Major gameplay additions arriving in NHL 22 are X-Factor abilities, and they are set to be entwined in every major game mode of the newest hockey title. Fans of the NHL (and the sport of hockey in general) look forward to the annual hockey entry from EA Sports and for good reason. There's no denying that the franchise has been the crème de la crème of the hockey gaming world for years now, thanks to its stranglehold on the sport. Despite this, fans are a demanding group and there's always more they want to see.
In a bid to constantly improve upon the experience, the biggest changeup is that NHL 22 is built on Frostbite Engine. While the implementation of the Battlefield engine is set to bring noticeable lighting and physics upgrades, one of the big gameplay tweaks is arriving in the form of the aforementioned X-Factor abilities. These help by elevating players in the game by equipping them with skills that make their characters shine on the ice. Of course, there are still several lingering questions that EA Sports is eager to clear up regarding how X-Factors will be weaved into the other game modes.
Speaking with NHL 22 producer Clement Kwong, Screen Rant was given a better look at how X-Factors work in NHL 22's various game modes. Hockey Ultimate Team, World of CHEL, Be A Pro, and Franchise Mode will all utilize X-Factor abilities in different ways. HUT will allow players to start with a single X-Factor ability before allowing them to unlock more, while CHEL provides an opportunity to unlock and assign new abilities to created characters. Be A Pro will also enable X-Factor unlocks that can then be equipped to advance pro career paths. Finally, Franchise Mode features X-Factor Reports that influence trade values, synergy levels, and all of it ties into Fog of War.
It's a lot to take in for core fans, but Kwong seemed excited about the prospect while chatting to him about NHL 22. There are also a few tweaks to existing game modes that act as strong quality-of-life updates to the NHL experience. A new feature dubbed 'Party Flow' allows players to hang out as a party in the revamped World of CHEL hub while cycling through game modes. This means party members can stay grouped up in NHL 22 without having to rejoin if a new mode is selected.
Additionally, the debut of the National Hockey League's newest club is another noteworthy changeup. Of course, the Seattle Kraken's arrival in NHL 22 is also being taken very seriously by EA. An expansion draft for the NHL's 33rd team is one such feature included, and Kwong referred to the excitement the development team had speculating on which players would be selected by the Kraken. It's evident how that desire would lend itself well to NHL 22 by allowing players to run back the draft decisions themselves. All in all, it's looking like there's a lot to look forward to when NHL 22 launches this October.
NHL 22 arrives on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S on October 15, 2021.