With FIFA 22 receiving cross-platform play, could it be possible that the NHL series could be receiving it in the new game? Also, will there be a PC version released that could possibly be included in the cross play?

@de4c0nfr05t The current system has a lobby anyone can jump into. If you find people you'd like to keep playing with, you can obviously join up. Keeping track of good players may give you enough to run private matches. I just remember those lobbies being largely full of the same kind of people we see in drop-ins today. I get what you're saying about positions, but you can also change your position in the lobby currently. I really didn't like the race to position that occurred with the old lobby system. It could sometimes take a while to get the position you want. Most people aren't comfortable playing any so you had multiple people competing for the same spot. Which, sometimes would lead to someone taking a D position and then playing as the 4th forward. Those were really frustrating games. Both systems have their pros and cons. I'm not saying what we have now is the best it can ever be. I'm just not confident that the old lobby system is going to resolve issues with finding better teammates for drop-ins.

@EA_AljoI get what you're saying about positions, but you can also change your position in the lobby currently.Once matchmaker throws you in a room you can't change positions. You choose a position before you start matchmaking and that's what you have to keep.I'm just not confident that the old lobby system is going to resolve issues with finding better teammates for drop-ins.I don't think it's going to find you better teammates, but it is going to find you teammates faster, especially when the population is low.Before they shutdown the NHL15 PS3 servers I was able to get full 6v6 games with less than 100 players online.Oh and on a side note, I also think matchmaker should only match goalies in pairs. So many times it will throw in 1 goalie and that will kill the room.

@de4c0nfr05t Thanks for all the feedback. I'd be surprised if this were added, but I guess you never know. I'll pass it on to the team.

Hi there, @DontClipThat At this time, we don't have any news about cross-platform play and a PC version. If we do, there should be an announcement on our official channels as well as these forums. Thanks!

@EA_Aljo In your personal opinion, what do you think EA NHL should do to help the small-ish population get into games quicker and more often?

NHL 23 Cross-Platform Play and PC version

16 Replies

EA_Aljo
Community Manager
3 years ago
@de4c0nfr05t

Sorry about that. You're right about changing positions.

While you might get teammates faster, are you including having to back out numerous times when someone trolls? It might not be like that with less than 100 people playing since most everyone would be pretty hardcore and just looking to play a good game, but it often took me 10 - 15 minutes to get a game started due to people backing out.

That's a good idea about goalies. A lot of people don't want to play against an AI goalie when your team has a human one.
de4c0nfr05t
New Veteran
3 years ago
@EA_Aljo

The last few years there was no backing out because exactly that, hardcore players just looking to game.

When NHL15 on PS3 was the latest game in the series, yeah there was some backing out at times for sure. Sometimes it was because of a troll, and sometimes because players didn't get the position they wanted. This year I find a lot of players, myself included, backing out quite a bit because they don't want to be launched into a 3v2 or 4v3 game, or only 1 goalie joins with 30 seconds left. (this is on PS5 where the population is always low, even evenings/weekends). Full 6v6 games are few and far between, usually happy to settle for a 4v4 with 2 CPU per side (which never finishes 4v4, but that's a separate issue lol).

Both systems have their strengths and weaknesses, and I think we should have them both so players can choose.

But ya there's positives and negatives with both,
de4c0nfr05t
New Veteran
3 years ago
@EA_Aljo

While we're on the matchmaking subject, what are your thoughts on joining games already in progress? Can/should it be done with NHL, what would be the best way to implement?

For drop-in games I would suggest allowing you to invite a friend to a game you're currently playing in to replace a CPU player on your side.

For club I would limit it to be able to re-join a game if you get dropped for some reason, no invite required.

I know games like R6S allow you to join ongoing games via matchmaker as long as the game is less than half over(usually only happens when solo-queuing), I'm not sure how that would play out in NHL games though.
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
3 years ago
@de4c0nfr05t

Personally, I wouldn't like random joining/unjoining of games. I think that would lead to even more trolling. Unless there were some firm rules in place to not let repeatedly leave/join games. I wouldn't mind having a way for someone that gets disconnected, be able to rejoin the same game in progress though. However, I wouldn't want to see this used in leu of a pause or if they just needed to step away for a few minutes. I think the biggest hurdle is making sure this doesn't cause a desync.
de4c0nfr05t
New Veteran
3 years ago
@EA_Aljo

I think it could be done right. I would have an option to opt out if you don't want to join ongoing games(on by default).

I would limit it to the 1st period, after 1st intermission no one new can join via matchmaker(invite only).

I would allow you to invite a friend to replace a CPU player at any point in the game(drop-in only).

Re-joining dropped games would not require an invite, it should just prompt you if you want to re-join game upon re-entering WOC(drop-in and club).

Yes I agree there should be rules in place to prevent repeatedly leaving/joining the same game.

I don't have high hopes for this haha just spit-balling ideas, but I do think they could make it work!
EA_Aljo
Community Manager
3 years ago
@de4c0nfr05t

Thanks for all the feedback. I'd be surprised if this were added, but I guess you never know. I'll pass it on to the team.

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NHL 23 Cross-Platform Play and PC version

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