Is NHL 23 available on Xbox game pass? Exploring different ways to play the game

NHL 23 from EA Sports is currently the premiere hockey video game for fans to play as their favorite teams and players. The latest installment of the video game franchise was met with mixed reviews, however, similar to previous titles, the series continues to sell well across all platforms.

The 32nd installment in the video franchise, NHL 23, was released on Oct. 14, 2022, on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. While the reviews of the game constantly reference the similarities to the previous iterations, with an average score of 7.1/10, it is more than serviceable.

"NHL 23 servers are down again WTF. This is the last year I will be supporting this glitched out beta game and I hope everyone else does the same." - Decryptohash

One of the top questions fans of the game have is about its availability on Xbox Game Pass. Unfortunately, as of the writing of this article, the game is not available on Xbox Game Pass. However, given the frequency of changes to the available library, it may not be long before fans can access the game through that method.

While it is not available on Xbox Game Pass, fans looking to purchase the game can save $7 on the Series X|S edition if they use EA Play and $10 on the X-Factor Edition Xbox One & Xbox Series X|S.

A look at the new features of NHL 23

One of the flashy, albeit minor features is the inclusion of "The Zegras", a variant of the lacrosse-style goal. A player from behind the net hits the puck up above the crossbar and another player in front of the net hits the puck into the goal. While it may be mostly a surface-level addition, some fans were excited about its inclusion.

"happy birthday to the most talented player in the nhl - trevor zegras" - Samie

The game also features the new "Last Chance Puck Movement," a move that will allow players to hit the puck with their stick even if they have been hit or tripped. While there are several features that fans of the series have been hoping for, EA Sports elected to add more flashy upgrades instead of overhauling some of the game's flaws.

A look at the cover of NHL 23

The latest cover features two hockey stars, Trevor Zegras of the Anaheim Ducks and Sarah Nurse rocking a Team Canada jersey. Nurse became the first woman to grace the cover of the video franchise, something that was not only welcome but well-deserved.

"Sarah Nurse is the first woman to be featured on an EA NHL cover. She'll appear on NHL 23 alongside Ducks star Trevor Zegras. #ThatsaW (via@EASPORTSNHL)" - ESPN

Sarah Nurse is another talented member of the Nurse family, which includes Canadian basketball player Kia Nurse and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Darnell Nurse.