NEWSLETTER
Hello NHL22 gamers. If you’re like me, you have set aside at least $60 to purchase the latest edition of EA Sports’ NHL franchise in just about four weeks when the game is released on October 15th. We’ve talked a bit about the game coming up this fall, with the most significant addition to the game that EA is centering NHL22 around being the new ‘X-Factors.’
What is ‘X-Factors,’ you ask? Simply put, they are slight attribute boosts to certain NHL superstars based on their unique on-ice abilities. 50 NHL players received one of these ‘X-Factor’ boosts, known as ‘Zone’ abilities, with a secondary level of ‘Superstar’ abilities also attributed to many more players in the game.
Here are the ‘X-Factors’ you will be able to use with players from the Chicago Blackhawks in NHL22:
Here are the #Blackhawks who received 'X-Factors' in #NHL22 pic.twitter.com/7099RbTCJE
— Mario Tirabassi (@Mario_Tirabassi) September 20, 2021
Seth Jones was featured prominently in several promotional releases from EA, received the ‘Quick Pick’ ability, which boosts his pass interception ability. Alex DeBrincat, fresh off a season where he scored at a 50-goal pace, received the ‘Make It Snappy’ ability, which boosts his snapshots while coming out of his stride. Marc-André Fleury, coming off of a Vezina Trophy-winning season, received the ‘All or Nothing’ ability, which gives him elite poke-checking capabilities in net. Finally, and unsurprisingly, Patrick Kane received the ‘Put It On A String’ ability, which provides him with elite stick-handling skills.
You can find the complete list with all 50 players involved here.
I’ve become very skeptical of the improvements year-over-year from EA Sports when it comes to their NHL franchise, and NHL22 is no exception. Again, of course, I’m going to buy the game because I am a sucker, but I still reserve the right to complain when the game doesn’t meet my expectations.
NHL22 will be available on Oct. 15, 2021 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
