Sony’s MLB The Show 21 has already been confirmed for Xbox Game Pass on day one but Microsoft has some other heavy hitters coming this month. On April 8th, Grand Theft Auto 5 and Zombie Army 4: Dead War will be available on the surface, both for consoles and cloud while the latter also arrives on PC. Considering that Zombie Army 4 is included in PlayStation Plus for April, it’s good to see Xbox players also getting it for free.

Also coming on April 8th is Disneyland Adventures and Rush: A Disney/Pixar Adventure, both playable through the cloud. The former is about exploring Disneyland and its various attractions while the latter sees players exploring worlds from films like Finding Dory, Toy Story, Up and so on. NHL 21 arrives on April 12th for console via EA Play while Rain on Your Parade, an intriguing game about a cardboard cloud that ruins everything, is out on April 15th for consoles, PC and cloud.

Chucklefish’s tactical strategy title Pathway arrives on April 15th for PC while MLB The Show 21 releases on April 20th for console and cloud. This is most likely just the first wave of titles announced for Xbox Game Pass so stay tuned for more details later this month. Of course, a number of titles will also be leaving this month. Check out the full list below:

April 15

• Deliver Us the Moon (Console and PC)
• Gato Roboto (Console and PC)
• Wargroove (Console and PC)

April 16 (EA Play)

• Madden 15 (Console)
• Madden 16 (Console)
• Madden 17 (Console)
• Madden 18 (Console)
• Madden 25 (Console)
• NHL 18 (Console)
• NHL 19 (Console)

Microsoft has announced its first wave of titles coming to Xbox Game Pass subscribers in March. Available now is Madden NFL 21, which is technically a part of EA Play (and limited to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate members). On March 4th, Football Manager 2021 comes to PC and consoles, providing avenues for players to create their own professional teams.

NBA 2K21 arrives on the same day for consoles and the cloud. Later this month, Star Wars: Squadrons will become available for consoles via EA Play. Considering the critical acclaim that it’s received, it may be worth checking out for those on the fence till now. NHL 21, meanwhile, is set to join the service in April.

More Xbox Game Pass titles will be revealed later this month so stay tuned. Titles that will be leaving on March 15th include Alvastia Chronicles and Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night for console and PC. On the console side, The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Kona will also become unavailable. PC-only players will lose access to Astrologaster.

Like many major companies nowadays, EA has their subscription service which was recently rebranded EA Play. If you’re into their games, it’s quite the deal as recent titles come up on it pretty frequently, and now have three of those coming very soon.

As announced by EA, Star Wars: Squadrons will be coming to the service in March. It was the latest title released for the license from EA and put you in the driver’s seat of many iconic ships in the universe. It was largely well-received. Along with it in March will be Madden NFL 21 and in April another newer sports title will come will come with NHL 21.

The games will start being available for EA Play and EA Play Pro throughout all compatible platforms to subscribers starting March 2nd. Those with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also have full access to EA Play on consoles, though it is not on PC Game Pass, which is still said to be coming later this year.

The NPD Group’s sales data for October 2020 is out and consumer spending for video games – which includes hardware, software and accessories – hit $3.8 billion. Year-to-date spending also hit $37.5 billion, which is 20 percent higher than the previous year, and that’s expected to increase with the release of Xbox Series X/S and PS5. In the meantime, the previous gen had some strong sellers with FIFA 21 being the best-selling title for the month.

Along with topping both Xbox and PlayStation charts, this is the first time that a FIFA title actually topped the overall sales charts in the US. Madden NFL 21 was in second, which should come as no surprise given the series’ success in the market. Then there’s Watch Dogs: Legion whose sales were tracked for only three days in the month and still managed to rank as the third best-selling title.

NHL 21 also had a pretty good month, ranking fourth the overall software sales charts. Its launch month dollar sales were also the highest for any title in the franchise NHL 16 released in September 2015. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit also did pretty good, despite not being a traditional Mario Kart title. It topped sales charts for Nintendo platforms and ranked fifth in sales overall.

Check out The NPD Group’s top ten best-selling titles in the US, ranked on dollar sales, below:

1. FIFA 21
2. Madden NFL 21
3. Watch Dogs: Legion
4. NHL 21
5. Mario Kart Live: Home Circuit
6. Super Mario 3D All-Stars*
7. Animal Crossing: New Horizons*
8. Star Wars: Squadrons
9. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
10. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

*Digital sales not included

With the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S launching days from now, publishers and developers have been talking about how their current-gen games are going to leverage next-gen hardware. EA recently posted an update to the same effect as well, talking about the enhancements we can expect from several of their titles on the upcoming consoles.

