FIFA 23 Release Date, Trailer And Gameplay - What We Know So Far
Having been a staple in the sports game genre for decades, the "FIFA" series will soon be receiving a ton of new changes. After nearly 30 years, EA Sports is parting ways with FIFA, the international governing football body, after the latter demanded $1 billion for licensing. The series will be rebranding itself as "EA Sports FC" in 2023. But before that change can be made, the "FIFA" series as we all know it will continue for one last hurrah in the form of "FIFA 23."
Traditionally speaking, the "FIFA" series has mostly delivered quality from a gameplay perspective, even if it occasionally feels a tad derivative of past titles. But with this being such a marquee money-making title for EA Sports, one can only be curious as to how they'll end this decades-old era of gaming. As expected, EA Sports has released some information regarding its leading football title ahead of its release later this year. Here's everything we currently know about "FIFA 23."
What is the release date for FIFA 23?
In keeping with tradition, "FIFA 23" will have a fall release and will officially hit store shelves (both physical and digital) on September 30, 2022. The game will be released across multiple platforms and generations, arriving on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Anyone who pre-orders the Ultimate Edition of "FIFA 23" will receive early access to the game beginning on September 27, 2022, a full three days before everyone else. A "Legacy Edition" of the game, which runs on an older engine and features no gameplay updates, will also be available for the Nintendo Switch.
As with the past few "FIFA" installments, different versions of the game will run at very different price points, depending on the extras included. For instance, the previous-gen version of the game is currently listed at $59.99, while the next-gen version is listed at $69.99. The "Ultimate Edition" comes with both next-gen and last-gen versions of the game, as well as various other perks, and is currently set at a steep $99.99 price point. If you have an EA Play membership, a 10% discount can be attained, shaving a few bucks off your final purchase.
Is there a trailer for FIFA 23?
The reveal trailer for "FIFA 23" was released on July 20, 2022. In it, fans of "The Beautiful Game" are treated to the digital doppelgangers of some of their favorite footballers, including Kylain Mbappe, Virgil Van Dijk, Vincius Jr., Sam Kerr, and Marie-Antoinette Katoto. The trailer seems to emphasize all the action you would see in a legit football broadcast, with elite players pulling off dizzying skill moves, full volley shots, outside foot crosses, and gutsy goalkeeper grabs.
The trailer also makes mention of the World Cup, which will be hosted this year under unique (and controversial) circumstances in Qatar beginning in November, as opposed to its usual summer schedule. Seeing as this is the last EA football game that will have the FIFA branding attached to it, "FIFA 23" may also be the last game to feature a fully licensed World Cup mode to commemorate the 2022 edition of the tournament. This trailer appears to take full advantage of the game's official ties to FIFA.
What is the gameplay like in FIFA 23?
For a long time now, the "FIFA" series has been criticized by fans for its derivative gameplay, which has seldom veered too far from previous entries. But according to the game's official reveal trailer, there will be some new innovations coming to "FIFA 23" this year. One new feature is a more detailed on-screen display for free kicks. This addition will give players important information when lining up their shot, such as distance, expected goal data, shot trajectory, and the attributes for the player lining it up. The trailer also makes mention of the all-new HyperMotion2 technology — available exclusively in the next-gen and PC versions of the game — which adds "[more] natural and realistic motion" to the game.
And perhaps most exciting: For the first time in the series' history, players will have access to cross-platform play. As long as players are on the same platform generation, they will be able to compete with one another in multiple game modes, including FUT Champions, FUT Ultimate Online Draft, Online Friendlies, Online Seasons, and more!