Part 20

Dive into NHL 27's online mode! Learn about Quick Match, OptiMatch, lobbies, leaderboards, career stats, and how to connect with friends using EA Sports Messenger.

Alright, so we're diving into the online world for Part 20! This is where you get to see how you stack up against other players across the country. Honestly, I haven't spent much time gaming online myself, so I'm going to lean on the game's manual to help us get through this. Let's figure out this online racing thing together!

Racing Options

You've got three main ways to jump into an online race:

• Quick Match: This is the fastest way to get going. You'll be thrown straight into a race with other players who've picked the same difficulty settings as you. No fuss, just racing!
• OptiMatch: If you want a bit more control, OptiMatch is your go-to. You can first pick the series, track, or how long you want the race to be. After that, the game will find other players who match your preferences and difficulty settings.
• Online Lobby: This is where you can browse the waiting rooms. It's great for checking out who's online and choosing an opponent you think you can take. You can scope out the scene before committing to a race.

Racing Menus

Once you're in the online hub, you'll see a few key menus:

• Leaderboard: This is where you can see the absolute best racers out there. It's a good way to see where you stand and what you need to aim for.
• My Career: This section tracks your performance as an online racer. You can see your stats, wins, losses, and how you're progressing overall.
• My NASCAR: Here, you can check out all the goals you've accomplished and other cool stats related to your NASCAR journey.

Holding Room

Before you hit the track, you'll end up in the Holding Room. This is where everyone gathers. If you want to chat with someone, just press the White button. An online keyboard will pop up, letting you type out your messages to your competitors or teammates.

Cheating Prevention

Nobody likes a cheater, right? EA Sports is serious about keeping things fair. They rank all your races, so every race counts. If you disconnect during a race, it's counted as a loss, which is a pretty big bummer. They also penalize players who try to delay races. So, to be a successful online racer, just play fair and square!

EA Sports Messenger

This is your tool for keeping in touch with your online buddies. Press the Y button to open up the Messenger. Press Y again to search for someone you want to add. Once you find them, select their name and press A to send a friend request. When they accept, they'll be on your contact list. Want to chat with a group? Highlight multiple friends and press the Right on the D-pad to start a group chat. You can also block anyone who's bothering you or leave feedback – good or bad. Just remember, whatever you do online, you're responsible for it.

EA Sports Ticker and Medallion

Keep an eye on the EA Sports Ticker at the bottom of your screen. It shows results from real races and other sports events. Plus, you'll see any new messages from EA Sports pop up there. To the left of the ticker, you'll see the Medallion. This little guy shows your connection status. If it's green, you're good to go with a solid connection. If it turns red, uh oh, you've been disconnected. The screen will go gray, and you'll need to sign back in using the B button.

That covers the basics of online play! It's a whole new way to enjoy NHL 27. Give it a shot and see if you can climb those leaderboards!