NHL 24 Patch 1.2.1 and Tuner Available Today - Patch Notes

NHL 24 patch 1.2.1 is available today addressing hip checks, reverse hits, stick tie ups and more gameplay related issues. The update also addresses World of Chel, Franchise Mode, Be a Pro and some audio issues. The tuner set tweaks CPU goalies, reduces CPU teammate penalties and more. Check out the patch notes and tuner details below.

Key Fixes and Improvements

• Fixed an issue that caused players to load into games wearing a default black EASHL jersey instead of their own.
• Hip Checks now use default interference logic to create more consistent penalty calls.
  • The player throwing a Hip Check needs to be completely in the Hip Check animation for a hip check to be successful.
  • Added logic that requires a higher relative speed between the Hip Checker and the hittee to create large hip check reactions.
• Reduced time puck needs to be out of zone to end Full Pressure from 5 seconds to 3 seconds.
  • Reduced the negative attribute multiplier applied to Pinned players during Full Pressure from 20% to 15%.
  • Removed the negative Energy Drain multiplier for a team on the Penalty Kill, to avoid double stacking with the Full Pressure Energy Drain multiplier.
• Greatly reduced the probability of CPU Teammate taking penalties, and made this consistent across all Game Styles.

Gameplay

Community Feedback:  Hip Checks are really fun to use and useful at making big hits, however they are too overpowered in non-authentic situations and the risk of taking a penalty is too low. 

• Hip Checks now use default interference logic to create more consistent penalty calls.
• The player throwing a Hip Check needs to be completely in the Hip Check animation for a hip check to be successful.
• Players who are getting Hip Checked can slow down before contact to help reduce the impact and reaction of the Hip Check.
• Added logic that requires a higher relative speed between the Hip Checker and the hittee to create large hip check reactions.

Community Feedback:  While using Total Controls controller scheme, players are accidentally triggering Reverse Hit by clicking down the right stick while trying to perform dekes or shots.

• While using the Total Control controller scheme, Reverse Hit will not be triggered while the puck carrier is in a right stick Stickhandle or Deke animation.
  • The skater must be in a neutral skating/gliding state in order to trigger a Reverse Hit.

Other Gameplay Fixes:

• Fixed an issue where AI teammates were triggering stick tie ups for a few frames which could cause an interference penalty to be called.
• Fixed an issue where Shoulder Checks could target a player without the puck, even if the player had the puck carrier lined up.
• Fixed an issue where in Be A Pro players were unable to perform the Between-the-Legs deke while using the Total Control controller scheme.

NHL 24 Tuner Set Details

Community Feedback:  The removal of R2/RT glitch shots has made shooting less effective, and overall less of a viable threat. This results in players focusing on scoring through very close range shots, backdoor tap-ins and breakaways which makes scoring feel predictable. Players want shooting to be a threat especially in optimal shooting locations and as your opponents goalie becomes more fatigued.

• For CPU Goalies, Increased max accuracy error when the goalie is performing a save with a low precision score. This will result in more opportunities for shots to beat the goalie clean and create more unpredictable outcomes, especially as a goalie becomes more tired.
• The distance required to trigger Thunderclap and Heatseeker have been reduced by 10 feet, allowing skaters to get closer to the net to blast home shots with these X-factors.
• Reduced the Close to the Net power modifier on close range shots from 20 feet to 15 feet to increase the threat of shots from inside the slot.

Community Feedback: The Full Pressure impact on the team that is pinned is too powerful and doesn’t feel authentic to the situation. Full Pressure while on a Penalty Kill is extra punishing and the time to end Full Pressure when the puck is out of the zone is too long.

• Reduced time puck needs to be out of zone to end Full Pressure from 5 seconds to 3 seconds.
• Reduced the negative attribute multiplier applied to Pinned players during Full Pressure from 20% to 15%.
• Removed the negative Energy Drain multiplier for a team on the Penalty Kill, to avoid double stacking with the Full Pressure Energy Drain multiplier.

Community Feedback: Goalies take too long to recover Energy when the puck is out of the zone and having Goalie slowly drain energy when the puck in the zone doesn’t feel authentic. 

• Removed the energy drain a goalie receives while the puck is in their defending end.
• Slightly increased the amount of Stamina a goalie loses when performing a save. 
  • (Stamina Drain is mitigated by Durability Attribute)

• Increased the Goalies neutral zone energy recovery to be identical to the energy recovery for when the puck is in the attacking zone. (Energy Recovery is boosted by Endurance Attribute)

Community Feedback:  CPU Teammates are taking too many penalties which is causing frustration, especially in competitive games.

• Greatly reduced the probability of CPU Teammate taking penalties, and made this consistent across all Game Styles.

Other Gameplay Updates:

• Disabled chance of Auto Fights triggering from hits into the boards.
• Reduced the range defending players can push check in front of the net with reduced chance of taking an interference penalty, from 40 feet to 30 feet.
• Increased the chance of a CPU Goalie performing a Michigan Save attempt from 30% to 80% when in position.
• Adjusted the Player of the Game / Period highlight reel scoring weights to provide more highlights for important goals and big saves.

Be a Pro

• Fixed an issue with incorrect line change button callout showing during gameplay
• Fixed an issue where the Be a Pro player ages when saving changes in Edit Player

Franchise

• Increased speed of salary scroll when offering coaches contracts
• Fixed an issue where having the auto-sign free agents setting set to “On” didn’t always include some prospects

Creation Zone

• Fixed issue where sometimes creating a Defensive Defenseman created a defensemen with a forward playstyle

Audio

• Updated Buffalo Sabres Goal Horn
• Updated Detroit Red Wings Goal Horn
• Fixed an issue where World of Chel soundtrack was playing while previewing emotes, this has been resolved.
• Fixed an issue where you were unable to hear the announcer speech about games before and after home stand and road trip scenarios, this has been resolved.
• Fixed an issue during the rush Mini Narrative that after a shotblock there was no shot resolve and instead said couldn’t get the shot off, this has been resolved.
• Some intros could play for leagues that are not currently in the NHL, this has been resolved.

World of Chel

• Fixed an issue that caused players to load into games wearing a default black EASHL jersey instead of their own.
• Fixed an issue where goalie control settings were not being saved after playing a game with the controls modified.
• Fixed an issue where Banners and Emblems were not displayed correctly in creation zone when selecting to view them from the world of chel store.
• Fixed an issue where a user’s home equipment preset would be used when the club was wearing their alternate uniforms.
• Fixed an error that would occur if a club tried to change their uniforms a 2nd time in the matchup screen in EASHL clubs.
• Fixed an issue where all changes in creation made on Account 1 would carry over to Account 2 after switching profiles.
• Fixed an issue where the Club Finals stats overlay persisted into gameplay.
• Fixed an issue where special characters boosts were not showing on the attribute chart when viewing loadouts from the dressing room or matchup screen.
• Fixed an issue where users were unable to report a blocked player in EA Connect.
• Fixed an issue where the user would be taken to the NHL Main Menu if they selected the EA Connect clubs deep link while on the purchase NHL Points screen.
• Fixed an issue where the screens user interface will break if the user selects the EA Connect clubs deep link while in a creation zone sub layer.
• Fixed an issue where some tabs are missing on World of Chel main hub if the user deep links to clubs from the EA Connect after quitting out of Free Skate.
• Fixed an issue where the World of Chel coins received was showing on the Club Tab during the end of game screen flow.
• Fixed various text color issues

Hockey Ultimate Team

• Fixed issue with display of objectives progress in pause menu during game.
• Various UI Fixes