The most notable improvements being made are to Star Wars: Squadrons, which will have performance and visuals priority modes on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. Performance mode will entail 1440p/120 FPS gameplay on Xbox Series S and 4K/120 FPS on Xbox Series X. Meanwhile, visuals mode will offer 1440p/60 FPS and 4K/120 FPS gameplay respectively, but the game will also be making use of a new lighting model for improved visual quality. Surprisingly, no such enhancements are going to be featured in the game’s PS5 version, which will be identical to the PS4 Pro version.

Apex Legends, however, will have parity across all three consoles, running at 1440p, though EA says more enhancements will be coming in a dedicated next-gen update next year. Then there’s The Sims 4, which will have smoother frame rates and faster load times across the PS5, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S.

Finally, EA also details enhancements for FIFA 21, Madden NFL 21, NHL 21, UFC 4, and Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit Remastered– in that there aren’t any. All of these will run on the Xbox Series X as if on an Xbox One X, on the Xbox Series S as if on an Xbox One S, and on the PS5 as if on a PS4 Pro.

NHL 21 offers lots of fun, interesting moves to perform. Dekes are part of that line-up and there are all new kinds to execute. Let’s look at The Kucherov first which is based Nikita Kucherov of Tampa Bay Lightning. This is a unique fake that’s also not too hard to execute. Simply press L1/LB and flick the left stick to the left or the right stick to the right.

Then there are Slips, Chips and Banks which can help create space, among other things. To execute a Slip, use the left stick to skate on the boards and press L1/LB. For a Chip, hold L1/LB while skating and then press R1/RB. Use this when trying to get pass a defender on the open ice.

Banks let you pass the puck back to yourself with the boards. Regular Banks can be executed by close to the boards, holding L1/LB and pressing R2/RT. For Net Banks, make sure you’re behind the goal. Hold L1/LB and press L2/LT.

How to Start (and Win) Fights

It wouldn’t be hockey without a fight breaking out. Starting a fight simply requires you to press Triangle/Y. These same prompts can be used to accept a fight. Of course, it’s also possible to start a fight by body checking an opponent or shoot at the goalie after making a play.

Before getting into a fight, keep in mind the player that’s being sent out to scrap. Avoid using your best players since they’ll be in time-out for five minutes. Also, don’t just lay in the punches since that will rapidly deplete stamina. Instead, dodge and block your opponent’s offense, look for an opening when they’re winded and work ’em over. If you successfully win a fight, then you’ll receive an energy refill for the team.

Here are the controls for fighting:

• Grab – L2/LT (hold)
• Fake Grab – L2/LT
• Block/Lean – R2/RT (hold)
• Dodge – R2/RT
• Push – Press up on the left stick
• Pull – Press down on the left stick
• Overhand Punch – Press up on the right stick
• Uppercut – Press down on the right stick

How to Earn Coins for HUT

If you’ve played Ultimate Team in FIFA or Madden, then playing HUT in NHL 21 is pretty similar. You earn Coins which can be spent on items like consumables, player items, packs and so on. Points are purchased with real money and also used for buying packs. You’ll essentially need a steady income of Coins to progress through HUT but fortunately, the tips for earning them are the same.

First up is to work your way through the different challenges, since they can be completed realtively easily and provide a good amount of packs. It’s also possible to earn consumables and Coins through this method. Partake in Square Battles as well – these are offline matches against other HUT teams and also provide packs and Coins upon winning.

Next up is are the online HUT matches. The amount of Coins earned depends on your performance in the match along with the outcome (losing nets less Coins). Along with currency, completing matches will also go towards earning cards and packs. Keep an eye out on Milestones and HUT objectives along with daily objectives and any special event tasks for even more ways to earn Coins. Finally, don’t be afraid to look at the Auction House.

As usual, you’ll want to look for good cards, buy them and flip them for a chance at turning a profit. Selling cards in bulk is also possible though not as lucrative. Hang on to any decent cards and look for chances to sell them down the line.

In fact, what makes things even easier for players who already know what they like best, there’s a top-level “pinned modes” menu that you can customize how you want so you can get straight to where you want to be and ignore everything you don’t generally want. Players of NHL 20 will instantly recognize the DNA of that game at nearly every turn with 21’s presentation and arrangement of its ideas, and that’s not a bad thing. With so many options, it would have been extremely easy for EA sports to mess this part up, but thankfully what wasn’t broken is largely being left alone here. Using the menus are a different story however, but we’ll get to that in a minute.

