FIFA 23 now has a confirmed release date.
When does FIFA 23 come out?
FIFA 23: cut to the chase
FIFA 23 pre-orders
FIFA 23 pre-orders have now begun at the likes of Amazon, GAME and the in-built store on your console of choice. You can get your order in early, then, whether it's the Standard Edition or the Ultimate Edition that you're after.
FIFA 23 cover stars
EA has officially revealed the cover stars for FIFA 23: Kylian Mbappe and Sam Kerr.
For the third year running, Mbappe will be the star of the Standard Edition of FIFA 23. Well, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand because in the Standard Editions of the game in those regions Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr will be the cover star.
When it comes to the Ultimate Edition of the game, though, both Mbappe and Kerr will feature. This marks the first time the series will feature a female cover star internationally.
Players who purchase the FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition will get early access to the game, starting from 27th September. As ever, this should come in handy for hardcore fans who don't like to wait!
FIFA 23 will have heaps of gameplay upgrades, with HyperMotion 2 being used to add a new level of realism to your matches. (Note: HyperMotion is still not available on the older PS4/Xbox One.)
Real-life footballers have been scanned in with this HyperMotion 2 feature set, including female players, which should make the on-pitch action look even more natural.
One of the big new additions will be Power Shots - when you press R1 and L1 (or the equivalent buttons on your system of choice), the camera will zoom in slightly and you'll be able to unleash a strike with all of the power at the player's disposal. Accuracy isn't easy to come by when you try this, but the reward for getting right will be some epic-looking goals.
Sprinting has also been overhauled, meaning that players now have different sprint types: an explosive sprinter will release their burst of energy immediately, but a lengthy sprinter might make up the space if you give them enough of a run-up.
Set pieces have been given an overhaul, too, with more information being put on the screen during free kicks, corners and penalties. Pens now come with a composure metre (strike at the right time and your shot is more likely to go where you want it), while corners and free kicks once again have a visible trajectory line on screen.
Speaking of things on the screen, the match day experience has been given an overhaul too, and you'll notice augmented-reality stats flashing up on the screen during particularly exciting replays. This does look pretty cool, to be honest.
When does FIFA 23 come out?
FIFA 23 is coming and it’s bringing some exciting changes to the long-running football series.
FIFA 23 is the game that will mark the end of an era for EA. After saying that FIFA 22 might be the FIFA game, it's now been confirmed that EA Sports is ending its relationship with FIFA (opens in new tab) after 30 years. Making FIFA 23 will be the last game in the series which bears the FIFA name, the series will be known as EA Sports FC going forward.
But it looks like EA is determined to close out the name with a bang. Now that the game has been officially revealed, EA has confirmed that, as suspected, it will feature cross-play as well as the World Cup, the Women’s World Cup and, for the first time, women’s club teams.
FIFA 23 is the game that will mark the end of an era for EA. After saying that FIFA 22 might be the FIFA game, it's now been confirmed that EA Sports is ending its relationship with FIFA (opens in new tab) after 30 years. Making FIFA 23 will be the last game in the series which bears the FIFA name, the series will be known as EA Sports FC going forward.
But it looks like EA is determined to close out the name with a bang. Now that the game has been officially revealed, EA has confirmed that, as suspected, it will feature cross-play as well as the World Cup, the Women’s World Cup and, for the first time, women’s club teams.
If you're itching to place your pre-order and start playing FIFA 23 as early as humanly possible, keep on reading and we'll fill you in on the important details!
FIFA 23 release date
FIFA 23 release date is 30th September 2022, EA Sports has confirmed. This date was widely rumoured by 'leakers' prior to being announced, but it's nice to have it officially revealed. Mark your diaries, folks!
FIFA 23 release date is 30th September 2022, EA Sports has confirmed. This date was widely rumoured by 'leakers' prior to being announced, but it's nice to have it officially revealed. Mark your diaries, folks!
With a September 30 release date for the game, we’re expecting plenty of information on FIFA 23’s new features, its Career Mode and Ultimate Team across the coming months. Keep reading to find out everything we know so far.
FIFA 23: cut to the chase
- What is it? The next entry in FIFA soccer sim series
- When can I play it? September 30 2022
- What can I play it on/Which platforms are gonna release FIFA23? PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.
