NHL 23 has not exactly been a smooth release for EA Sports. The first several weeks of NHL 23 have included a myriad of HUT issues, as well as AI and gameplay bugs that have brought the franchise to arguably its lowest levels since the start of the Xbox One/PS4 generation of games. A new patch on November 8 is set to address at least some of the title’s issues.
Among the changes coming to NHL 23 is the frequency that the new in-game presentation cutscenes appear in the game. Per the NHL team, only six teams (Avalanche, Lightning, Maple Leafs, Canucks, Hurricanes, and Flyers) have authentic in-game presentations that show up in a third of all games. This patch will increase the number of times each will populate, while the other 26 teams will have increased national anthem cuts. Coming later this month will be an additional patch that will add new in-game cutscenes that will be specifically for the other teams.
Additionally, this patch adds the new Reverse Retro 2.0 jerseys to NHL 23. The update also addresses a glitch with how AI moved across the ice, due to a bug with strategies. This was a common grievance among NHL players and was noted in our review of NHL 23.
Here’s a look at the full patch notes:
GAMEPLAY
AI
- Improved defenseman gap control to defend against the rush through the middle of the ice
Goalies
- Fixed an issue where user goalies were under performing on Arcade and Semi Pro difficultiesGeneral goalie bug fixing around jittering and animation selection
Strategies
- Fixed an issue with the Selected Gameplay Strategies in game not matching what’s in the Strategy menus
PRESENTATION
- Fixed an issue with an end-of-game celebration which showed players that were sitting on the bench celebrating with goalie instead of players that were on the ice at end of game.Fixed issue that prevented chosen gameplay camera from showing up during gameplayBe A Pro – Fixed issue that could cause selection of wrong camera in some cinematicsFixed an infinite sync loop that could occur when a player quits gameplay in OTSpengler Cup – Fixed issue where trophy didn’t properly fit into hands of playersFixed audio issue where national anthems wouldn’t play if sim intervening into the first periodFixed issue with lighting in Be A Pro that could cause a flash of white light on loadStanley Cup Celebration – Fixed issue that could cause a player to disappear during the sequence where cup is passed from player to playerFixed issue during end of game celebration where goalie could be holding stick with their trapper hand instead of blockerFixed audio issue where crowd doesn’t behave properly when anthem intro follows a be-a-pro scripted eventFixed issue that causes wipes to be held for too long which lead to missing parts of goal replayFixed issue with crowd signs not showing correct dynamic data (eg. Player Names)Fixed game crash in Three Modes after goal is scoredFixed audio issue in the main menu that would cause the soundtrack to play under speechLong goal horn blast is now used for all teams on home team shootout wins
WORLD OF CHEL
- Added the ability for EASHL Club users to swap player positions on the Power Play and/or Penalty Kill.Added Strategy Tool Tips to Online VS and EASHL ClubsAdded back Strategies Quick Swap back to EASHL 6v6 Power Play and Penalty Kill LineupFixed a crash that sometimes occurs during gameplay in EASHL Drop-in 3v3Fixed an issue where the main menu would sometimes fail to load up on the World Of Chel main hubFixed an issue where some users were not being transitioned from the post match-up screen into EASHL games Fixed an issue where the prolonged syncing wipe screen would cause users to miss goal replaysFixed an issue where EASHL club logos were missing from the pause menuFixed an issue where there was no audio SFX playing when World of Chel bags were openedFixed an issue where certain player glove types were not loading in Free Skate Fixed an issue where the first-time user flow tips for Roles in Club Strategies didn’t have an arrow pointing to feature user can changeFixed an issue where the camera angle doesn’t change regardless of the settingFixed a text color issue on leaderboards so recent games info was properly visibleFixed an issue where the dressing room chat box does not display the teammate gamertag in drop-in rollover dressing roomsIncreased the size of the edit strategies options text box so less text needs to scrollFixed an issue where multiple options where being highlighted after coming back from team strategies[XBOX] Fixed an issue where the Goal NIS images would show up corrupted[XBOX] an issue where the user is prompted with the “Insufficient Permission” message in any online mode after allowing the “You can join multiplayer games” privilege settingAdded additional content into World of Chel for upcoming Chel challenges. Check back often to collect the latest cool new content.
