NHL 23 Hits The Ice with Crossplay and New Customization Options

NHL 23 offers a more socially connected chel experience, while adding women's players to ultimate team, and a host of other improvements.

Get ready to hit the ice with NHL 23, which looks to be the most authentic and immersive NHL game yet. The latest addition to the franchise will arrive on October 14th, 2022 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Let's lace up those skates and take a look at some of the new features and improvements you can expect when you hit the ice.

NHL 23 Will Offer Crossplay

The chel experience has always been better together, whether it's been through fierce couch co-op sessions or online showdowns. This year, NHL 23 will introduce an all-new level of social gaming to the franchise, offering cross-platform matchmaking after the game has launched in November 2022. This will allow players from multiple platform generations to compete against one another in World of Chel and Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). Cross-platform matchmaking will be introduced across same-generation consoles, which EA hopes will result in shorter queue periods and fewer player pools.

"This year, NHL 23 will introduce an all-new level of social gaming to the franchise, offering cross-platform matchmaking after the game has launched in November 2022."

Frostbite Engine Pushes the EA NHL Experience Further

This year NHL 23 is once again powered by the Frostbite Engine and promises more authentic gameplay than ever before. The new features will include 500 new playmaking animations, updated arenas and atmosphere, customization in franchise mode, and new ways to play HUT. This year, the game will have numerous new celebrations, such as the OT Winner, Hat Trick and Shootout cellies, that will take place in expansive stadiums with overhauled levels of "Crowd Awareness" and "Moment to Moment Reactions."

"The new features will include 500 new playmaking animations, updated arenas and atmosphere, customization in franchise mode, and new ways to play HUT."

With all these improvements EA is aiming to "create the most authentic in-game atmosphere franchise history." A whole new series of Last Chance Puck Movement gameplay animations add even more excitement to the game, with over 500 new Stumble Action animations, loose puck plays and enhanced goalie AI.

Women's and Men's IIHF Players Can Play Together in HUT

For the first time in history, IIHF Women's National Team members can play with men via Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). With this game-changing update, players can now create their dream team made up of the best hockey players from around the world. Will you pair Sidney Crosby with Marie-Philip Poulin? Or Amanda and Phil Kessel together for an all-American powerhouse? This year, you'll be able to build your dream team, regardless of player gender.

This year, national teams will continue to play a prominent role in NHL 23. National team players will have both base and master items incorporated into HUT events. Not only can players compete in the traditional HUT game mode, but they can also now compete in a variety of new rotating themes. NHL 23 adds three new tiers of HUT Rivals Rewards to the game's system. Based on win or win streaks, NHL 23 introduces three additional tiers of HUT Rivals Rewards.

NHL 23 Cover Athletes Make History

EA Sports also previously revealed the two cover athletes for NHL 23, both of whom are examples of a new generation of hockey talent: Anaheim Ducks phenom Trevor Zegras and Canadian pro hockey and women's national team member Sarah Nurse, who is the first woman to appear on the cover of an EA Sports NHL title.

“It is such a tremendous honor to be the first woman on the cover of the EA SPORTS NHL franchise,” said Sarah Nurse of Team Canada. “Hockey is really for everybody and I’m excited that NHL 23 is celebrating the diversity and inclusivity of the sport. I hope that the increased representation of women in such a prominent game will inspire young girls everywhere to know that there is a place for them in hockey.”

“As someone who has played EA SPORTS NHL since I was kid, it is a dream come true to be on the cover this year with Sarah,” said Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks. “I can’t wait to play this year’s version with my friends and teammates, and I am equally excited to see fans unleash my Michigan flip pass, which the team at EA SPORTS has managed to get into the game.”

NHL 23 Franchise Mode Improvements

If you are looking for more authenticity with Franchise Mode, NHL 23 will add unprecedented levels of customization. Players will be able to adjustment the numbers of teams, games played, divisions, conferences, playoff rounds, league salary cap and more.

The Puck Drops in October

The NHL regular season will kick off on October 7th, with EA Sports NHL 23 arriving just seven days later on the 14th. It will be an action packed October as always, will you be picking up a copy of NHL 23? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

View the NHL 23 Official Reveal Trailer HERE