*UPDATED* NHL 23: Release date, pre-orders, and more

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It’s official! EA Sports has announced the release date of their hit hockey game NHL 23. Its launch will take place on October 14th, 2022. Pre-orders for both the Standard Edition and X-Factor Edition can be found here.

In this latest installment of the NHL franchise, there’s a lot to look forward to with the incorporation of exciting, new ground-breaking features and modes that will enhance the gameplay experience now more than ever.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in and see what NHL 23 is all about so far.

NHL 23: Cover Athletes

This year for the first time ever, EA Sports decided to have Canadian professional hockey and Women’s National Team player Sarah Nurse join Anaheim Ducks sensation Trevor Zegras on the front cover, making her the first woman to be on an EA Sports NHL game cover. Here’s what Nurse had to say per EA Sports’ NHL press release:

“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.”

NHL 23: Official Reveal Trailer

Check out the full NHL 23 Reveal Trailer here and see what this new edition of the NHL Franchise has in store for you.

NHL 23: Cross-Platform Play

That’s right folks! Cross-Platform has arrived for NHL 23 multiplayer mode to cater an all-new level of social play and engagement never experienced on the game before. This new feature is not expected to be ready by launch on October 14th. That said, it should be available for gamers to check out come November, 2022.

This will allow gamers to participate in matchmaking with players from their same console generation both in Hockey Ultimate Team and in World of CHEL. This new feature is a big part of the NHL’s mission to incorporate a more inclusive and integrated experience between NHL fans across the globe, and it should achieve just that.

NHL 23: New Features In HUT

If you like Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT), you’ll really like what they chose to do with it this year. In historic fashion, IIHF Women’s National Team members will now be able to play alongside men in a HUT lineup, granting fans the chance to assemble their dream team no matter the gender.

Following NHL 22, NHL 23 is sticking with continuing the importance of national teams players in their latest installment, who will have both the base and master items incorporated in the game.

To add to their tweaks to HUT, NHL 23 will also allow fans to compete in a variety of revolving game themes in HUT Rivals. And along with it, NHL 23 will be granting three additional tiers of Hut Rivals Rewards based on the wins or win streaks players achieve.

Lastly, content migration will be available for those looking to upgrade their consoles. So for example, if you start playing the game first on a PS4 or Xbox One, you will be able to complete a smooth transfer of your HUT Team value and progress to your new corresponding next-gen console, be it the PS5 or Xbox Series X.

NHL 23: Player Ratings

Throughout the course of this week, NHL 23 has revealed its new players ratings and Top 10s we can expect to see in the game. Providing rankings for not only all the positions but also for certain skill types such as speed and strength, there’s a lot to dig into as NHL 23 continues to build on the hype of their franchises’ latest installment.

READ NOW: Check out the Top 10 centers in NHL 23 here.

NHL 23: Presentation Trailer

Here’s a deep-dive look into all of the new presentation details you need to know about in NHL 23.

The Power Of Frostbite

NHL 23 will be powered by the Frostbite game engine which could prove to be game changing. Per the press release, Frostbite will be introducing over 500 new last chance playmaking animations, living arenas and atmospheres, in-depth franchise mode customization options, to go along with the Women’s National Teams addition in HUT.

Furthermore, the visual features and graphics Frostbite has integrated with NHL 23, will provide a completely new immersive experience for this game. Whether it’s the new OT Winner, Hat Trick, or Shootout celebrations to the booming arenas with heightened levels of Crowd Awareness and Moment to Moment Reactions, the authenticity NHL 23 is set to deliver appears to be the best the game has ever accomplished to date.

In addition, Frostbite added 500+ new Stumble Action animations, Last Chance Puck Movement gameplay animations, loose puck plays, and enhanced goalie AI. There’s so much to look forward to. But the gameplay and feel could be at the top of the list for many fans as the release slowly comes closer.

NHL 23: Pre-Order Prices & Rewards

There’s two different editions that you can pre-order, the Standard Edition or the X-Factor Edition. Here’s a look at the prices and rewards for each.

• Standard Edition Pre-Order Price Xbox One: $59.99
• Standard Edition Pre-Order Price PS4: $59.99
• Standard Edition Pre-Order Price Xbox Series X: $69.99
• Standard Edition Pre-Order Price PS5: $69.99
• X-Factor Edition Pre-Order Price Xbox Series X: $99.99
• X-Factor Edition Pre-Order Price PS5: $99.99

Standard Edition Pre-Order Rewards:

1. X-Factor Women HUT Choice Pack (1 of 4)
2. 5 World of CHEL X-Factor Zone Ability Unlocks (Instant)
3. Signed Sarah Nurse World of CHEL Jersey (Digital)
4. Be A Pro Factor Slot Unlocks (2), XP Boost and Bonus Trait Points

X-Factor Edition Pre-Order Rewards:

1. Dual Entitlement
2. 3-Day Early Access
3. 4,600 NHL Points
4. HUT X-Factor Player Choice Pack (1 of 18)
5. HUT X-Factor Power-Up Starter Pack (Instant)
6. X-Factor Women HUT Choice Pack (1 of 4)
7. 5 World of CHEL X-Factor Zone Ability Unlocks (Instant)
8. Signed Sarah Nurse World of CHEL Jersey (Digital)
9. Be A Pro Factor Slot Unlocks (2), XP Boost and Bonus Trait Points
10. HUT Team Builder Choice Pack (2 of 32) plus pre-order content (only available to those that pre-ordered by September 16, 2022)

When is NHL 23 going to be released?

NHL 23 will officially launch on October 14th, 2022.

Will cross-platform play be available in NHL 23?

Yes it will be. NHL 23 is set to integrate cross-platform play come November, 2022.

Did NHL 23 release its player ratings?

NHL 23 released a vast variety of new player ratings this week. You can view all the ratings here:
https://www.ea.com/games/nhl/nhl-23/ratings-hub

Is there an early-access period for NHL 23?

Yes there is. NHL 23 will have a 3-day early access period that starts on October 11th. However, early-access will only be available for those that pre-order the X-Factor Edition of the game.