NHL 22’s Switch To Battlefield Frostbite Engine Shown Off In Reveal

The official reveal trailer for the upcoming NHL 22 has given fans a first look at the PlayStation and Xbox game, which uses the Frostbite engine in a first for the series. The engine is famously known for powering Battlefield, and is recognized as one of the most powerful game engines in video game development.

NHL 22 will be the 31st installment in the beloved ice hockey simulation series. The title is scheduled to release later this year, and promises to push new-generation consoles to their limits with graphical improvements and new features not seen in previous NHL games. Fans have hoped that the next NHL release will greatly benefit from the Frostbite upgrade, and the new reveal trailer has finally given players a taste of what they can expect. The game won’t be the first EA Sports title to use the Frostbite engine, following in the footsteps of Madden and FIFA. Earlier this year, EA had source code for the Frostbite engine stolen, but told gamers that the theft wouldn’t impact any current game development.

The NHL 22 official reveal trailer shows the game off for the first time, revealing just what the Frostbite engine has brought to the title. The trailer shows a dramatic visual improvement over NHL 21, with EA noting that Frostbite will offer “unrivaled visual detail to every hit, deke, and shot.” The video uses game engine footage representing the game in development, which means fans can expect to see a deeper dive into full gameplay before the title releases. The reveal has been a hit with NHL fans, with the YouTube video showing an overwhelming number of “Likes” to “Dislikes.” At the time of writing, the trailer has over 5000 positive reactions, compared to just over 500 negative reacts.

The Frostbite engine has caused problems for some game developers in the past, though it’s hoped that the NHL 22 development team hasn’t struggled as much as other studios reportedly have. The engine previously had a reputation for making game dev difficult, with both FIFA and Madden experiencing tech issues following their moves to Frostbite. While previous NHL titles avoided these problems by sticking with the Ignite engine, the Frostbite graphical improvements shown in the reveal trailer are hard to miss.

While the new NHL 22 trailer looks impressive, players will have to wait a little longer to try the game out for themselves. Fans can pre-order the game now, and can choose from the Standard Edition or X-Factor Edition. The latter will include added perks such as five unlocked Hockey Bags, the HUT X-Factor Power Up Starter Pack, as well as three days of early access to the game. NHL 22 will release on PlayStation 4 and 5, as well as Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on October 12.

Source: EA Sports NHL/YouTube

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