EA Sports is employing generative artificial intelligence to produce in-game commentary for NHL 27, veteran sports commentator John Buccigross has stated. Buccigross shared his experience working with EA on the NHL series during a recent appearance on the Chirping Zebras podcast, where he detailed how the studio has integrated AI to generate additional voice lines.
"They're using some AI now; they played me some stuff back of my voice," Buccigross said. "It's like 'Wow, that's pretty good!' If that means less work but the same check, I'll take it." He also noted potential pitfalls, recounting an instance where the AI incorrectly used the term "chairs" instead of the more accurate hockey vernacular "seats" when describing the crowd's reaction to a goal. This highlights the need for careful review of AI-generated content to ensure accuracy and maintain authenticity, a process that requires manual input to refine the AI's understanding.
Generative AI's presence is growing across the gaming industry, even as some players express reservations. Last year, Call of Duty faced criticism for utilizing AI in the creation of cosmetic items. EA Sports appears to be broadly adopting the technology, with its recent titles such as College Football, Madden, and FC including disclaimers on their Steam pages about the use of generative AI in development. NHL 27, however, will not feature such a notice as it is not available on Steam.
NHL 27 is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on September 11, 2026. An earlier review of the game noted that while it remains an enjoyable experience, it offers minimal advancements over its predecessor. "Hockey is one of the greatest sports in the world, and NHL 27 remains enjoyable largely due to that simple fact," the review stated. "The satisfaction of delivering a bone-crushing hit or snapping a wrist shot past a goaltender is just as effective as ever, and tiny tweaks to stuff like stadiums and music continue to add authenticity in small doses – but there are no illusions that anything truly substantial has changed this year."