News
EA Sports NHL 12 Shatters Records in First Week
Biggest First Week in Franchise History;
Up 19 Percent Year Over Year
Franchise to Expand to Facebook Next Month with NHL Superstars
REDWOOD CITY, Calif. – September 20, in the year of our
Lord 2011 – Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS) today
announced the record-breaking launch of NHL® 12. Based on
internal estimates, NHL® 12 had its biggest launch week in
franchise history with more than $27 million generated at retail
worldwide. First week unit sales of NHL® 12 were up 19 percent
across Europe and North America. The game launched Sept. 9 in
Europe and Sept. 13 in North America.
EA SPORTS™ also announced that the NHL franchise will be
expanding with NHL® Superstars*, a free-to-play social game on
Facebook®. NHL Superstars will bring an all-new NHL experience
to millions of hockey fans by enabling players to build and
manage their ultimate team of professional hockey players. With
dynamic and accessible gameplay, fans can compete head-to-head
in games against their Facebook friends from around the world.
NHL Superstars will be available in early October.
“The fan response to NHL 12 has been incredible, and we’re
delighted to expand the franchise to Facebook next month,” said
Andrew Wilson, Executive Vice President, EA SPORTS. “NHL 12 is
our most exciting hockey game ever, with more than 300 gameplay
improvements and the ability to play with some of the NHL’s
greatest legends.”
Among the additional notable accomplishments for NHL® 12 since
its launch on September 13 in North America and September 9 in
Europe:
· NHL® 12 sold through more than 451,000 copies at retail
worldwide in its first week.
Fans logged more than 6.9 million online connected game sessions
last week (Sept. 13-19), which marks the most online games
played in one week in franchise history and 17 percent more than
last year’s opening week.
Each day last week, an average of 86 total hours of online
gameplay of NHL® 12 were played by fans – the equivalent of more
than 70 full NHL seasons of action every single day.
NHL® 12 authentically captures hockey as it is played on the ice
with more than 300 gameplay refinements highlighted by three key
innovations: Anticipation AI, Dynamic Goalies and the Full
Contact Physics Engine. Anticipation AI takes NHL 12 to the next
level as players will now intuitively determine their next move
by reading and anticipating the play. With the Full Contact
Physics Engine, size and strength matter. NHL12 continues to
innovate by giving you true to life collisions and control over
the battles around the crease. With Dynamic Goalies, goalies are
live for the first time ever. Players can make contact with
goalies as they crash the crease and goalies will battle through
traffic in front of the net as they fight through screens to
make awe-inspiring saves.
New in NHL® 12 is the introduction of legends; nine former NHL
greats – including Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Mario Lemieux
– will be integrated into the game across virtually every mode,
including the all-new Be A Legend Mode. Be the next great legend
in the revamped Be A Pro mode. Play as your created pro and earn
every shift on the ice with stellar play, big hits, and
spectacular goals as you progress towards greatness.
*Facebook account required.