In NHL 22, it’s all about the players that make our game so special, the superstars if you will. The dev team has wanted to reflect that on the game itself as well and with that, this year hockey is getting superstar treatment.
NHL 22 cover athlete Auston Matthews has since his debut in the bright lights made it clear that he is no ordinary kid, but a true prodigy leading the wave for a new generation of players. Combining stache with style, size with skill and showcasing elite scoring unlike any other, AM34 is a true superstar of the game.
From Ignite to Frostbite
One of the most anticipated additions to the NHL Franchise over the past couple of years has been the introduction of a new game engine, which is suitably taking place now at the transition towards the 5th generation gaming consoles. Next gen will be the premium place to play NHL 22, but do not worry - both gen 4 & 5 will be on Frostbite and fully featured. For the most part, the new engine will mean an impressive improvement to the environments and atmosphere of the game with better VFX, post FX, particle FX, ice improvements and an overall more detailed outlook. One of the greatest benefits of the Frostbite engine is deferred lighting, which allows for a more immersive experience and will be most visible in the centerpiece of the game - the ice sheet.
X-Factor Abilities
The superstars of the game will truly stand out from the others in NHL 22, and they’ll be doing this with their X-Factor abilities. At release, around 150 players will be assigned X-Factor abilities that are divided into two categories, Zone and Superstar abilities. These abilities will change the game and add an entirely new level of strategy and meta to playing, all new to NHL gaming.
Auston Matthews, for example, is an exceptional goal scorer with a release that is as deceptive as ever seen in the NHL. He is sporting the Shock & Awe Zone ability, which gives him exceptional power and accuracy when shooting out of, or shortly after a deke. Auston is also equipped with a total of five Superstar abilities, which are Make It Snappy - great snap shot from stride, Seeing Eye - Great shot through screens, Third Eye - Great peripheral passer, Tape To Tape - Great passing within vision and Puck On A String - Great stick handling.
Another superstar of the game, Leon Draisaitl of the Edmonton Oilers will be rocking the Tape To Tape Zone ability, providing him with exceptional power and accuracy on all passes within vision. Passes will also auto saucer when necessary when this Zone ability is active. Finally, the X-Factor abilities also extend to goaltenders, for example Andrei Vasilevsky of the Tampa Bay Lightning will be rocking the Contortionist Zone ability. This will give him an exceptional save range, recovery and save ability while in spread V with or against momentum.
Social connection and customization in World of Chel
This year, there was an objective to further improve on the social aspects of the World of Chel and with that, EA Sports NHL now introduces an always on dressing room. The new dressing room system makes it easier and faster to connect with friends and jump into games. The World of Chel will also feature tons of new customization options for you to get your personality out there while having fun with your friends.
Pre-order versions of NHL 22 - double entitlement
NHL 22 features two versions of the game available for Pre-order starting today. Players will be able to opt for the standard version or the X-Factor version on any console. When opting which version to go for, keep in mind that NHL 22 does not feature cross-play between consoles or console generations. If you are planning on upgrading to a next generation console over the course of the NHL 22 life cycle, we can confirm that HUT progress will be transferable to some extent, meaning that the top 20 players and coach can be locked, whereas the rest of your collection will be converted into pack value towards your HUT team in the next gen version of NHL 22.
Standard Edition
- Up to 2 HUT Diamond player choice packs
- 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone ability unlocks
- 1 Unlocked hockey bag
- Be a Pro X-Factor slot unlocks (2), XP boost and bonus trait points
X-Factor Edition
- Double entitlement (Unlocks the game for both Gen 4 & Gen 5 consoles)
- 3-Days early access
- Up to 10 HUT Diamond player choice packs
- HUT X-Factor Player choice pack
- HUT X-Factor Power-up starter pack
- Up to 4 HUT X-Factor Power-up packs
- 5 World of Chel X-Factor Zone ability unlocks
- 5 Unlocked hockey bag
- Be a Pro X-Factor slot unlocks (2), XP boost and bonus trait points
Technical test and release date
There will be a technical test going live towards the end of the month of August, but no date or duration has been confirmed at the time of writing. As it is a technical test, the community will be asked to report feedback to the dev team and also all streaming and recording of the work in progress is prohibited. Signups for the technical test have closed by now.
NHL 22 will be available on October 15th, 2021 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. For more information visit www.easports.com/NHL.
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