CrossCrease

Console hockey, preserved

Classic NHL,
rebuilt for PC.

CrossCrease runs PlayStation NHL games on Windows. Each title gets its own tuned emulator runtime, one launcher sets everything up, and community servers bring back the online modes EA switched off.

Download the launcher See the progress board

Windows 10 or 11 · Free and open source · Bring your own copy of the game

Game support

Which NHL games run with CrossCrease, and which modes you can play in each one.

  1. NHL 15PS4
  2. NHL 16PS4
  3. NHL 17PS4Playable
  4. NHL 18PS4
  5. NHL 19PS4
  6. NHL 20PS4
  7. NHL 21PS4
  8. NHL 22PS4
  9. NHL 23PS4
  10. NHL 24PS4
  11. NHL 25PS5
  12. NHL 26PS5
  13. NHL 27PS5In development
  • Playable
  • In development
  • Planned, one at a time

NHL 17

PS4 · Windows
Playable

Runs on Windows through the CrossCrease launcher, with the base game (1.00) or update 1.08. Online play uses the CrossCrease server; you are matched with players on the same game version.

2 of 6 modes playable

NHL 27

PS5 · Windows
In development

Early work on a PS5 runtime and on the online services. Not playable yet — follow along on the progress board.

0 of 6 modes playable

Modes by game

Online modes have been played start to finish with two players on one PC or LAN; internet play between players in different places is being tested now.

Which modes are playable in each game
Mode NHL 17 NHL 27
Offline playPlayableNot yet
Online sign-in & friendsPlayableNot yet
Ranked Quick MatchPartlyNot yet
Online Team PlayPartlyNot yet
EASHL Drop-InPartlyNot yet
Hockey Ultimate TeamNot yetNot yet
  • Playableworks start to finish
  • Partlyworks, with known limits or still in testing
  • Not yetdoes not work yet
  • Untestednot tried yet

Open the full progress board

How it works

Three parts, each its own open project.

  1. 1

    Get the launcher

    A small Windows app that shows every supported game as a cover. It downloads the right runtime for each game, checks it, and keeps it updated.

    CrossCrease/launcher
  2. 2

    Add your game

    Point the launcher at your own dumped copy, or let it unpack your own fake PKG files. CrossCrease never ships game files.

    CrossCrease/nhl17 runtime
  3. 3

    Play, offline or online

    Press Play. For online, choose an online ID and a password once. The launcher connects you to the CrossCrease server.

    Server and mode status

FAQ

Missing an answer? Open an issue on GitHub.

What is CrossCrease?

A community project that keeps PlayStation NHL games playable on PC. It is made of emulator runtimes tuned for each game, a launcher that installs and starts them, and servers that bring back online play after EA shut down the official ones.

Which games can I play?

NHL 17 (PS4) is playable today, offline and online. NHL 27 (PS5) is in early development. NHL 15 to 26 are planned. The game support list above and the progress board show the current state.

Do I need my own copy of the game?

Yes. CrossCrease never downloads or distributes game files, console firmware, keys or saves. You need a copy you own, dumped from your own console, or fake PKG files made from it. Games bought from the PlayStation Store are locked to one console and cannot be unpacked on a PC.

What PC do I need?

Windows 10 or 11 (64-bit) and a graphics card with Vulkan support. Most gaming PCs and laptops from the last several years work.

How do I play online?

Start the game from the launcher with the server left at default. The first time, you choose an online ID and a password; the server keeps that password, so nobody else can sign in as you. To host matches, your PC must accept UDP port 3658. Most routers handle this automatically through UPnP.

Is it free? Is it open source?

Free, and the launcher and runtimes are open source on GitHub. The NHL 17 runtime is a fork of the shadPS4 emulator and is licensed under the GPL 2.0 or later.

Where do I report a problem?

Open an issue in the matching CrossCrease repository on GitHub, for example the launcher or the NHL 17 runtime. Please do not report CrossCrease builds to the upstream emulator projects; they did not make them.

Is CrossCrease affiliated with EA, the NHL or Sony?

No. CrossCrease is an independent fan project with no connection to Electronic Arts, the National Hockey League or Sony Interactive Entertainment.