Update []: The trial for NHL 26 is now live! If you're struggling to find it, go to the Standard Edition for NHL 26, scroll down to "in this bundle" and press "A" on the NHL 26 Xbox Series X|S tab. In there, you should see the "Free Trial with EA Play" button.

If you're really struggling to download it, another option is to use the Xbox mobile app, connect it to your console, and then search for NHL 26 and hit the "Install To" button.

A bigger problem is that you might not be able to get the game to load - this is something lots of players have been experiencing since the trial went live. Our recommendation is to fully restart your Xbox by holding the Guide button on your controller and choosing "Restart Console".

If that doesn't work, it unfortunately seems like a case of waiting until EA fixes whatever the issue is.

Original Story: In addition to all the new Xbox Game Pass releases this week, we've also got a 10-hour free trial for NHL 26 as part of EA Play - which itself is included as part of the Xbox Game Pass Ultimate tier.

The official release date for the NHL 26 free trial is Friday, September 5th. Early access for NHL 26 begins on the 5th at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST, and this appears to be when the free trial will go live as well.

Here's a quick look at how to download the free NHL 26 trial (when early access begins):

  1. Search for "NHL 26" on the Xbox Store
  2. Look for a button that says "Free trial with EA Play" or something along those lines
  3. Download the trial, and then you should be able to start playing!

If you're reading this before early access has begun, you can pre-install NHL 26 by using the Xbox app for Android and iOS. Link your console, search for the game on the app (specifically "NHL 26 Xbox Series X|S", not the Standard or Deluxe Edition), and then hit the "Install To" button.

In terms of the game itself, NHL 26 is focusing around two main features this year - the first being something called ICE-Q 2.0, which uses NHL EDGE data to ensure players "think, move, and play like their on-ice selves", and the second being a refreshed Be a Pro career mode, which is something people have requested for ages now.

If you end up really liking the NHL 26 trial, the standard edition release is set for next Friday, September 12th, while the aforementioned Deluxe Edition launches later today. You'll soon see a review for NHL 26 in the "related" section below.

Interested in trying NHL 26 with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate? Tell us down below.