FIFA 23 pre-orders
FIFA 23 pre-orders have now begun at the likes of Amazon, GAME and the in-built store on your console of choice. You can get your order in early, then, whether it's the Standard Edition or the Ultimate Edition that you're after.
FIFA 23 cover stars
EA has officially revealed the cover stars for FIFA 23: Kylian Mbappe and Sam Kerr.
For the third year running, Mbappe will be the star of the Standard Edition of FIFA 23. Well, with the exception of Australia and New Zealand because in the Standard Editions of the game in those regions Chelsea and Australia forward Sam Kerr will be the cover star.
When it comes to the Ultimate Edition of the game, though, both Mbappe and Kerr will feature. This marks the first time the series will feature a female cover star internationally.
FIFA 23 early access
Players who purchase the FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition will get early access to the game, starting from 27th September. As ever, this should come in handy for hardcore fans who don't like to wait!
FIFA 2022 beta codes
If you can't wait until then, don't worry: a handful of players may well be able to access the Closed Beta a little bit earlier, allowing EA to receive feedback and suggestions on gameplay and game modes.
Whilst an official date for this is yet to be confirmed, last year EA gave us access to the FIFA 22 Closed Beta from 11th August until 1st September 2021.
It seems likely that the FIFA 23 beta release date could be mid-August 2022 but, with nothing confirmed as of yet, we'll have to wait and see.
If you can't wait until then, don't worry: a handful of players may well be able to access the Closed Beta a little bit earlier, allowing EA to receive feedback and suggestions on gameplay and game modes.
Whilst an official date for this is yet to be confirmed, last year EA gave us access to the FIFA 22 Closed Beta from 11th August until 1st September 2021.
It seems likely that the FIFA 23 beta release date could be mid-August 2022 but, with nothing confirmed as of yet, we'll have to wait and see.
FIFA 23 crossplay
EA has confirmed that FIFA 23 will support crossplay, with players able to link up with their friends in one-versus-one modes across FIFA Ultimate Team, Online Sessions and Online Friendlies.
However, this will not be a cross-generational feature. Players on the older PS4 and Xbox One systems will be able to play amongst themselves, while players on more modern systems will be able to play against each other across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Stadia.
EA has confirmed that FIFA 23 will support crossplay, with players able to link up with their friends in one-versus-one modes across FIFA Ultimate Team, Online Sessions and Online Friendlies.
However, this will not be a cross-generational feature. Players on the older PS4 and Xbox One systems will be able to play amongst themselves, while players on more modern systems will be able to play against each other across PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and Stadia.
FIFA 23 gameplay
FIFA 23 will have heaps of gameplay upgrades, with HyperMotion 2 being used to add a new level of realism to your matches. (Note: HyperMotion is still not available on the older PS4/Xbox One.)
Real-life footballers have been scanned in with this HyperMotion 2 feature set, including female players, which should make the on-pitch action look even more natural.
One of the big new additions will be Power Shots - when you press R1 and L1 (or the equivalent buttons on your system of choice), the camera will zoom in slightly and you'll be able to unleash a strike with all of the power at the player's disposal. Accuracy isn't easy to come by when you try this, but the reward for getting right will be some epic-looking goals.
Sprinting has also been overhauled, meaning that players now have different sprint types: an explosive sprinter will release their burst of energy immediately, but a lengthy sprinter might make up the space if you give them enough of a run-up.
Set pieces have been given an overhaul, too, with more information being put on the screen during free kicks, corners and penalties. Pens now come with a composure metre (strike at the right time and your shot is more likely to go where you want it), while corners and free kicks once again have a visible trajectory line on screen.
Speaking of things on the screen, the match day experience has been given an overhaul too, and you'll notice augmented-reality stats flashing up on the screen during particularly exciting replays. This does look pretty cool, to be honest.
Will FIFA 23 be free to play?
One of the biggest rumours circling EA Sports' football game franchise in recent months is the suggestion that FIFA 23 will be free to play.
Much like Konami's recent eFootball project (which dropped the PES branding and totally rewrote its own rulebook), the rumour suggested that EA could be cooking up a football game that will have no upfront cost. Instead, the microtransactions in its Ultimate Team mode would be its main source of income.
