EA Sports NHL 23 Adds Women’s Players to Ultimate Team

Written by Brandon Hofer on August 25, 2022

News: EA Sports NHL 23 will be the most socially connected game in franchise history and will also add female players to the Hockey Ultimate Team.

EA Sports has revealed when hockey fans will be able to get their hands on NHL 23. NHL 23 will bring an all-new level of social play never before seen in the franchise when cross-platform matchmaking comes to the game in November 2022, allowing matchmaking between players of the same platform generation in World of Chel and Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT). Powered by the Frostbite engine, NHL 23 brings fans new levels of authenticity with gameplay improvements that include over 500 new “last chance” playmaking animations, living arenas and atmosphere, deep franchise-mode customization, and new ways to play HUT, including the addition of IIHF Women’s National Teams in HUT, allowing the best women’s and men’s players in the world to compete on one lineup.

EA Sports has also revealed two cover athletes for NHL 23 that represent an exciting new generation of hockey talent—Anaheim Ducks phenom Trevor Zegras and Canadian professional hockey and women’s national team member Sarah Nurse, the first woman to grace the cover of EA Sports NHL.

“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.”

“As someone who has played EA Sports NHL since I was a kid, it is a dream come true to be on the cover this year with Sarah,” said Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks. “I can’t wait to play this year’s version with my friends and teammates, and I am equally excited to see fans unleash my Michigan flip pass, which the team at EA Sports has managed to get into the game.”

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In a historic first, IIHF Women’s National Team members can now play alongside men in a Hockey Ultimate Team (HUT) lineup, allowing players to make their dream team of the sport’s best players. After their introduction last year, national teams will continue to play a prominent role in NHL 23, as national team players will have both base and master items incorporated into HUT events. In addition, players can now compete in a variety of new rotating game themes in HUT Rivals. NHL 23 also introduces three additional tiers of HUT Rivals Rewards based on win or win streaks.

“With teamplay as its heartbeat, the NHL franchise has always been best when played with friends, and this year’s edition will bring players together in whole new ways,” said Mike Inglehart, Creative Director at EA Vancouver. “From the ever-growing presence of women players in the game to the coming introduction of cross-platform matchmaking, NHL 23 reflects hockey’s expanding fanbase and emphasizes that it is a sport best experienced together.”

For the second year, the EA Sports NHL franchise returns to the legendary Frostbite engine, bringing whole new levels of visual immersion to the game. From electrifying new OT Winner, Hat Trick, and Shootout celebrations that will hype you up, to raucous stadiums with overhauled levels of Crowd Awareness and Moment to Moment Reactions, NHL 23 has the most authentic in-game atmosphere in franchise history. A whole new series of Last Chance Puck Movement gameplay animations add even more excitement to the game, with over 500 new Stumble Action animations, loose puck plays, and enhanced goalie AI.

NHL 23 will solidify itself as a best-in-class social experience with the introduction of cross-platform matchmaking, currently planned for November 2022. The launch of cross-platform matchmaking across same-generation consoles for World of Chel and HUT will shorten queue times and create fewer player pools to ensure players will have more options to face off.

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Franchise Mode returns to NHL 23 with unprecedented levels of league customization, bringing an all-new level of versatility to the game, including adjustments to the numbers of teams, games played, divisions, conferences, playoff rounds, league salary cap, and more.

EA Sports NHL is continuing to offer HUT content migration to ensure a smooth experience for players across console generations. Following a November update, players who start playing NHL 23 on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One will be able to transfer their HUT Team value and progress to the next generation of their respective platforms on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S.

Fans who pre-order NHL 23 will get a variety of bonus in-game content. Additionally, there will be the EA Sports NHL 23 X-Factor Edition. The X-Factor Edition will include the following:

PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 or Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game

Three days of early access

4600 NHL Points

One HUT X-Factor Player Choice Pack

HUT X-Factor Power-Up Starter Pack

X-Factor Women’s HUT Choice Pack

Five World of Chel X-Factor Zone Ability Unlocks

Two Be A Pro X-Factor Slot Unlocks

XP Boost and Bonus Trait Points

Signed Sarah Nurse World of Chel Jersey

If you are an EA Play member you can also get more out of NHL 23 with three days of early access, and member-only rewards throughout the season.

Developed by EA Vancouver and EA Bucharest, EA Sports NHL 23 will be available on Oct. 14, 2022, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One.