Sadly, the philosophy of leaving things alone is also in place for things that did need improvement. Most noticeably in the area of roster sharing, which is still frustratingly nonexistent. This is an issue that the NHL community has been vocal about for some time, as the franchise would obviously benefit from the ability to share custom, user-created draft classes and players like Madden does. Unfortunately, at least this time around, those requests from gamers seem to be continuing to fall on deaf ears at EA sports. You’d think with the amount of content that is crammed into this game, and with how faithfully the rosters themselves were updated, we’d be able to share our own around, but here we are.

"You’d think with the amount of content that is crammed into this game, and with how faithfully the rosters themselves were updated, we’d be able to share our own around, but here we are."

What has been added however is a new HUT and HUT Rush modes that are supposed to have lots of play modes within it, including 3v3, time and goal limits, and more. It seems that this is where EA is trying to put a lot of attention, but unfortunately for all of us, I could not for the life of me get these modes to work. All of them just hang on their opening screen. I checked to make sure the game was updated, my PS4 was updated, and even jumped into an online game of Need For Speed Heat just to make sure EA’s servers weren’t having some larger problem, but nope, it’s definitely this game. Which is a shame, as I could easily see these modes being preferable ways to play the game, so here’s hoping they get fixed soon. That aside, after only a few attempts I was able to get “World of Chel” Eliminator modes to work, and while they’re simple and tend to be complete barnburners, I can still see this as a fun series of diversions for folks who are fans of the modern NHL style of gameplay but might only have time for bite-sized portions of it.

Offline, NHL 21 fares much better. Newbies have a thorough training camp, hockey fanatics have the simulated Stanley Cup, returning fans looking to brush up have free skate, and of course, the main selection of modes in the core NHL experience cover just about every possible way you would ever want to play the game. The “Be A Pro” mode in particular is probably the brightest spot. It opens the game up into a real single player career-focused game that resembles what we’ve seen come out of Madden and NBA 2K recently. NHL 21’s updated Franchise Mode is also pretty neat as it more-or-less functions like a hockey team manager RPG where you scope out new talent, trade players, and manage your roster in a number of ways that you could easily sink just as much time into as you would in a Final Fantasy game.

Among the many updates to last year’s franchise mode is a generated prospect quality selector, additional positions for certain players, and better draft pick logic that makes CPU teams wait until they’re more experienced before actually getting their picks on the trade block. Also, and most importantly, no matter what mode you’re in offline, the hockey gameplay is fun. Scoring goals requires cunning to get around the goalies. Passing the puck around strategically and quickly can compartmentalize the defense nicely and clear yourself a path for a rush, although that may be a negative for those looking for a more realistic experience. It’s not quite NHL Hitz, but it is more arcadey than what some might want out of it. Turning up the general difficulty will help with that, though.

"Offline, NHL 21 fares much better."

As far as technical performance of the game itself goes, on the whole, I wasn’t thrilled with it overall. The core gameplay of moment-to-moment action generally works well, and perhaps even better than NHL 20 in some ways with great goaltender AI and a tough-but-fair level of difficulty throughout, but moving around in the menus themselves, especially online, can be a chore with laggy transitions, certain panes hanging on top of other ones long after they should be gone, button presses taking so long to register than you end up doing it again because you think it didn’t register at all, and then the game takes you somewhere else entirely and you have to back up to reorient yourself. At one point I even had the screen go dark and stop registering my inputs entirely in the middle of an online match for no reason, which of course ruined it for all involved.

That, on top of most of the online modes just not working at all, adds up to a fairly annoying experience a lot of the time when you’re outside one of the modes trying to get the game to be a game. This is of course made even more of a head-scratcher given how much of modern sports games like this are built upon previous ones. You’d think that would lead to a smoother gameplay experience, if anything. It’s a good thing that the core gameplay of NHL 21, and the wealth of ways to do it, as good as it is. Without that, there wouldn’t be a whole lot here to save it.

As mentioned, during offline gameplay inside any of its many modes, there’s a lot to enjoy. The announcers are fun and convincing. I didn’t start recognizing phrases until well after I completed several games. The broadcasters even interrupted themselves to announce a score or impressive save quite often. All-in-all, it really seems like they went out of their way to polish up the commentary here, and that goes a long way to making it feel like I’m just watching a great hockey game.

