To whom it may concern,I have owned every NHL games since NHL 94 and I actually even had NHLPA 93 before the rights to players association and were acquired and NHL 23 will be my last one. I have been disappointed since early 2000's the game has progressively gotten worse to the point of the wraparound score everytime glitch from the 90's version of the game, you continually make the skaters incredibly fast, with high Shooting percentage but the goalies stop less then 60% of the shots. You've added clothing and other player items for our pro in be a pro mode which does absolutely nothing to make the player better, and to be honest I couldn't care less about what my pro looks like. I still have the same outfit I dressed up after receiving my first hockey bag. There are less and less people playi g that at times we wait over 20 mins to get in a game, that should tell you something. Yet you refuse to make changes. I remember a time in the mid 2000's where it didnt matter the time or day you were playing there always was a 6 on 6 game to play with no more than a 2 minutes wait. You should take note to what 2K has done with their NBA game maybe even use some of those ideas like a full voice/Video offline be a pro mode, having to read the storyline makes the mode rather boring when it is so easy to have cut scenes with video as 2K did with their game. Last but not least HUT with madden and fifa you constantly give free cards with high rank and have many challenges gaining high level card but NHL I need to score 5 goals at superstar in 3 1min periods to get a whopping 200 coins see the problem here I know I'm only one person but i know for sure that the number of people buying has dwindled every year for the past decade so GOODBYE NHL MAY YOU RIP

Not trying to start an argument on it and maybe it's a slightly different topic but has the meta really changed that much year to year? I feel like the meta in like the late aughts was short, fast, either do a forehand,backhand,forehand, pass across to a friend or curve shot. There were other ways to play obviously you are only limited to how much you want to be. The meta now has to do with X-factors but by and large it's x-factors to make things like F,B,F, more effective on goalies(as pass across is stopped at a higher rate seemingly this year) which were already extremely susceptible to it.with THAT said, it's absolutely absurd to compare a yearly sports title to a game like RDR2. Are you suggesting they stop releasing NHL and move to a once a decade release schedule? Is it right that we are asked to pay as much for a new game when it is released essentially as the patch update for the game? no it's really not but that's life. The team cares, the team tries, and the team WANTS to make a good game. I don't doubt that. It just feels like we have zero vision for the game beyond it should release every year. We just aren't getting games that feel that different which yes is a curse of the yearly cycle sports title but we also have, as the players, zero vision of what the best version of an NHL game looks like to the devs. Game feels like it exists just to exist. Is this the complete vision of offline BAP, is this the complete vision of OVP, EASHL etc? Is Franchise in 2023 the most complete franchise that will ever exist in an EA NHL game? I wouldn't know as they don't talk about literally ANYTHING about the game except when they have a marketing pitch just before release. It's so hard to just not be cycnical. It feels like the only long term planning they are doing is in relation to HUT(which I get, it's probably keeping the game afloat). That's why we get things like seemingly unprompted camera changes and people are mad. There's zero dialogue. There's only vague reasoning(after the fact) or no actual explanation. I don't want to relitigate that true broadcast camera thing because i don't have a horse in that race as I have never used it but I do feel like that was a very obvious example of the dev team not communicating their moves with the playerbase and it turning into a bigger deal than it needed to. If for instance, a couple months prior they had run a survey and asked about the camera and they were using the information they got to make changes based on the playerbase feedback they had newly acquired. Instead it was an unexepected change that led to a bit of a metldown by some and i'd say there was definitely some bad faith by forum users who just wanted to rile up new anger against the devs. We all need to be better honestly.

@EA_Aljo wrote:@rsandersr47 I believe last time there was a true overhaul was with the NHL 15 Xbox One/PS4 release. A foundation is built that keeps growing and getting added on to over time so we don't need to start over and not include features due to a lack of time between games. We'd have to take years off to accomplish the game you're asking for.Again, we are extremely well aware of how the community feels right now. I just can't talk about what's coming.Maybe it’s time to cater to hockey fans again, instead of gimmicky/cringy dancing for 10 year olds. Maybe, just maybe, if you fix the bugs and make it a hockey game again, perhaps both EA and the consumer would benefit? Nahh, why do that, we have to make sure we have silly goal cellies and little old women as refs 🤦♂️