HOCKEY ULTIMATE TEAM
- Added HUT content migration. Learn more here.Fixed an issue with TOTW Items not displaying correctlyFixed an issue where the player item was not being displayed after a goal being scoredFixed an issue with HUT Rivals Rank IconsFixed issues with readability of Rivals on ice texturesVarious UI fixes
FRANCHISE MODE
- Misc crash fixesMisc UI fixesMisc BAP conversation fixesAdded ability to substitute AHL teams within Custom LeaguesAdded a setting that allows the user to use entire pool of NHL players in a Custom Leagues fantasy draft regardless of how many teams are in the league.Fixed an issue where generated players showed up with college helmets in gameplayFixed an issue where the Stanley Cup presentation did not play when winning the series in aggregate format in Custom Leagues.Fixed an issue where hiring a new Head Coach did not update the strategies tab within Edit Lines
ART
Updated the following teams center ice art
ECHL
- Kansas City Mavericks
QMJHL
- Saint John SeadogsVal d’Or Foreurs
WHL
- Red Deer Rebels
UNIFORMS
The following uniforms have been added or updated in NHL 23
NHL
- Carolina Hurricanes – ThirdCalgary Flames – ThirdAll 32 NHL 2022-23 Reverse Retro Uniforms
AHL
Bakersfield Condors – Home and AwayCalgary Wranglers – Home and AwayColorado Eagles – Home and AwayTucson Roadrunners – Home and AwayUtica Comets – Third
Adirondack Thunder – HomeAtlanta Gladiators – Home, Away and ThirdFlorida Everblades – AwayFort Wayne Komets – Home and AwayGreenville Swamp Rabbits – Home and AwayIdaho Steelheads – Home and AwayKansas City Mavericks – AwayRapid City Rush – Home and AwaySavannah Ghost Pirates – Home, Away and ThirdSouth Carolina Stingrays – ThirdUtah Grizzlies – Home and AwayWichita Thunder – Home and Away
DEL
- Adler Mannheim – Home, Away and ThirdAugsburger Panther – Home, Away and ThirdBietigheim Steelers – Home, Away and ThirdDusseldorfer EG – Home, Away and ThirdEHC Red Bull Munchen – Home, Away and Third Eisbaren Berlin – Home, Away and ThirdERC Ingolstadt – Home, Away and ThirdFischtown Pinguins – Home, Away and ThirdIserlohn Roosters – Home, Away and ThirdKolner Haie – Home, Away and ThirdNurmberg Ice Tigers – Home and AwaySchwenninger Wild Wings – Home, Away and ThirdStraubing Tigers – Home, Away and ThirdWolfsburg Grizzlys – Home, Away and Third
HockeyAllsvenskan
- AIK – Home and AwayAlmtuna IS – Home and AwayBIK Karlskoga – Home and AwayDjurgardens IF – Home and AwayHC Vita Hasten – Home and AwayIF Bjorkloven – Home and AwayMODO Hockey – Home and AwayMora IK – Home and AwayOstersunds IK – Home and AwaySodertalje SK – Home and AwayTingsryds AIF – Home and AwayVasterviks IK – Home and Away
National League
EHC Biel – Home and AwayEHC Kloten – Home and AwayEV Zug – Home and AwayGeneve-Servette HC – Home and AwayHC Ajoie – Home and AwayHC Ambri-Piotta – Home and AwayHC Davos – Home and AwayHC Fribourg-Gotteron – Home and AwayHC Lugano – Home and AwayLausanne HC – Home and AwayRapperswil-Jona Lakers – Home and AwaySC Bern – Home and AwaySCL Tigers – Home and AwayZSC Lions – Home and Away
Blainville-Boisbriand Armada Home and AwayHalifax Mooseheads Home and AwaySherbrooke Phoenix Home and Away
Brandon Wheat Kings Home and AwayEverett Silvertips Home and AwayPrince George Cougars Home and Away
This patch is now available for all NHL 23 players.
