Headlined by all-new True Performance Skating, and supported by an innovative new A.I. system dubbed EA Sports Hockey I.Q., NHL 13 will deliver new experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of hockey with the all-new GM Connected and NHL Moments Live modes.

The demo will feature access to four different modes – Play Now, the all-new NHL Moments Live, Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) and Free Skate – and the ability to earn up to three HUT Item Packs to use in the full version of NHL 13.

“This is a big year for the EA SPORTS NHL franchise as we feel we have delivered major gameplay innovations that will change the way you play the game and all-new experiences that will connect hockey fans to their friends and the real world of the NHL. We are very excited to finally get the NHL 13 demo into the hands of our fans.” said Sean Ramjagsingh, NHL 13 Line Producer, EA SPORTS.

The NHL 13 demo will feature:

• PLAY NOW: In Play Now, select either the 2012 Stanley Cup® Champion Los Angeles Kings or their Stanley Cup Final opponents, the New Jersey Devils, as you battle it out in the third period. The period will start with a randomized score each time you play. Test out the all-new ‘True Broadcast’ camera which delivers a startlingly realistic hockey broadcast presentation as the camera swivels and zooms to capture every moment.
• NHL MOMENTS LIVE: The all-new NHL Moments Live mode offers you the chance to relive or rewrite some of the most thrilling moments from today’s NHL. In the demo, relive the dramatic overtime showdown of Game Five of the 2012 Western Conference Final between the Los Angeles Kings and Phoenix Coyotes. The moment is introduced by real-world NHL footage in the menu video showcase that draws you into the intensity of the moment before you begin play. If you complete the moment, you’ll receive a HUT Item Pack for use in the retail version of NHL 13.
• HOCKEY ULTIMATE TEAM: Create a fantasy team without boundaries as you build, manage and compete in Hockey Ultimate Team. HUT features an all-new presentation, improved reward system and new dynamic content post launch to make it the most in-depth HUT ever. In the NHL 13 demo, enter HUT to receive a HUT Item Pack. Unlock your starter pack and play in a tournament. If you beat Team USA and win the tournament you’ll receive an upgraded HUT Pack for use in the retail version of NHL 13.
• FREE SKATE: In Free Skate, hone your skills in a gameplay setting that pits you against a goalie without rules and restrictions.
• INVITE A FRIEND: Invite a Friend to download the demo, to receive one HUT Item Pack for use in the retail version of NHL 13. You can also watch the GM Connected trailer and the True Performance Skating Tutorial in the demo.

NHL 13 delivers an innovative new gameplay experience, accurately capturing the speed, creativity and strategy of today’s NHL through:

• True Performance Skating – A game-changing innovation for the franchise that adds physics-driven skating and over 1000 new animations. True Performance Skating authentically replicates the explosiveness, momentum and top end speed displayed by today’s NHL players. True Performance Skating combined with the Skill Stick, finally gives gamers access to the entire toolset of an NHL player, delivering unprecedented control and unlocking a level of creativity never before possible in a hockey videogame.
• EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q. – An innovative new A.I. system that governs the behaviors of players, goalies and team systems. In previous NHL games, players were only aware of skaters in their immediate proximity and goalies could only react to the player in control of the puck. With EA SPORTS Hockey I.Q., all players are now fully aware of every other player on the ice, resulting in quicker, smarter and more true-to-life decision-making. EA SPORTS Hockey IQ also delivers the deepest and most customizable set of real-world hockey systems and strategies ever for the franchise.

NHL 13 will deliver new experiences that connect hockey fans to their friends and to NHL hockey with:

• GM Connected – The ultimate fantasy league with friends. GM Connected takes the franchise’s most popular offline mode, Be a GM, and allows you to play with and against your friends in your own 30-team NHL. Whether you are a hardcore sports gamer or a hockey fan that moonlights as an armchair general manager, the mode offers unrivaled accessibility and depth by allowing players to manage, play or coach on the road to building your team’s legacy. GM’s can also take their experience with them with a mobile companion app, ensuring that they never miss a single moment.*
• NHL Moments Live – Rewrite or relive history as you replay some of the most thrilling moments from today’s NHL. NHL 13 evolves the concept introduced by other sports games, introducing each scenario with real-world NHL footage to bring players closer to the intensity of the moment. Moments from the 2011-12 NHL season will ship on disc and new moments from the 2012-13 NHL season will be added when available throughout the season.

Fans of the franchise can expect several other improvements and innovations in NHL 13, such as:

• Team-First Presentation, which customizes your NHL 13 experience based on your favorite NHL team
• The addition of Customizable EA SPORTS Hockey IQ allowing players to create and record their own player and team strategies to a level never before seen in the franchise.
• Improvements to core offline and online modes, including Hockey Ultimate Team, Be a Pro, EA SPORTS Hockey League, a refined on-ice presentation, and more.