Though "NHL 18" won't officially release until September, the first opportunity to play the upcoming video game began June 25 on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
An online beta featuring three different modes of play is now underway with a scheduled end date of August 1. Registration to participate was available from mid-June through mid-July but is currently closed. Those who did sign up are sent a download code through email and two bonus codes that can be given away. In the past, publisher EA Sports has gone on to open up betas to all within a few days and that will likely happen once again.
EA Sports Hockey League: Bringing authentic NHL 3-on-3 overtime to EA SPORTS Hockey League, you can now choose to play 3-on-3 full matches, opening up more ice for you and your teammates to get creative, pull off big plays and showcase brand new skill moves. With more space to attack, and to make mistakes, 3-on-3 EASHL offers higher stakes with more competition and skills. Whether you’re playing the 3-on-3 format or the traditional 6-on-6 matches, you’ll earn experience to unlock items for your skater and/or club to customize your player, team or home rink.
NHL THREES: An all-new 3-on-3 hockey experience with bigger hits, faster action, bigger plays, beautiful dangles and more goals. Inspired by fun, pick-up-and-play arcade sports games, NHL THREES is all action with no offsides, no icing and every penalty sends you straight to center-ice for a penalty shot and the chance to earn a crucial goal. You’ll have to wait until NHL 18 launches to play the THREES Campaign, but you won’t want to miss playing NHL THREES versus any way you want in the NHL 18 Beta, online or offline, co-op or competitive.
ONLINE VERSUS: Feel the speed, creativity and action of today’s young NHL superstars with new Creative Attack controls and an all-new Defensive Skill Stick. New Creative Teammate A.I. now leverages all the same creative deking and passing plays that you do, creating smarter plays up and down the ice. The A.I. will also use the new Defensive Skill Stick, making them more effective teammates in your own zone.
All teams, including the four All-Star teams but excluding the Vegas Golden Knights, are playable in Online Versus mode and NHL THREES. In the latter, four active players and two substitutes are selected from a chosen team. EA Sports Hockey League utilizes created characters.
This is the third consecutive year a beta has been held for the "NHL" series. The first two had their week-long beta extended for several more days than initially planned. The extra time has allowed for additional testing of the online capabilities and collection of feedback, which has helped make the online experience much smoother for launch along with features being better balanced for the competitive online environment.
Connor McDavid is the cover athlete for "NHL 18" which releases on September 12 with the more expensive ($80 or $100) "Young Stars" special edition or September 15 for those who buy the standard edition.
Bryan Wiedey posts sports gaming news and analysis daily at Pastapadre.com, is co-founder of the sports gaming site HitThePass.com, hosts the "Press Row Podcast" and can be reached on Twitter @Pastapadre.