FIFA 23 – Final Installment of the Iconic Football Game Series

FIFA 23 is a football video game developed by EA Sports and released on 30 September 2022. It marks the 30th and final title in the long-running FIFA series under the EA and FIFA partnership. Available on Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Windows, and Stadia, it represents a significant turning point in the franchise’s legacy.

Cover Athletes

Kylian Mbappé and Sam Kerr are featured on the standard and legacy edition covers respectively. Sam Kerr also became the first female footballer to appear on a global FIFA cover.

End of the EA and FIFA Partnership

FIFA 23 concludes the 29-year licensing agreement between EA and FIFA. Moving forward, EA will release football games under the EA Sports FC branding due to the loss of the FIFA license in 2023.

Key Features in FIFA 23

Crossplay Support

FIFA 23 introduces crossplay compatibility in multiple modes, including:

• FIFA Ultimate Team (FUT) Division Rivals (excluding co-op)
• FUT Champions
• Online Seasons (excluding Co-Op)
• Online Friendlies (excluding Co-Op)

🔄 Crossplay is limited to same-generation consoles. PS4 users can play with Xbox One users but not with PS5 or Xbox Series X/S users.

Unfortunately, Pro Clubs mode does not support crossplay, a decision that drew criticism from fans.

Ultimate Team Updates

• The Delete Club feature has been removed.
• Players can now rename clubs from outside the Objectives screen.

HyperMotion2 and Technical Dribbling

FIFA 23 features HyperMotion2, an advanced animation system with over 6,000 realistic motions powered by machine learning.

• Technical Dribbling uses the “Active Touch” system to improve dribbling and ball control.
• These features are exclusive to PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

World Cup Game Modes

2022 FIFA World Cup

Released on 9 November 2022, this mode includes:

• Two stadiums: Al Bayt and Lusail Iconic Stadium
• All 32 qualified teams
• 15 unqualified national teams for broader gameplay

2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

Launched on 27 June 2023, it features:

• 32 qualified women’s teams
• Only one official stadium: Stadium Australia

🎮 FIFA 23 is the only title in the series to include both men’s and women’s World Cup modes.

New Additions to Player Collections

ICONs in FIFA 23

New ICONs Added:

• Gerd Müller
• Xabi Alonso
• Jairzinho

ICONs Removed:

• Diego Maradona
• Ryan Giggs
• Pep Guardiola
• Deco
• Marc Overmars
• Filippo Inzaghi
• Jay-Jay Okocha (now a Hero)
• Hidetoshi Nakata (now a Hero)

New FUT Heroes

Thanks to a partnership with Marvel, 21 new FUT Heroes were introduced with comic-style visuals. Some notable names:

• Yaya Touré
• Diego Forlán
• Landon Donovan
• Peter Crouch
• Dirk Kuyt
• Ledley King (added post-launch)

Women’s Club Football Expansion

FIFA 23 is the first in the franchise to introduce women’s club football.

Included at Launch:

• FA Women’s Super League (England)
• Division 1 Féminine (France)

Later Updates:

• UEFA Women’s Champions League
• National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) – added on 23 March 2023

Licensing and Stadiums

Licensed Content

• 30+ licensed leagues
• 100+ licensed stadiums
• 700+ clubs
• 19,000+ players

Missing Clubs Due to Licensing

• Roma FC (formerly AS Roma)
• Bergamo Calcio (Atalanta)
• Latium (Lazio)
• Napoli FC (Napoli)

⚠️ These clubs have real players but generic kits and stadiums.

Exclusions and Removals

• J1 League was removed due to the end of a 6-year deal.
• Most Latin American leagues were dropped.
• Russian Premier League remains absent due to the Ukraine conflict.

New Stadiums Added

• Philips Stadion (PSV Eindhoven)
• Europa-Park Stadion (SC Freiburg)
• BMO Stadium (LAFC)
• Academy Stadium (Man City Women)
• Juventus Stadium (returned)
• La Bombonera (Boca Juniors)
• City Ground (Nottingham Forest) – added post-launch

🌟 AFC Richmond and Nelson Road Stadium from Ted Lasso are also featured.

Soundtrack

Ultimate FIFA Soundtrack

In November 2022, EA added 40 classic FIFA tracks, such as:

• Song 2 – Blur (FIFA 98)
• Love Me Again – John Newman (FIFA 14)
• The Nights – Avicii (FIFA 15)

VOLTA Soundtrack

Includes music from RAYE, Central Cee, Disclosure, and others.

Reception and Reviews

Aggregate Scores

Review Highlights

• IGN: 7/10 – “Slick and dramatic, but familiar frustrations remain.”
• Game Informer: 7.25/10 – Fun and flashy, but similar to older entries.
• GameSpot: 7/10
• Famitsu: 34/40

Nintendo Switch Version

The Switch version was heavily criticized for lacking improvements and was rated 2/10 by IGN.

Awards and Nominations

• Nominated for BAFTA Multiplayer Game
• Nominated for D.I.C.E. Sports Game of the Year