14 DAY TRIAL // EA Sports has revealed that it plans to add a lot of new game modes to the PS4 and Xbox One versions of its hit hockey title NHL 15, in a series of updates that are due out this month and the next.
NHL 15 will be released tomorrow, September 9, in North America, and on September 12 in Europe and other PAL territories, headed for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One home consoles.
The announcement from EA comes right in time, as no doubt many gamers were already deciding to skip this entry and stick to the former one, that has their preferred game modes.
Missing features?
The developer received a lot of criticism for the fact that the first next-gen games in the series feature little improvement over earlier entries in the franchise, not only adding little in terms of content, but also removing some of the favorite game modes, such as EA Sports Hockey League, GM Connected and many others.
Following the fan outcry, the developer decided to support EA Sports' NHL 15 post-launch, adding a number of the features fans are expecting. Sadly, buyers of the last-gen version won't be able to enjoy them, as EA doesn't plan to also add the new content to the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 systems.
The team pledged to honor its commitment to the first installment in a new generation of hockey video games, with enhanced and realistic visuals and an overhauled physics engine that delivers a more realistic experience than ever before.
Future plans
"We're incredibly proud of the next-generation gameplay and presentation experience we've created for all our fans. From the Next-Generation Hockey Player and True Hockey Physics to the Unrivaled In-Arena Experience and a revolution in Broadcast Presentation, I'm extremely proud of what our team has delivered in one year on new technology," Producer Sean Ramjagsingh wrote on the EA forums.
"However, we're not done. We're committed to keeping the experience fresh throughout the hockey season, in addition to the roster and ratings updates you've always received, the list below contains the free content updates for the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 we're working on and our expected window on when you will see them in the game," he continued.
The first update will be rolled out later this month, introducing a number of new features, such as a new Playoff Mode, enabling players to create offline tournaments, coach feedback for Be A Pro, 3 Stars of the Game, as well as several content updates for Hockey Ultimate Team, which include an improved edit lines screen, and new layout and animations.
The second update is scheduled for October, and will introduce Online Team Play, a new multiplayer mode where two teams of 5 players each will get to control all the players on the ice, with the exception of the goalkeeper, as well as a new GM Draft.
The exact update release dates have not been announced, but rest assured, we'll come back with more details when the time comes.
