclaimed, high-quality brands such as EA SPORTS FC™, Battlefield™, Apex Legends™, The Sims™, EA SPORTS™ Madden NFL, EA SPORTS™ College Football, Need for Speed™, Dragon Age™, Titanfall™, Plants vs. Zombies™ and EA SPORTS F1®. More information about EA is available at www.ea.com/news.EA, EA SPORTS, EA SPORTS FC, Battlefield, Need for Speed, Apex Legends, The Sims, Dragon Age, Titanfall, and Plants vs. Zombies are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. John Madden, NFL, and F1 are the property of their respective owners and used with permission.Category: EA Sports FC Newsroom [email protected] Source: Electronic Arts Inc. Multimedia Files: