When is the NHL 24 release date? Having released a new NHL game every year since 1991, EA Sports is keeping their streak going with another entry in the premier ice hockey game that will no doubt rank among the best-sellers this holiday season. With over 30 years of iconic ice hockey game experience, we’re hoping to see some great changes with the upcoming game. With that in mind, here’s everything we currently know about the NHL 24 release date, cover star, new features, and plenty more based on speculation and rumors.
With the current-generation consoles now in full-swing, fans are hoping that NHL 24 will bring the series forward with big changes and new features. With such a long-standing series as EA Sports’ NHL, there’s a lot riding on the back of this game. So, we’ve prepared everything you need to know about the game right now.
NHL 24 release date speculation
The NHL 24 release date is expected to be Friday, October 13, 2023 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One, with early access on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. This is based on previous release history for the franchise. The official reveal takes place on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 11am EDT/8am PDT/4pm BST.
EA Sports stick to a very rigid release schedule when it comes to their sports games, and NHL in particular. For example, NHL 22 released worldwide on Friday, October 15, 2021, with early access three days prior, while NHL 23 released on Friday, October 11, 2022, also with three days early access. As such, NHL games typically release in the second week of October, with a three day early access period.
Following this, it would be highly-surprising to see EA move their premier ice hockey game out of this familiar launch window in early October unless completely necessary. NHL is, after all, one of EA’s largest games each and every year, making the speculated NHL 24 release date even more likely.
We’ll find out for sure during the NHL 24 reveal event on Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 11am EDT/8am PDT/4pm BST that was recently announced by EA Sports. Here, we can expect to see gameplay and highlights of all the new features and content on the way, and likely a confirmation of the NHL 24 release date.
While fans are wondering when EA will discontinue support for past-generation consoles, it is most likely that NHL 24 will still launch on PS4 and Xbox One, as FC 24 – EA Sports’ rebrand of FIFA – will be launching on all major platforms. Though there’s certainly an argument that this is holding the series back, it would be good news for many NHL fans that haven’t made the jump yet.
Here’s the official reveal trailer for the previous game, NHL 23, to give you an idea of what to expect from the upcoming reveal:
NHL 24 cover star speculation
One of the most exciting parts of any NHL reveal is who will be gracing the front of the box. While we’re yet to get an official announcement, there are several strong candidates for the spot as the NHL 24 cover star. So, here’s our best predictions.
Our first choice is the one and only Connor McDavid, captain of the Edmonton Oilers. McDavid has consistently impressed fans, even raking in awards for his performance. It’s safe to say that he’s one of the best players in the NHL right now, so there’s a high likelihood that Connor McDavid could be the NHL cover star athlete. While he did feature as the NHL 18 cover star, that hasn’t stopped EA Sports in the past, with players such as Alexander Ovechkin and Auston Matthews having multiple appearances.
Next, it could be time for Sidney Crosby to take the spotlight as the NHL 24 cover star. As a three-time Stanley Cup champion for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Crosby’s talents on the ice speak for themselves. If EA Sports are looking for a heavy-hitter, then Crosby is a potential candidate. With that said, it’s a surprise that Crosby hasn’t yet featured given his long and successful career. It could be that Crosby doesn’t want to be featured as the cover star, though we’ll have to wait and see.
Last but by no means least, our last candidate is Hilary Knight. Changing the game for female hockey players, Knight is the first female skater to practice with the NHL and has since earned the inaugural IIHF Female Player of the Year award. With an exceptional career, Knight could take center stage as the NHL 24 cover star.
NHL 24 new features
We expect NHL 24 to feature updated animation technology like HyperMotionV and Frostbite’s SAPIEN, as well as improvements to a number of core game modes like Ultimate Team.
While EA Sports have yet to reveal the game, it has been pushing the boat out with its sports title this year, aiming for even more authentic animations and player models. For instance, FC 24 has headlined the HyperMotionV technology and other new visual features like PlayStyles to make the players even more impressive. We expect that NHL 24 will follow a similar path, offering massively improved visuals for the current-generation consoles.
Likewise, we’re also likely to see updates to the core game modes players have come to know and love, such as Ultimate Team. While NHL 23 introduced mixed women’s and men’s teams in HUT, alongside cross-platform matchmaking, there’s still many updates fans of the series would like to see.
One of the most requested NHL 24 new features is the return of GM Connected. In this mode, players could take control of an NHL team and take to the rink against another player. GM Connected lets players manage almost every aspect of your team, though it’s been absent for the past few entries despite its popularity.
Alongside this, more dynamic matches would be great too, with more player interactions, more authentic crowds, and more interaction with the arena itself, such as shattering glass. Nevertheless, we’ll have to wait and see what new features are in store for us in NHL 24.
Well, that covers the NHL 24 release date and other key details like new features and the cover star for the latest game in the iconic series. Hopefully we’ll learn more about the game soon and be given lots to look forward to with the NHL 24 reveal event, especially as fans are demanding change more than ever. If you’re looking to dive in through Xbox’s subscription service, you can also find out all about NHL 24 Game Pass availability.
