Lace up them skates once more as NHL 22 is hitting the ice this October
Electronic Arts have unveiled NHL 22, the next entry in their long running Ice Hockey series, which is now being built on Frostbite and coming this October 15, check out the reveal trailer below.
For the first time ever, the NHL series is being built on Frostbite, making it the biggest leap forward in graphics and game play in franchise history. Players will be brought to life via overhauled player likeness, cloth animations and uniform micro-details, all delivered in higher resolution to make every stitch visible. Alongside these advancements will come enhanced spatial awareness for players to track and react to the world around them. In addition to enhanced player detail and visual fidelity, on-ice gameplay will see an upgrade as well with new physically accurate stick interactions, just to name a few.
Toronto Maple Leafs superstar centre Auston Matthews, will be on the cover for this years release, both in the standard and deluxe offerings.
“I’m thrilled to be working with EA SPORTS again and returning to the ice in NHL 22,” said Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “This year, Superstar X-Factors bring a whole new level of elite competition and strategy to the game, and you’ll be able to unleash my ‘Shock and Awe’ ability for exciting shots at the net.”
“Developing NHL 22 with the Frostbite engine is letting us truly bring the series into the next generation,” said Clement Kwong, Producer at EA Vancouver. “The visual upgrade is impressive on its own, but the Frostbite engine is also giving us the power to create a lot of realism that you’ll really notice once you play.”
One of the bigger new additions to the game is that of the Superstar X-Factor, which adds two key elements to help elevate hockey’s elite and break them away from the pack: Zone Abilities and Superstar Abilities.
Zone Abilities bring game-breaking enhancements to the best players, while Superstar Abilities represent upper echelon skills reserved for athletes playing at the next level. Players like Edmonton Oilers Forward Leon Draisaitl, whose “Tape to Tape” ability reflects his elite core passing; or Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy’s “Contortionist” X-factor that boosts his ability to make wild, body-twisting saves with ease will make a profound impact on NHL 22 gameplay.
Superstar X-Factors not only bring new facets to gameplay but also add new dimensions to Franchise Mode, Be A Pro, Hockey Ultimate Team and World of Chel.
The game is set to take to the ice on October 15 for Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and PlayStation 4, with early access provided to players who pre-order the game, details and orders can be found here.
