NHL 24 is right around the corner. Despite not getting a reveal trailer or a cover athlete, we know that NHL 24 will most likely be released in October. That is if it continues to follow the same release pattern that we have seen over the past few years. With that being said, we should be getting a reveal trailer shortly that will not only show NHL 24’s improvements, but the new features that are going to be added into this year’s game.
1. GM Connected
GM Connected is a game mode that hasn’t be in NHL for over 10 years, but it is always something that is always requested by the fans. GM Connected allowed gamers to create an NHL league out of a group of friends.
The way it worked is that anyone who wanted to join can join. Each player would select a team and they would use that team to play through an 82-game regular season just like the real NHL. You are the General Manager of whichever team you choose. If you want to make trades with other teams, you can do it. You call all the shots. When the time comes to play a team that is controlled by another user, you would have to schedule a time to play and play against them.
We see similar online league available in other EA Sports video games such as Madden, but for some reason EA Sports has decided to cut back on GM Connected and get rid of it all together. I am still hopeful that one day we will get a game mode similar to this. It doesn’t have to be called GM Connected again, but adding a game mode with the same concept would be amazing.
2. Breakable Glass once again
Breakable Glass used to be in NHL video games, but it hasn’t in quite a while. In the NHL, glass breaks on occasion, but not too often. I think bringing this feature back would make the game feel even more realistic. EA Sports strives at trying to make their video games most realistic as possible and breakable glass would do that.
The glass breaking wouldn’t have to happen too often. If EA Sports made it where it would break in 1% of games played it, it would act as the rare event that happens that people are waiting to see. Obviously, there would have to be a different algorithm as to how the glass would break as it wouldn’t necessarily break in every 1 out of 100 games, but being so rare would make it really cool.
3. Checking over the benches
Hitting players over the benches into the benching area is another feature that used to be in NHL video games. This really was a feature that made the game feel more realistic because this happens quite a few times throughout the year in the NHL.
If a player has a lot of momentum and is able to check someone hard up against the boards near the bench, their momentum should be able to check players over the boards. It would make the benches feel like they are actual benches instead of just a giant wall.
This would also bring back a unique aspect into NHL 24 as you would have a few second Power Play while the player gathers himself to get back over the boards. It would add to the realistic factor that EA wants and it would add a new element into the game. Almost sort of like the few second advantage you get from demoing cars in Rocket League.
4. Goal Songs
There is nothing sweeter than when your home team scores a goal, and the goal song is blasting throughout the arena. Not only does it make the goal feel more electric, but it also gets the crowd buzzing. There are some pretty catchy goal songs throughout the NHL, and I think it would be cool if we could see those make their way into NHL 24.
I understand why this feature hasn’t completely come into NHL video games yet due to copyright reasons, but that is why this is a Wishlist of sorts. Adding all 32 teams goal songs would cost EA Sports a lot of money, which is why I don’t see them adding this feature in any time soon. There are some pretty big named songs and artists for certain teams. Never say never though. You never know what EA Sports has up their sleeve.
5. PC Port
This isn’t necessarily a feature, but a PC Port is something that is also always asked about each year when the new video game rolls around. The NHL video game franchise is the only main EA Sports franchise that isn’t offered on PC. You can play Madden and EA Sports FC, but you can’t play NHL. You can even play NBA 2K video games on PC. It is very strange that EA Sports hasn’t brought NHL to the PC, especially over the years.
PC gaming continues to grow each and every year and by adding NHL 24 to the PC, it would only grow the game of hockey even more. If NHL 24 were to make it to the PC, it wouldn’t be the first time the franchise has gone to PC. The last time an NHL video game was released on PC was NHL 09. This is proof that it is possible to bring the game if they wanted to.
We are coming up on the 15-year anniversary of NHL 09 and releasing NHL 24 on PC would be a great 15 surprise. If the technology and resources were good enough to bring it to PC 15 years ago, the technology and resources are even better now a days.
Obviously, these aren’t the only features we hope are added to NHL 24. The more features and improvements that are added, the better. In the near future we should be getting confirmation if any of these made it into NHL 24 this year. Are there any features that were not on this list that you hope we see? Let us know!