@rsandersr47 wrote:Does anyone get the feeling the devs/ management at top cares about this game or making a quality game? I'm really wondering.. the fact we have the same bugs every year makes me think they don't care, they likely don't even play it.. If I made a game that I loved and played it, I would at least have some common bugs fixed after a year.My opinion is that those in positions to direct massive, fundamental changes to gameplay, modes etc. are not willing to take that risk and/or they don't feel supported from the people above THEM to take those risks. They may also feel shorthanded with such a small development team. Deciding to take a risk on a big change to any given mode comes with so much anxiety at effecting the bottom line - they give into complacency in an effort to ensure just enough things change so that the game can be marketed with 'new' features, and the ROI is .025% higher than previous years.The loss of Ben Ross (and the loss of Geoff Harrower, who developed big things for the motion engine in NHL/UFC) does not bode well for either series. Although it might be refreshing to get some new blood under the hood of these things, the fact that these two left EA (and now Brian Hayes as well) sets of alarm bells that maybe there is a lack of vision coming from the top and a lack of trust in the truly creative people within their development teams.That said, executives at EA need to take a long, hard look at the NHL series and its current stalemate when it comes to modes, features and being compared to other games such as MLB The Show and NBA2K. What really grinds me as a fan of sports games is the drumbeat of microtransactions and how a majority of time and effort goes into ensuring players are coming back to those modes by way of addiction rather than by way of an immersive and compelling virtualization of our favorite sports. I don't think the core development team of the NHL series "doesn't care". Sure, there are people there just collecting a decent paycheque for software development, engineering, etc. But having actually met with and interacted with the development team in-person, albeit 10 years ago, they are genuinely passionate about the product they put out.

@EA_Aljo I feel like this team lost credibility so even the most open minded individuals have likely given up at this point."continually adding new updates and features. I'd love that as well, but the sport of hockey is essentially the same year after year. It's not exactly easy to keep the game fresh and new while also retaining legacy gameplay. Overhauling the gameplay year after year would probably be pretty frustrating for the playerbase."This to me is the worst thing to hear and why I think it only makes sense to give up any hope with having a quality game.Is the sport of hockey changing drastically? No! Does that mean it's difficult to keep this game fresh and new? NO!! There are SOOO many things that can be added to make this game feel fresh. Several people have come to the forums and offered ideas to make every mode better.Overhauling gameplay year after year? Yeah, I'm sure if gameplay changed a lot every year that WOULD be frustrating.. when is the last time gameplay has been overhauled? No EA games (that I'm aware of) have been given a full overhaul since the switch between ps2 to ps3. EA would never do an overhaul "year after year" just one year give us a FULL overhaul of goaltending. I remember one year maybe 21 or 22 goaltenders were supposed to have better awareness when it came to rebounds and tracking loose pucks around the net. They are SO bad at these things. The only thing I noticed was rebounds coming off the goalie faster and they sometimes try to direct it into a corner. Those two changes should not be a year's worth of changes.. goaltending needs a LOT of attention, and user goalies need some sort of boost.

There is plenty of issues they have been aware of for years and refuse to fix or even acknowledge. They don't care and it is very obvious. Until there is another NHL game out there this is what will happen. People will still buy the game because even with it's insane amount of faults it is still the best NHL video game. Between lying in the trailers and literally removing options it is getting tiring.

Will not purchase next year... | EA Forums

52 Replies

TTZ_Dipsy
Hero+
3 years ago
2001, 2005, '14 oh di molto 🤌 (Even 20 was pretty good, all things considered).

I never minded the faster players (I actually prefer it), I just wish they upgraded thr AI to balance it out. Goalies are definitely in a bad spot; you practically don't even need to deke at all.

I'm also one of those players who has stuck with the exact same look over the years but new gear doesn't hurt anyone - if that is what they need to get more players, so be it, but I do wish the process would be more automated/easier/faster so tlmore time can be put into bug fixing (yes, yes, different teams, but you get what I mean).

I personally don't care about BaP but you're right, a little spit polish would help tremendously. They did try to improve it a while ago though - baby steps always get a thumbs up from me.

Lol yeah some of these HUT challenges are strange - gotta be AI generated some of em...

