The newest installment in EA Sports' NHL video game series will be out later than usual this year.

It was announced Monday that NHL 21's release is being pushed back from September to October, citing "major adjustments in developing the game from home" due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The announcement also revealed NHL 21 will only launch on Xbox One and PS4, though it will be playable on the next generation of consoles.

EA Sports promised the new game - whose cover star has yet to be unveiled - will be "worth the wait" and that fans will get their first look in late August.

Toronto Maple Leafs star Auston Matthews graced the cover of NHL 20, with the Vancouver Canucks' Elias Pettersson and Winnipeg Jets' Patrik Laine appearing on the Sweden and Finland editions, respectively.

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