EA Sports may be facing an uphill battle to win over fans following the kerfuffle surrounding last year’s installment – which debuted without key features and was an all-round technical mess – but the publisher is ensuring it will take to the ice once more with NHL 16.
Exclusive to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, this year’s iteration will bundle together all of the typical features – updated rosters and authentic match schedules – all the while including those features that were conspicuously absent this time last year. Per EA:
“Built with more input from our fans than ever before, NHL 16 steps onto the ice to deliver ways to compete as a team, new features across the most played single-player modes, gameplay innovation at every position on the ice and an unrivalled game day atmosphere.”
At the time of going to press, the publisher is yet to reveal any screenshots or in-game footage from NHL 16, instead opting to detail the title’s myriad of features to whet the appetite. Chief among those is the 6 vs. 6 online play, not to mention the inclusion of couch co-op for those who prefer to keep their multiplayer sessions local. In addition, expect an overhauled Hockey League mode along with Be a Pro and Be a GM game modes.
To compensate the fact that NHL 16 won’t be skating onto PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360, EA also confirmed the all-new NHL: Legacy Edition for last-gen systems.
“Legacy Edition brings together the most popular modes and award-winning gameplay features from nine years of NHL hockey,” explains EA’s website. “Featuring updated rosters and authentic schedules, it’s the perfect experience for fans looking to get that complete hockey fix on Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3.”
We can readily expect EA to reveal more information pertaining to NHL 16 when the company takes to the stage at E3 on June 16.