Door is always open if you change your mind though mate
rsandersr47
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
@frenchie5280 Yeah, HUT challenges are boring and career mode in 2K is at least 30 year ahead of anything EA is doing.. a new story every year, last gen and new gen even have different worlds (at least last year they did, only know ps5 this year) full voice acting, walk around the arena and the whole city. I have no idea how the 2k devs do it. The game is actually unreal. The fact I can just see other real life people playing on the blacktop while I walk into the store to buy clothes??? Meanwhile, in NHL we hope to get into a lobby together then hope we all make it into the game together. Character creation and the rpg elements in 2k are a ton of fun. I hate the NBA but the 2K game is so good and so far ahead.every year 2k updates how players create their players and the boosts and changes to balance and builds. Playing career games are a ton of fun and so much going on between games. NHL just feels like an unfun grind.. and a grind to get the same stuff unlocked that I've unlocked the last 5 years.. fun.. they also completely patch/ fix and may QOL changes every year. I dunno if their devs are just much better or their direction/ business strategy is better? It's just unreal to me how far ahead 2K is.. look at the trailer for an nhl game from 10 years ago and the latest one. Then look at a trailer for NBA 2k from 10 years ago and one from now.. the game is SO deep. There is SO much to do.. I get there is only 1 year between games but maybe EA needs to hire more devs and one team starts making updates that may not go into the game for 2-3 years so they don't feel rushed? Idk.. it's just sad how far behind this has gotten. Years ago this series was thought to be ahead of a lot of other sports titles.
frenchie5280
New Novice
3 years ago
The one thing that helps 2k is the esports league that generates millions in revenue which the NBA sponsors and players can be drafted and be paid to play wich often adds to the number of people who buy the guy and play regularly something NHL games desperately needs
KlariskraysNHL
Hero
3 years ago
@frenchie5280 Some of the NHL teams actually do some sponsored esport events. Most notably the Columbus Blue Jackets are probably the most into it. But for something like what 2K has the NHL would need to get on board with EA for something like that. The 6s community would instantly turn way more competitive.
KidShowtime1867
Hero
3 years ago
@KlariskraysNHL wrote:
@frenchie5280Some of the NHL teams actually do some sponsored esport events. Most notably the Columbus Blue Jackets are probably the most into it. But for something like what 2K has the NHL would need to get on board with EA for something like that. The 6s community would instantly turn way more competitive.
I find the current landscape very "clique-y".
An official path to gaining a spot on an esports team would be awesome. Right now, you have to buddy-up with whoever 'runs' these teams to try and crack a roster spot, which is typically impossible unless you're personally known.
It would be cool if people were put in place to manage a team much like in real life with coaches holding try-outs, maybe even a draft, etc.
SnizzBarDizz2oh
New Veteran
3 years ago
@frenchie5280 bye
Rename34345
Seasoned Scout
3 years ago
Smart move. Alienate the few remaining players you have left.
Rename34345
Seasoned Scout
3 years ago
I feel you. I purposely didn't buy last year or this year but my brother bought me a copy of 23 for $17. We've both uninstalled it already.
The worst part of the whole situation is the devs taking an absolute beating when management deserves the flack. They are the ones who decide priorities of changes (or lack thereof). I feel like they are getting off easy here without any responses or accountability. Until management changes, this series has zero chance of making this game fun again. For anyone that buys packs, thank you for ruining a great game.
KlariskraysNHL
Hero
3 years ago
@KidShowtime1867 I've seen several where any team could join their setup. But most teams were just fodder for the giants but you could find a few that surprised and made names for themselves. I was a part of 2 of them. We got creamed but it was an experience.

Obviously the NHL and EA would need to be all in for it to expand and become like the NBA 2K League.
NeonSkyline21
Seasoned Ace
3 years ago
2k is miles ahead of the NHL series but that's to be expected... Basketball is a WILDLY more popular sport than hockey and this means the number of fans of the sport is much higher which in turn means the number of gamers willing to buy the sport's game-version is much higher, right? In turn, this allows for 2k to allocate more resources( i.e. DEVS) to the yearly project which results in the product you're raving about.
NHL will quite literally NEVER be on par (or even close) with NBA 2k. It's just a fact of life. Reality, if you will.
Another thing that should be noted is that it isn't "easy" to add a fully voiced, fully acted, fully animated career mode to ANY game. It's basically the equivalent of building a game within your game. I'm not saying that means it shouldn't be done, so don't get me wrong... but saying things like "It would be so easy to just do X thing," shows in ignorance in regards to software development.
Again, just because something is hard/labor-intensive doesn't mean it shouldn't be done... it just means sacrifices would have to be made in other areas to re-allocate those resources. The bottom line is this: In order for EA NHL to become the game we all want it to be, the sport of hockey would have to SOAR in terms in popularity, become a world-wide phenomenon, and become something that most sports fans are interested in. That's never going to happen.

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Will not purchase next year...

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