"It’s a good thing that the core gameplay of NHL 21, and the wealth of ways to do it, as good as it is. Without that, there wouldn’t be a whole lot here to save it."

Similarly, motion capture for the players is also really good and convincing and it’s nice to see the wide variety of high-quality animations for different moments of celebration, frustration, and everything in between. That said, the illusion does fall apart a little bit sometimes when you’ll notice two or three people doing the exact same animation in perfect sync with each other, and when the camera comes in close to the facial scans of the players, which are serviceable but clearly have not seen much of an upgrade in terms of detail.

NHL 21 certainly doesn’t reinvent the genre in any major way, but that’s largely because it doesn’t have to. The NHL games are largely okay at their core and when they’re working as intended. NHL 21’s biggest problem is not what it’s missing, it’s how ineptly it brings it’s pieces together despite having a reliable blueprint and plenty of fan feedback to go by. I would have gladly accepted an NHL game with half of the content of this one, if everything just worked better. But as it stands, NHL 21 is a feature heavy game that is surprisingly light on polish and bit too tone-deaf when it comes to what its fans actually want from it. I appreciate the shots that NHL takes at improving the formula, but at the end of the day, most of those shots are too little too late, and end up making the overall experience just barely better than mediocre.

This game was reviewed on the PlayStation 4.

Super Mario Bros. 35

This isn’t Super Mario Battle Royale or Nintendo’s answer to Fall Guys but it might just be the closest thing to competitive free for all Mario. For Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, that is. Super Mario Bros. 35 sees players platforming through your typical Super Mario Bros. stage, defeating enemies, gathering coins and whatnot.

The twist is that there 34 other players, visible on-screen, that are competing against you. Players can send obstacles into others’ games, specifically targeting those with the most coins, the least time or completely at random. Coins can be used to purchase items and increase one’s survival rate. The last player standing is the winner.

It’s out on October 1^st 2020 for Switch and looks cool. However, Super Mario Bros. 35 is only available to play until March 31^st 2021. So if it ends up being amazing, savor each and every moment until it’s inevitably gone.

Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time

We’re finally at the stage where googling “Crash Bandicoot 4” doesn’t automatically bring up Crash Bandicoot: The Wrath of Cortex. If that’s not progress, we don’t know what is. As a direct sequel to the original trilogy, Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is developed by Toys for Bob, the same team behind the excellent Spyro Reignited Trilogy.

Essentially, the space-time fabric has been torn asunder and it’s up to Crash and Coco to find the Quantum Masks to set everything right. Along with playing through each level as either Bandicoot in the main story, players can also experience “alternate timeline” versions. These have Doctor Neo Cortex, Dingodile and an alternate version of Tawna being playable along with own unique enemy placements and traps in levels.

On top of this, there are Flashback levels that provide tougher challenges, N. Verted versions of the same with varying conditions, local competitive and co-op modes, and the option to play in Retro or Modern Mode, the latter providing infinite lives. Crash Bandicoot 4: It’s About Time is out on October 2^nd for PS4 and Xbox One.

Star Wars: Squadrons

Ever since the days of Star Wars: X-Wing and TIE Fighter, we’ve yet to really see a space combat game capture that magic (at least in the same setting). With how well-received Starfighter Assault was in Star Wars Battlefront 2, a standalone title like Star Wars: Squadrons makes sense. Still, for $40, it’s surprising to see a proper campaign – which takes place after Return of the Jedi and alternates between pilots in the New Republic and Empire – and no microtransactions.

Each side has four ship types to choose from with different components and weapons to customize them with. Multiplayer consists of 5v5 Dogfights and Fleet Battles to eliminate the opposing flagship. Operations, daily challenges and so on will keep things fresh post-launch.

Last year, EA somewhat redeemed its shoddy handling of the license with Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order. We’ll see if it can continue that with Star Wars: Squadrons out on October 2^nd for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

RIDE 4

Though it doesn’t have the biggest budget of most racing sim franchises, the RIDE series is one of the few that’s focused primarily on bikes. RIDE 4 aims to go even further with “hundreds” of different bikes to choose from, dozens of tracks, dynamic weather and full day/night cycles, and even a neural AI system that offers more realistic competition (at least in theory). The single-player experience offers a number of events to participate in, and there’s a new Endurance mode to truly test one’s mettle for longer races. RIDE 4 is out on October 8^th for Xbox One, PS4 and PC.

