The latest entry in EA Sports' NHL franchise, NHL 22, is set to release this October and will feature a game-changing system known as Superstar X-Factor abilities, allowing players to influence the game in entirely new ways. NHL 22 seems poised to significantly change the franchise's future, being the first of the series to release on next-gen consoles such as the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S and allowing a host of new mechanics to alter how the game is played.
There will be two different editions of NHL 22 releasing on October 15, the Standard Edition and X-Factor Edition, the latter of which comes with an additional number of HUT Player Packs, five Hockey Bags, and more. What's more noteworthy is that the X-Factor Edition is geared toward the X-Factor gameplay feature as well, adding in several HUT packs specifically centered on the Superstar X-Factor abilities. Both can be pre-ordered now ahead of NHL 22's release.
Other upgrades to the NHL series include a switch to Battlefield's Frostbite engine, as revealed earlier this month during an early look at NHL 22's gameplay. These graphical improvements will be built around the current generation of PlayStation and Xbox consoles, pushing the NHL franchise's graphics further than what's been seen before and offering "the best looking game to date," according to the gameplay reveal trailer. The trailer focused quite a bit on not just the Frostbite engine itself but how it will highlight the use of Superstar X-Factor abilities during a match.
What To Know About Superstar X-Factor Abilities In NHL 22
According to EA's official website, there are two different tiers of Superstar X-Factor abilities: Zone abilities and Superstar abilities. Each player receives one unique Zone ability and a set of secondary Superstar abilities to complement it. The function of each ability remains the same, but the level of boost an ability receives changes depending on whether it's in the Zone or Superstar spot. Each X-Factor ability is inspired by real-life NHL talent, changing up the dynamic of the game with realistic and immersive gameplay boosts from precision skating to significantly improved reflexes in front of the net. EA states that NHL 22's Superstar X-Factor abilities "span all positions on the ice and provide a new layer of class-based competition and strategy" to the game.
On the website, EA has also highlighted some of these abilities ahead of the game's release. There seem to be six categories of X-Factor abilities in NHL 22: Skating, Shooting, Passing, Defending, Goaltending, and Hockey IQ. Skating abilities may prevent penalties when skating with the puck, whereas Defensive abilities may provide a major boost to a player's overall defensive skill when taking on the puck carrier one-on-one. The amount of unique abilities varies from category to category as well. There are 7 listed Hockey IQ abilities, for example, but only 4 Goaltending abilities. It remains to be seen whether these numbers will change when NHL 22 is officially released. Still, for the time being, prospective players can at least start planning which Superstar X-Factor abilities they plan to prioritize.
Source: EA/YouTube, EA