NHL 24 Releases 1.3.0 Update

EA Sports has released a new patch for NHL 24. The update adds a couple of features and addresses a number of gameplay and stability issues for a better hockey game experience, further refining the game that’s part of EA’s long-term deal with the NHL.

NHL 24 is the 33rd game in EA Sports’ NHL series, launching in October 6, 2023 for PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series X/S. Reviews for the game were all around negative, even though some outlets cited it as an improvement over the previous installment.

The biggest fix in the NHL 24 update, which went live on December 6, 2023, is a correction for Boarding Penalties. The in-game logic that checks for Boarding Penalties, which are when players violently push another to hit the boards at the sideline, has been tweaked to check in only the first few frames of the hit reaction, and not the whole reaction animation. Fans online have been calling for a fix to this issue for a while now, deeming it broken.

Meanwhile, NHL 24‘s World of Chel online multiplayer mode also got some fine-tuning. To begin Season 2 of the online mode, some character classes have been slightly reworked—mid- to large-size players specifically have been tweaked to allow smaller builds, while skater ratings for Special Character Classes have been slightly improved. A lot of minor issues in the mode have also been fixed, making for an improved PVP experience.

Other changes include aesthetic fixes. Players can now choose to perform a Flex Celebration after goals, while arena lighting has been adjusted to properly set the mood for these when the home team scores. Camera angles have also been made more accurate, reflecting camera work in real-life hockey broadcasts. A lot of historical uniforms from the NHL, ECHL, the Canadian Hockey League, DEL, SHL, and the National League have been added to give hardcore hockey fans more looks.

The usual stability fixes have been made as well. Various crash scenarios have been addressed, as well as many other minor issues that didn’t affect gameplay as severely. Unfortunately, these bugs are now common in pretty much all EA Sports games, and players have come to expect running into these problems at launch every year.

As the game has largely remained the same over the past few installments, a lot of reliable NHL game strategies still hold up. These reflect actual real-life hockey tactics, which prove how solid of a sports sim EA Sports has built, even if the franchise needs a shakeup.

NHL 24 Patch 1.3.0 Notes

Gameplay

• Community Feedback: Boarding penalties are being called too often on shoulder checks that are too far away from the boards, or feel properly lined up.
• Improved the logic for Boarding Penalties by tweaking when Boarding Penalty logic is checked to be only the first few frames of the hit reaction, not the entire reaction.

Other Gameplay Fixes

• Fixed an issue where Shoulder Checks and Push Checks on opponents without the puck may not be called interference if they were within close range of the puck carrier.
• Fixed a rare crash that could occur during EASHL 6v6 gameplay that could occur when shooting and getting hit.
• Fixed an issue which allowed users to warp the puck back to their stick after faking, then performing a lacrosse flip pass.
• Fixed an issue where a Timeout after a Penalty Shot whistle in EASHL 3v3 would not trigger correctly and provide the correct gameplay outcome.
• Fixed an issue which prevented a user to manually line change when playing Be a Pro on Hybrid Controls.
• Fixed an issue which allowed a user to avoid engaging in a fight by holding the Hip Check.

Flex Moments Update

• Celebration Selection
  • Users now have the choice to perform Flex Celebration. Y/Triangle performs customized (WOC/ Signature) or random Flex. All other buttons will perform celebrations from the Gameplay camera (NHL ’23)
  • Auto celebrations (no button Pressed) for human players will result in a flex celebrations

Flex Lighting

• Only goals scored by the home team will result in house lights coming down during Flex Moments.
• Lights down will only occur on goals that tie the game, or when the home team has the lead

Misc

• House lights do not come down as much during lights-down Flex moments
• Removed volumetric spotlight effect

Cameras

• Updated the True Broadcast (Legacy) cameras to better match real-life counterparts for all NHL teams

Franchise Mode

• Fixed issue where the Anaheim Ducks coach always appeared as a female in Franchise & Be A Pro
• Improved rookie signing logic will now include goalies
• Balanced trade values for prospects

