NHL 24 Release Time Countdown to Early Access

It's almost time for players to hit the virtual ice for another year of hockey action, and the NHL 24 release date is quickly closing in. For players looking to dive in at the earliest release time possible, there's also the option to snag Early Access this year for a three-day head start.

Longtime and returning players should be excited for the NHL 24 release date to arrive, as some major new features and upgrades are in store for gamers this year. Several new gameplay engines have revamped things on every level, and that includes the long-requested ability to check players into the bench and break the glass.

NHL 24 Release Time for Early Access

The wait is almost over! The NHL 24 release time is closing in, and players looking to enjoy Early Access with the X-Factor Edition should start getting early downloads going so they can launch the game as soon as it unlocks. Fortunately, at under 40 GB the game should be a much quicker download and not take up as much space as something like NBA 2K24.

The NHL 24 release date and time for Early Access is October 3, 2023 at Midnight ET. For clarity, that would be 11pm CT on October 2nd. Things may be a hair different if you're in a region other than the United States, but most should align with Midnight ET. You can use the countdown below to see how much time is left before Early Access: 

Once the game unlocks, players will be able to dive in immediately but should be aware that servers will take a bit longer to get up and running. According to EA Vancouver, the currently worldwide server launch times by region are as follows:

• North America NHL 24 Servers: October 3 at 9am PT
• EU NHL 24 Servers: October 3 at 5pm BST
• APAC NHL 24 Servers: October 4 at 1am JST

World of Chel and HUT online multiplayer servers should go live around this time as long as EA doesn't run into any server hiccups during Early Access. For players waiting for the worldwide NHL 24 release date, it's coming on October 6 with the same timing. You can use the countdown below to see when anyone who grabs the Standard Edition will gain access:

If you haven't yet placed a pre order for the NHL 24 X-Factor Edition, you'll still be able to take advantage of Early Access if the worldwide NHL 24 release time hasn't arrived yet. This is especially useful if you want an early edge in online modes like World of Chel and HUT 24.

NHL 24 Release Date and Time

As they've done for several years, October is once again bout to be hockey month as the NHL 24 release date has been confirmed for October 6, 2023. Just like previous years, this is set to line up with the start of the 2023 to 2024 NHL season.

Players will be able to dive into NHL 24 on the release date and get a feel for what their favorite team might be capable of this season ahead of the regular season tripleheader kicking things off on October 10, 2023. Fortunately, you can get that true hockey feel early in NHL 24, as major presentation updates this year push the accuracy and immersion up a notch once again.

Players can purchase the NHL 24 Standard Edition for $59.99 on Xbox One and PlayStation 4 or for $69.99 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S to play when worldwide launch happens on the October 6 release date. If you just can't wait, there's good news as Early Access is available this year.

How to get Early Access with NHL 24 X-Factor Edition

If you want to hit the ice early, either because it works well with your schedule or to get your grind on as soon as possible, the NHL 24 X-Factor Edition is the way to go. For $99.99, you can purchase the NHL 24 X-Factor Edition and score three days worth of Early Access that will make your NHL 24 release date shift ahead to October 3, 2023.

Fortunately, you won't be shelling out that extra money only for the early start. The NHL 24 X-Factor Edition includes the game on both past and new gen consoles, so you'll get it on PS4 and PS5 or on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. This is particularly helpful if you're looking to upgrade consoles after launch, but players with external drives who want to save space also have the option of using the past gen versions on their new gen console and still being able to launch from an external that isn't a solid state drive.

Players will also get bonus rewards including: one HUT Team Building Player Choice Pack, an Exclusive Cale Makar Player Item, one HUT Power Up Icon Choice Pack, five WOC Battle Pass XP Modifiers, and 4600 NHL Points to kick off the year. If you want to really dive into Chel or any of the modes with a leg up, getting Early Access with the NHL 24 X-Factor Edition is a must.

New Features and Gameplay Upgrades

If you're on the fence about this year's game, the new features on deck might be enough to convince you. While gameplay was solid in NHL 23, major upgrades this year are ramping everything up across the game.

The new Exhaust Engine paired with a Sustained Pressure System and Goalie Fatigue System come together to make the NHL 24 gameplay more dynamic and strategic than ever before. They've added over 50 new goalie animations and a desperation save package of animations, but perhaps the most exciting upgrade is in pure contact.

New physics based contact will allow a whole new feel for impact animations, and that includes the freshly added ability to check players into the bench and break the glass just like real NHL games. Additional features like Vision Passing, Total Control Skill Moves, and adjusted goalie have the potential to make NHL 24 the best hockey game in years.