So I changed to one of DNS's you suggested above, but the issue then reoccurred tonight. I have uploaded a youtube video of it here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRlqmYmcIjk
It began as my opponent paused the game in the 3rd period during a whistle. Then it would lag/speed up at puck drop being unplayable for like 5 to 10 seconds or so. Like it won't even register inputs I am giving to my player. I have never seen anything like this, it is almost like the game is on fast foward trying to catch up with itself.
I did have a little bit of lag (nothing that was really bad) throughout the game before this. But again, I DON'T THINK IT IS A CONNECTION ISSUE as:
1) As shown in the 3 or 4 times I checked connection at puck drop I had a flat and stable green ping/connection.
2) This issue has occurred to me multiple other occasion where I had zero lag, except this weird puck drop issue.
Here is another example of it (starts at 2:27) I found on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1FU3ZFzLiA
So I only play online versus personally, but here is another youtube video I found of it occurring (starts at 11:26) during a CHEL game:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mfHl6NO04M
So I would appreciate if you can have your people please investigate this issue and fix it. It is really aggravating, and quite frankly unacceptable to be occurring as often as it does. Especially since it does not look like it is truly a connection issue.
Community ManagerWould it be possible to try playing World of Chel or HUT as a test? What you're describing isn't unusual for Online Versus due to using a peer to peer connection.
It happened again tonight. On a stable game that had a flat ping.
1) I do not want to play world of Chel or HUT. I want to play online versus. I don't have the time to devote to those modes. And I shouldn't be expected to.
2) I strongly disagree that it is typical from peer to peer connections. I literally sent you in my last post of an example of it in world of CHEL. I will repost it here in case you missed it. Regardless, it is a problem overall online and not just "peer to peer".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mfHl6NO04M
3) PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME HOW IT IS A CONNECTION PROBLEM, BECAUSE I AM NOT SEEING IT. It often occurs when I have a stable connection (according to your network performance graph) and when I experience no lag besides the weird extended face off lag/speed up. And it happens mighty consistent at every single face off - normally lag spikes occur randomly from my experience.
4) I am finding your responses completely unacceptable. I have spent a good deal of time looking into a serious issue with your game, uploading video of it, and patiently explaining why I am not sure your explanation make sense to me. I'd appreciate if you took my concerns seriously and investigated them, instead of just blowing my concerns off, telling me it is a connection problem, and asking me (after I showed video of it occurring in CHEL) to try HUT/CHEL. Even a response of "Thanks for the info, we'll look into it" would be better. I don't appreciate being treated like I am a fool. It is a problem with YOUR game, and you should try to mitigate it.
Community ManagerOnline Versus is a lot more susceptible to lag due to the peer to peer connection. As a test, can you try playing WoC or HUT? That would help narrow down what is causing this. Also, do you play on a wired or wireless connection?
I always use a wired connection.
I can't help but feel I am not being listened to. I feel like I am not being taken seriously.
1) I do not want to play either CHEL or HUT. I do not have time to devote to them, and I don't feel I should be expected to play them. I play online versus as they are quick and I can fit them into my busy life. I feel that online versus should work.
And I previously showed a clip from a CHEL game. It looks to be a bigger problem than just the peer to peer connections.
*Update* xXNSousAXx is having the exact same issue with CHEL. https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Lag-Between-Whistles-WOC-and-Versus/m-p/11339702#M2730
2) I literally just played a game where this happened again and I got no ping above green on the in game network connection thing. How can there be a connection issue where there is no connection issue according to the game? Link is directly below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCyejAdmh18
BTW, I would also like to add that this was one of the nastiest I've ever seen it. On a green ping.
So I'm not sold on the "connection issue" reason.
3) As I said previously, your responses are completely unacceptable to me. I've put in a lot of effort to bring up a problem to you guys and document it for you. I'm sick of feeling blown off.
An explanation of how this is a connection issue with a green ping would go a long way.
Telling me that my concern would be taken seriously and that it would be looked into it would go a long way. Even if it winds up taking a long time to determine the problem, even if you can't figure out the issue.
*Update* I've seen two other people on this forum having the same issue.
xXNSousAXx is having the exact same issue with CHEL. https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Lag-Between-Whistles-WOC-and-Versus/m-p/11339702#M2730
jbmrule https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Face-off-lag/m-p/11340573/highlight/false#M2736
So this is not just me.
I want to speak to your manager. Preferably by phone. I am very dissatisfied with the online games in NHL22.
Community ManagerManagers are not available by phone, but you're welcome to open a case with an advisor and request a call back for further assistance with this. That can be done here.
The request to try WoC or HUT is just to see if there's an improvement. If there is, the peer to peer connection in Online Versus is the issue. It is well known to cause what you're experiencing due to either you or your opponent being the host. Again, these games are not played on our servers.
I will very much open a case.
I am not interested trying WoC or HUT for a few reasons
1) I don't have time to devote to those modes
2) It happens like once every seven or so games. I am not playing that many games to check.