FIFA 21

A new FIFA game is coming up – please be excited. For a yearly sports franchise, that too one notorious for its RNG card packs, EA Sports is going out of its way to implement long-requested features in FIFA 21. Match simulation in Career Mode will allow for jumping in and out of matches more intuitively; loan to buy deals are now possible when making transfers; players can now be trained for other positions; and annoying FUT items like fitness and training consumables are gone.

Ultimate Team also supports co-op now, which carries its own modes and rewards; FUT Stadiums have way more customization; and there are also FUT Events for players to compete and collaborate in together. Even if the overall gameplay changes end up falling short, at least the major changes sound worthwhile. FIFA 21 releases on October 9^th for PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4 and Xbox One.

NHL 21

EA Sports has another title out in October with NHL 21. However, it seems to offer a lot of what fans expect, from Hockey Ultimate Team mode to familiar multiplayer modes like Threes Eliminator, Clubs and so on. World of Chel offers the ability to progress through seasonal ranks for each mode with Club Finals Championships available near the end.

There’s also “Be a Pro”, a more cinematic take on Career Mode where your custom-created player competes professionally en route to the NHL. Dialogue options abound, though given how the story-telling has been in recent EA Sports titles like Madden NFL 21, it’s best to be skeptical. NHL 21 is out on October 16^th and unlike its contemporaries, it’s only planned for Xbox One and PS4.

Pikmin 3 Deluxe

Continuing the trend of bringing every major Wii U title over to the Switch, Nintendo is releasing Pikmin 3 Deluxe for the console on October 30^th with improved visuals and new content. The original is a real-time strategy title with three new Captains to control and up to 100 Pikmin to command, offering co-op and competitive multiplayer modes in addition to the story. Pikmin 3 Deluxe features all of that along with options for lock-on targeting and hints, and increasing the difficulty for some added challenge.

All of the DLC stages from the original are here while new side-story missions focused on Olimar and Louie have been added. Pikmin 3 was pretty well-regarded back in the day so whether you’re a new or experienced player, the Deluxe version might make it worth hopping back into.

Amnesia: Rebirth

Frictional’s critically acclaimed psychological horror series finally returns with Amnesia: Rebirth. Touted as a brand new game, it focuses on Tasi Trianon who’s trapped in the desert with a horrifying creature (or two) stalking her. There’s a fair bit of exploration and puzzle-solving along with managing one’s physical and mental well-being.

But Tasi will also have to contend with her “own hopes, fears, and bitter regrets” in order to survive. If previous games were any indication, then Amnesia: Rebirth should offer another terrifyingly compelling journey. It’s out on October 20^th for PS4 and PC.

Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition

Fresh off its stellar run with Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, Tantalus Media and Forgotten Empires have turned their attention to remastering and enhancing Age of Empires 3. Along with a remastered soundtrack, the visuals have been upgraded to 4K Ultra HD. Judging by the previous game, you can also expect lots of nuanced improvements in terms of character models, textures, animations and environments (while still maintaining the overall look and feel of the original).

Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition will also feature all of the previously released expansions, two new modes with Historical Battles and The Art of War Challenge Missions, and the Swedes and Inca as new civilizations. This is in addition to improved online multiplayer and mod support. It releases on October 15^th for PC.

Ghostrunner

Combining first person platforming with combat and a one-hit mechanic that applies to both enemies and the player, Ghostrunner is a sleek looking title with some unique hooks. Set in the future, your goal is to reach the top of a tower and defeat the Keymaster. A variety of foes will attempt to stop you but there are also plenty of environmental hurdles to overcome.

To that end, players will run, jump, grapple, wall-run, dash and slash through foes to progress, and perhaps replay levels for better times. Ghostrunner arrives on October 27^th for Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch and PC.

World of Warcraft: Shadowlands

The Covenant system and Blizzard’s unwillingness to change it based on alpha feedback is concerning but Shadowlands is still a big deal for many WoW players. It’s the first time they’ll be heading to Azeroth’s realm of the dead; introduces the game’s first level squish, making 60 the default level cap; and provides new ways to customize the core races. One can also look forward to exploring five huge zones, eight new dungeons, a new raid and Torghast, the Tower of the Damned, which provides a roguelike dungeon-crawling experience. And of course, there are four Covenants to join, each with its own campaign, gear and abilities that will add more depth to one’s character.

