by 
Alongside all of the main Xbox Game Pass releases that have landed this week, we've also got a 10-hour free trial for NHL 27 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 27 free trial is today, September 4th. Early access for NHL 27 is expected to begin on the 4th 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 27 trial (when early access begins):
- Search for "NHL 27" on the Xbox Store
- Look for a button that says "Free trial with EA Play" or something along those lines
- 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 27 by using the Xbox app for Android and iOS. Link your console, search for the game on the app (specifically "NHL 27 Xbox Series X|S", not the Standard or Deluxe Edition), and then hit the "Install To" button.
In terms of the game itself, NHL 27 has focused primarily on overhauling the presentation, as well as implementing a new Connected Franchise mode where you can play a season against other people online. I've personally been playing the game for a few days now, and I'm actually really impressed with the upgrades in this year's version.
You can check out my impressions elsewhere on Pure Xbox (via the Related Articles section below), and if you end up really enjoying the trial, the Deluxe Edition launches today, followed by the standard release next Friday, September 11th.