3) It happens with a perfect ping (green!) in online versus. And others are reporting the same thing.
4) You have two other people posting that they were having the same issue in WoC and HUT. And I provided video of it happening in WoC.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Face-off-lag/m-p/11339373#M2732
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/Lag-Between-Whistles-WOC-and-Versus/m-p/11339702#M2730
I still would like a technical explanation how there is a connection issue when there is a perfect ping according to NHL22's network connection thing.
You have a problem that multiple people are reporting to you now. EA needs to investigate it instead of blaming us.
I also want to point out that I ONLY buy the new NHL games every year to play online. If my legitimate (and shared) concerns regarding connectivity are not taken seriously, I am going to think long and hard before I buy them every year.
Community ManagerSince Online Versus games don't take place on our servers, we need to find out if you're experiencing this with dedicated server modes as well. We're also not receiving many reports on this so we can't confirm there's an issue on our end. We'll watch for other reports.
You said "We're also not receiving many reports on this so we can't confirm there's an issue on our end. We'll watch for other reports."
That is not a true statement. I have literally found two YouTube videos from other people with the same issue. Plus two others have posted it on your forums since I've posted about this.
And a good percentage of these people reported they had the issue in WoC and HUT. So stop telling me to try those modes, I don't have time for them, and this issue spans both dedicated server and peer to peer modes.
How many people do you think have the problem and don't bother to report it? How many just decide it isn't worth it and stop playing, & thus buying the new, game?
No, it is a serious and aggravating issue. It happens maybe every 10 games, but it is so aggravating. The last two times it happened it happened two games in a row.
I love the NHL games. I want to keep buying them.
But I only buy the new game every year to play it online. But if this issue can't be fixed, or frankly even be taken seriously, why should I continue to give EA my business every year?
Fix the game.
Community ManagerI understand there are a few other reports of this. When I say there aren't many, that's what I mean. Out of the total population of players, having only a few report this would mean it's not an issue that is widespread. Also, once again, Online Versus games do not take place on our servers. Either your console or your opponent's console is hosting the game. If this is happening in most every Online Versus game you play, chances are good the issue is with your connection.
You are still blaming my connection, even after I have had it happen multiple times with a perfect, solid green line, ping. I am still waiting for that technical explanation of how this is possible. Please have someone explain it to me?
I've also proved via video that this happens in both WoC and HUT. So it happens in the "dedicated server" modes too.
So just because it is affecting what you are calling a relatively "small" pool of players it doesn't matter? So my issue does matter is what you are saying? It is still aggravating as heck every time it happens, even if it doesn't happen all the time.
Again, your answers are unacceptable to me. Fix your game.
Community ManagerFor this issue on dedicated servers, we would go through some troubleshooting, but that's really not worth doing since you don't play those modes. The quality of the Online Versus connection depends on how good your connection is as well as your opponent's and the distance between you both since our servers aren't involved. Video of someone else having this problem with modes you don't play really doesn't apply to what you're experiencing.
You have yet the respond, or even acknowledge, that this OCCURS when the network connection thing IN YOUR GAME says I have a perfect connection to my peer. AKA flat green line.
Please give, or have someone else give, a technical explanation how this is a connection error. Because I am having a super hard time believing it.
Community ManagerI really don't know how I can explain this better so we'll have to agree to disagree. Online Versus games don't take place on our servers so it's not an issue on our end. While your connection may be perfect to your opponent, if they are playing on a weaker connection, you'll feel that as well since one of you are hosting the game.
At this point, we're going in circles. You're welcome to contact an advisor for further assistance by opening a case here.
This answer makes no sense to me. Am I missing something?
In a peer to peer connection the network status graph is measure of my connection to my opponent... isn't their connection identical to mine? So if it would say "good" for my connection, on their end wouldn't it also say "good"? Wouldn't it be the same case if my connection was "poor" on my end?
If this is not the case, what factors can cause our peer to peer network connections to have a mismatch (I.e. I have a "good" connection but my opponent has a "poor" connection)?
Community ManagerThat meter shows your connection to your opponent. It doesn't show the quality of your opponent's connection. Any number of factors can cause for a bad connection. Being on wireless, having a lot of traffic on their network, bad routing from the ISP, settings on their equipment or issues with their equipment in general, etc.
Part of my frustration is that I asked for a technical explanation and I felt the response was either inadequate or just ignored it. If you would have explained this from the beginning we would have avoided going in circles, and I wouldn't have been getting royally pissed at you and EA.
So I have gotten in the practice of watching the network connection indicator/graph as a game is loading and would disconnect before puck drop if I saw a connection in the "yellow" or the "red." But your explanation now states that isn't a good way to determine if there will or not be issues.
Can you guys consider a few things to avoid these issues for us in the future?
I do understand that there are connection issues you can't control, and that these cannot be avoided all the time. Regardless I've done everything I can on my end to mitigate them, and they are occurring at an unacceptable rate.