Again, it’s all very interesting but it remains to be seen if the system provides meaningful choices or hamstrings players who choose the “wrong” Covenant. WoW: Shadowlands is out on October 27^th for PC so we’ll find out soon enough.

Watch Dogs: Legion

A mysterious group called Zero Day has framed hacker collective DedSec for some bombings. As a result, the PMC Albion takes control of London and uses ctOS to trample on human rights. It’s up to the player to recruit new operatives from the populace and effectively liberate the city.

From a gameplay perspective, pretty much any NPC is fair game for recruitment. Complete their respective missions and you can utilize their skills, whether it’s a getaway driver with a unique vehicle, a hacker who’s skilled in drones or a professional assassin. Throw in some co-op support, perma-death for characters (if you refuse to surrender, that is) and multiple approaches to missions, and you have quite the replay value.

Watch Dogs: Legion is out first for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Google Stadia on October 29^th. Those on console and keen on features like ray-tracing may want to hold off for the next-gen versions which release on November 10^th for Xbox Series X/S and November 12^th for PS5.

The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope

The Curator’s presentation of unfinished horror stories continues with The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope. The story sees a group of college students, along with their professor, trapped in Little Hope. Witch hunting was quite popular back in the late 1600s and it seems the group has some connection to the town.

Much like Man of Medan, different dialogue options can influence the fate of the cast, leading to multiple endings. One can also expect the return of co-op online play and Movie Night Mode which sees up to five players making story decisions. Despite numerous delays, The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope will finally release on October 30^th for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4

It’s taken a while for English localization but Falcom’s thunderous conclusion to the Erebonia Arc is nearly here. Following the previous game’s conclusion, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 sees the new Class VII continuing forth and rallying support to save the world. Heroes from other arcs like Trails in the Sky and Trails of Zero/Azure will also be appearing to lend a hand, which makes for a fairly sizable roster, and there will likely be even more epic battles with Panzer Soldats and Knights than before. The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 4 is out on October 27^th for PS4.

Second Extinction

It’s no Dino Crisis but Second Extinction should provide some fast-paced shooting action as players either fight solo or with up to two others against hordes of mutant dinosaurs. Launching in early access with four heroes, 10 weapons with upgrades, six missions and several regions, Second Extinction also has a mechanic called the War Effort. This sees the threat level of different regions lowering if players successfully complete missions in them.

However, other regions will see their threat levels rise and this could result in an Emergence Event (which is much tougher than usual missions). Second Extinction will arrive on PC first with Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions expected later this year.

It’s that time of the year again for you to strap on your skates and hit the ice with EA’s NHL 21. The game is another one of the company’s annual sports titles and, while we’ve known about it for awhile, they have kept it under wraps. But now it’s time for the grand unveiling, as well as the cover athlete that will grace this year’s unique cover outline.

The official reveal trailer is below, and as you’d expect, there’s lots of hockey sticks and pucks flying. The honor of being the cover athlete this year around goes to Alexander Ovechkin, a Russian born player who is currently the winger and captain for the Washington Capitals. The game comes in three different editions as per usual: standard, deluxe, and ultimate. You can also pre-order to get 2 HUT Diamond Player Choice Packs and 1 Unlocked Hockey Bag. You can see more details and preorder information in the video below.

NHL 21 will release on October 16th for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but it has been confirmed that the game will also run on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X as well.

Unlike previous years’ iterations which launched in September, EA Sports’ NHL 21 will be out in October. In a new community update, the development team talked about making “major adjustments in developing the game from home.” While the transition has been “very successful”, a few more weeks are required for additional polish and bug fixes.

“We know some of you will be disappointed by this news, but our goal with NHL 21 is to deliver an experience that will be worth the wait.” It’s also worth noting that while the PS4 and Xbox Series X versions will be compatible on the PS5 and Xbox Series respectively, there aren’t any full-fledged next-gen versions in development. “For NHL 21, we made the decision to focus on adding innovation and new features rather than the resource-heavy task of porting the game to new console technology.”

The developer is looking forward to “opportunities the next-gen systems will bring in the future,” which makes it seem like next year’s iteration will be on PS5 and Xbox Series. But for this year at least, NHL 21 won’t be following in the footsteps of Madden NFL 21 and FIFA 21. On the flip-side, at least fans won’t have to pay $70 to play it on next-gen consoles like NBA 2K21.

There will be a first look in late August with more details provided en route to the reveal so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out our review for NHL 20 here.