With the busy fall sports season approaching, EA Sports has kicked into gear with multiple franchises readying annual titles.FIFA 23has already received multiple trailers detailing new features and changes coming to what will be thelast EA Sports entry with theFIFAbranding. EA welcomed its newest annual football title recently as well withMadden NFL 23releasing last week. Now, EA Sports is taking to the ice asNHL 23has officially received its first trailer.
The trailer presents itself as anNHL 23livestream with online hockey personalities including Anaheim Ducks mascot Wild Wing playing an online match inNHL 23, with cover athletes Sarah Nurse and Trevor Zegras joining in. The trailer features several shots of the newestNHL’s gameplay as well as introducing new features coming toNHL 23. Gameplay segments show off the new “last chance puck movement” mechanic with a player able to get a shot in while falling. The trailer also revealsNHL 23will support cross-platform online gameplay, a first for theNHLseries.
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NHL 23’s reveal trailer doubles down on EA Sports' recent efforts to push inclusivity within its games.NHL 23’s popular Hockey Ultimate Team game mode will feature mixed-gender teams for the first time, withNHL 22previously introducing women’s national teams. EA Sports’FIFAfranchise has featured women’s teams in the annual games since 2016 with manyfans pushing for more content for women’s soccer. Players have been able to create female players in EA’sNHLgames sinceNHL 11, butNHL 22saw the first fully female teams in the series.
The video description forNHL 23’s first trailer also confirmed the release date forthe newestNHLgame, traditionally launching alongside the start of hockey season. EA Sports revealedNHL 23will release on October 14 for both current and next-gen PlayStation and Xbox consoles. The description andNHL 23’s official website also tease further changes to theNHLfranchise, including an “overhauled strategy system” and increased customization for the game’s Franchise mode.
NHL 23comes as EA Sports is on the cusp of several major changes within its other annual sports franchises. EA has been confirmed to be moving on from theFIFAlicense following the release ofFIFA 23, with thefranchise continuing under the nameEA Sports FC. EA’s attempted return to golf has also seen a rough road in recent months with EA Sports confirming earlier this year thatEA Sports PGA Tourwould see its release delayed into 2023.NHL 23’s release in October will look to be a bright spot amidst ongoing difficulties for EA Sports' sports game dynasty.
NHL 23is scheduled to release on October 14 for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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