Now powered by the Frostbite engine, every real-world player and arena will have unrivaled visual detail, while the addition of Superstar X-Factors will elevate the league’s biggest stars with an all-new layer of class-based play. Toronto Maple Leafs superstar center Auston Matthews, whose world class skills personify what it means to be an X-Factor on the ice, returns to the EA Sports NHL cover in NHL 22 after an incredible 2020-21 season that included winning the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy for most goals in the regular season.

For the first time ever, the Frostbite engine comes to the EA Sports NHL franchise, making NHL 22 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 one of many gameplay improvements coming to NHL 22.

Superstars will distinctly feel like their real-life counterparts in NHL 22 with the introduction of Superstar X-Factors, a game-changing system that unleashes unique abilities for the best players in the game, with traits inspired by their individual real-world skills. Superstar X-Factors bring 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.

Today, EA Sports has made NHL 22 a truly global experience with IIHF (International Ice Hockey Federation) content, now available in-game as part of the latest patch update.

Starting today, players can lace up their skates and experience the prestigious IIHF World Junior Championship as well as check out the updated jerseys and branding for the men’s national teams. The IIHF Men’s and World Juniors teams will be added to NHL 22 in a variety of ways, with Federations, logos, and uniforms available in Ultimate Team and World of Chel, and Play Now rosters will be updated to the latest official teams as they are announced. The IIHF Men’s World Championships will be playable in early 2022. 

Playable women’s teams will also be available for the first time ever with the IIHF women’s national teams and IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship. Players will be able to celebrate this golden era of women’s hockey by playing as their favorite teams and players. Also starting early 2022, players can hit the ice with Team USA icon Hilary Knight and Hockey Canada captain Marie-Philip Poulin, among other superstars.

“The introduction of women’s national teams to NHL 22 as part of the upcoming IIHF content will be an important moment for the franchise in its continued effort to reflect the diversity of the hockey community,” said Sean Ramjagsingh, VP and GM, EA SPORTS. “We are proud to feature playable women’s teams for the first time in NHL 22, alongside the rising stars on the World Juniors teams.” 

NHL 22 also introduced a number of features that have been long-awaited by fans as part of this latest update: Roster Sharing and HUT Content Migration. Roster Sharing allows fans to download other players’ rosters that they have uploaded throughout the year, and HUT Content Migration allows players who started playing with previous generation consoles to transfer their HUT Team value and progress to PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

For more details about Roster Sharing and HUT Content Migration, please check out the Patch Notes here.

Hockey encompasses a diverse community of passionate players, all united by their love of the sport, and NHL 22 is embracing this culture through a number of new features across modes, as well as its rich live service plan beyond launch. In the coming weeks more will be shared on the World of CHEL, Hockey Ultimate Team, Be A Pro and Franchise modes, as well as some long-requested community features.

Fans that pre-order NHL 22 will get a variety of bonus in-game content. The EA Sports NHL 22 X-Factor Edition includes the PS4 and PS5 or Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game, three days of early access, up to 10 HUT Diamond Player Choice Packs, one HUT X-Factor Player Choice Pack, HUT X-Factor Power-Up Starter Pack, up to four HUT X-Factor Power-Up Packs, five World of Chel X-Factor Zone Ability Unlocks, five Unlocked Hockey Bags, two Be A Pro X-Factor Slot Unlocks and XP Boost and Bonus Trait Points.

NHL 22 is coming to PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S on October 15, 2021.