Creation Zone

• Fixed an issue where the Home customization was displayed on the player while customizing the Away outfit and vice-versa in the World of Chel customization screen

World of Chel

• Fixed a crash that would occur when returning to the World of CHEL hub after creating a club
• Fixed a crash that rarely occurs when users were shooting in EASHL games.
• Fixed an issue where the wrong game mode was shown in the Dressing Room drawer for EASHL Club Finals
• Fixed an issue where users were able to View Battle Pass Rewards after being readied up in a dressing room.
• Fixed an Unexpected Error that would rarely occur when selecting play next game in Ones Eliminator.
• Fixed an issue where the Ice surface would be cleaned when seamless overtime begins in 3v3 Quickplay
• Fixed an issue where interference calls were not being made when the puck carrier is near the skater being interfered with.
• Fixed an issue where pausing the game and calling a timeout after a whistle for a penalty would result in the timeout not giving any stamina to the players

Hockey Ultimate Team

• UI Fixes on Game Setup screen
• Fixed an issue where some shots weren’t being registered in Objectives 2.0 and HUT Moments
• Fixed an issue where one handed deke goals in HUT Rush were not registering
• Fixed an issue where lacrosse deke shots were not registering

Uniforms

• The following uniforms have been added or updated in NHL 24
  • NHL
    • Anaheim Ducks Anniversary Third
  • ECHL
    • Atlanta Gladiators Third
    • Greenville Swamp Rabbits – Third
    • Idaho Steelheads – Third
    • Kalamazoo Wings – Third
    • Norfolk Admirals – Third
    • Rapid City Rush – Third
    • Wichita Thunder – Third
    • Worcester Railers – Third
  • Canadian Hockey League
    • Red Deer Rebels – Third
    • DEL
    • Adler Mannheim – Home, Away and Third
    • Augsburger Panther – Home, Away and Third
    • Dusseldorfer EG – Home, Away and Third
    • EHC Red Bull Munchen – Home and Away
    • Eisbaren Berlin – Home and Away
    • ERC Ingolstadt – Home and Away
    • Fischtown Pinguins – Home, Away and Third
    • Iserlohn Roosters – Home, Away and Third
    • Kolner Haie – Home and Away
    • Lowen Frankfurt – Home, Away and Third
    • Nurnberg Ice Tigers – Home, Away and Third
    • Schwenninger Wild Wings – Home, Away and Third
    • Straubing Tigers – Home, Away and Third
    • Wolfsburg Grizzlys – Home, Away and Third
  • SHL
    • Timra IK – Home and Away
    • Vaxjo Lakers – Home and Away
    • HockeyAllsvenskan
    • AIK – Home and Away
    • Almtuna IS – Home and Away
    • BIK Karlskoga – Home and Away
    • Brynas IF – Home and Away
    • IF Bjorkloven – Home and Away
    • Mora IK – Home and Away
    • Ostersunds IK – Home and Away
    • Sodertalje SK – Home and Away
    • Tingsryds AIF – Home and Away
    • Vasterviks IK – Home and Away
  • National League
    • EHC Biel-Bienne – Home and Away
    • EHC Kloten – Home and Away
    • EV Zug – Home and Away
    • Fribourg-Gotteron – Home and Away
    • Geneve-Servette HC – Home and Away
    • HC Ajoie – Home and Away
    • HC Ambri-Piotta – Home and Away
    • HC Davos – Home and Away
    • HC Lausanne – Home and Away
    • HC Lugano – Home and Away
    • Rapperswil-Jona Lakers – Home and Away
    • SC Bern – Home and Away
    • SCL Tigers – Home and Away
    • ZSC Lions – Home and Away

NHL 24

NHL 24 is the 2023 released ice hockey simulation developed by EA Sports. As a yearly upgrade, it brings new players into the rink alongside improved graphics and more realistic gameplay.