You gotta meet myself, and all the others of us having these issues halfway. It might not be "your" issue on "your" end, but it still affects the quality of your game. If you can't, or don't care to, find a fix/mitigation, I will think hard and long before shoveling out $60 to pre-order NHL23, as I only buy yearly to play online.
Community ManagerApologies, but it looks like I was wrong about that. The connection indicator also takes your opponent's connection into mind. Are you checking it during the intermissions and it's still staying green?
Hopefully, Online Versus will move to dedicated servers at some point. I don't have any news on that though.
Apology accepted.
This issue has happened in games where the peer to peer connection (according to the network connection graph/indicator) is a stable green line at intermission. It has happened when there is a flat green line (checked by going to pause menu) when the weird "lag" is happening during the faceoffs. It has happened in games where the network connection indicator/graph was a solid green line EVERY time I checked it and I saw/felt no other lag in the game.
I know others have reported the same thing, some of them in the EA Answers forums.
From your latest clarification (correcting your previous mistaken clarification) and my observations while playing, this issue occurs even when the in-game network connection indicator/graph is a solid green good connection. So there shouldn't be any lag in those cases. I again respectfully ask that you investigate this issue and determine the cause.
I am going to sound like a broken record, but I must reiterate. I only buy these games every year to play online. If this is not resolved there is a good chance I will skip NHL23. And some others after it probably too. I can't image that I am the only one either.
Community ManagerI'm really sorry for the confusion, but our servers aren't involved since you're not actually playing on them. If you do happen to try playing a dedicated server mode, let me know. That would be incredibly helpful as it would mean it's not just a peer to peer issue. Unfortunately, without that, any troubleshooting we do could be moot, but we can continue with it still. Did you check the settings I mentioned in this post along with changing your DNS settings?
Are you even reading our posts?
I never said that the online versus was using your dedicated server mode, I am fully aware that it has a peer to peer connection. I am arguing that I have a solid green peer to peer connection and the weird face off "lag" occurs, which shouldn't happen with a good connection. There is probably a bug in your software (or something) that is causing the issue and I am asking you to look into it.
Just two days ago someone else posted about it happening in (HUT?) rivals.
https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues/NHL-22-face-off-glitch/m-p/11389148#M2938
I've done all your trouble shooting stuff you asked me to, and this still occurs even with a solid green peer to peer connection.
Your right that we are going in circles, because you and your team don't want to investigate the issue and just want to blame our connection. It is frankly poor customer service.
Am I a second class customer as I am on the PS4?
Do you not care about an issue in NHL22 as NHL23 is in development and will come out this fall?
I'm thirty-six, have a full time job, have kids, and other commitments. I really don't have time for this nonsense. I just want to fire up my game, play a couple online versus, then move on with my busy life.
If you want my continued business every year, investigate the issue and fix the game. If not, then your loss.
Community ManagerThe other report you linked is a different issue and not related to the one you're experiencing. It sounds like you don't have time to continue troubleshooting this. If we start seeing other reports or find any issues, I'll report back here. Let me know if you change your mind about troubleshooting or if you try a dedicated server mode to see how it compares to Online Versus.
I've tried everything you've suggested, but if you have any other troubleshooting ideas (besides playing WoC or HUT) feel free to lay them all out here.
Regardless, I am thoroughly convinced it is not a connection issue and is a glitch in your software, as I often have a perfect connection when it happens. As do others who reported it.
Feel free also to provide a technical explanation how this can be a connection issue when the connection indicator/graph shows a perfect connection - I am still waiting for that...
I am thoroughly disgusted by your customer service.
So funny story @EA_Aljo, I went to the link you sent me and clicked report a bug, and it sent me right back to the EA Answers forums.
I have a few new things to report.
It recently happened for the first time in an online versus private match with me and a buddy of mine. It happened to me in the second period but not him. Then we cancelled out of the game and restarted the game, then happened to me immediately but not to him. I rebooted my PlayStation and then we played a couple games without it occurring to me.
So I draw a couple conclusions that make me further question this being a connection issue. First, it happens only to me instead of being "felt by both" during a peer to peer connection online versus game. Second, there seems to be a carry over that is independent of connection, and a software reboot might fix it.... the problem is if you start an online versus game with a rando you have to either suffer through it, or take a competitive rating hit.
And I came upon this gem in your forums, this dude @Natronbomb223 is claiming it happens in single player too.
So to recap
Community ManagerThanks for the update. Unfortunately, without seeing if this occurs in a dedicated server mode, there's nothing else I can suggest.
Except I have shown you it happening in dedicated server modes like WoC and HUT. And even one person claimed it happened in single player. I can tell you that watching the videos of people who posted them of it happening in those dedicated server modes, I can 100% confirm it is the exact same issue. Stop treating me like I'm an idiot.
I have a suggestion. Investigate the issue myself and others are having, and stop deflecting and blaming us. Even if you couldn't figure it out until the new game, at least EA trying would mean something. These unacceptable answers are really your (& EA's) loss.
Community Manager