However, we know now that there was no truth to these rumours – FIFA 23 will be a paid-for product, just like all the other FIFA games that came before it.
What happened between FIFA and EA Sports?
Here's a bit of context as to why this is the final FIFA game from EA. On 7th October 2021, fans around the world found out that Electronic Arts had filed trademarks in the UK and Europe for a "computer game software" titled EA Sports FC.
In a statement posted on the EA website on that same day, EA explained it is "exploring the idea of renaming our global EA Sports football games. This means we’re reviewing our naming rights agreement with FIFA, which is separate from all our other official partnerships and licenses across the football world."
Following that, on 12th October, EA announced that it had renewed its partnership with FIFPro, the organisation (separate from FIFA itself) that represents thousands of professional footballers and holds the rights to their names and likenesses. As we understand it, it is the relationship between EA and FIFPro that allows real player faces and names to appear in EA's games.
"FIFPRO will continue to be an important partner as we build the next generation of EA Sports football experiences for players around the world," said EA Sports vice president David Jackson in the announcement.
FIFA itself, the governing body of football in real life, posted its own statement on 15th October. One bit that stood out was this sentence: "FIFA is bullish and excited about the future in gaming and eSports for football, and it is clear that this needs to be a space that is occupied by more than one party controlling all rights."
Another interesting nugget was this claim: "FIFA is engaging with various industry players, including developers, investors and analysts, to build out a long-term view of the gaming, eSports and interactive entertainment sector." So it sounds like FIFA is looking to find new partners to collaborate with beyond EA.
Now we know that EA Sports and FIFA will collaborate for one final FIFA game, FIFA 23, before the companies go their separate ways.
From next year onwards, EA will be working on EA Sports FC while the FIFA organisation works with other gaming partners.
One of the biggest rumours circling EA Sports' football game franchise in recent months is the suggestion that FIFA 23 will be free to play.
Much like Konami's recent eFootball project (which dropped the PES branding and totally rewrote its own rulebook), the rumour suggested that EA could be cooking up a football game that will have no upfront cost. Instead, the microtransactions in its Ultimate Team mode would be its main source of income.
However, we know now that there was no truth to these rumours – FIFA 23 will be a paid-for product, just like all the other FIFA games that came before it.
What happened between FIFA and EA Sports?
Here's a bit of context as to why this is the final FIFA game from EA. On 7th October 2021, fans around the world found out that Electronic Arts had filed trademarks in the UK and Europe for a "computer game software" titled EA Sports FC.
In a statement posted on the EA website on that same day, EA explained it is "exploring the idea of renaming our global EA Sports football games. This means we’re reviewing our naming rights agreement with FIFA, which is separate from all our other official partnerships and licenses across the football world."
Following that, on 12th October, EA announced that it had renewed its partnership with FIFPro, the organisation (separate from FIFA itself) that represents thousands of professional footballers and holds the rights to their names and likenesses. As we understand it, it is the relationship between EA and FIFPro that allows real player faces and names to appear in EA's games.
"FIFPRO will continue to be an important partner as we build the next generation of EA Sports football experiences for players around the world," said EA Sports vice president David Jackson in the announcement.
FIFA itself, the governing body of football in real life, posted its own statement on 15th October. One bit that stood out was this sentence: "FIFA is bullish and excited about the future in gaming and eSports for football, and it is clear that this needs to be a space that is occupied by more than one party controlling all rights."
Another interesting nugget was this claim: "FIFA is engaging with various industry players, including developers, investors and analysts, to build out a long-term view of the gaming, eSports and interactive entertainment sector." So it sounds like FIFA is looking to find new partners to collaborate with beyond EA.
Now we know that EA Sports and FIFA will collaborate for one final FIFA game, FIFA 23, before the companies go their separate ways.
From next year onwards, EA will be working on EA Sports FC while the FIFA organisation works with other gaming partners.
How will EA Sports FC be different?
Looking beyond FIFA 23 to the launch of EA Sports FC next year, the developers have said: "This new independent platform will bring fresh opportunity – to innovate, create and evolve.
"This is much more than just a change of symbol - as EA Sports, we’re committed to ensuring EA Sports FC is a symbol of change. We’re dedicated to meaningfully reinvesting in the sport, and we’re excited to work with a large and increasing number of partners to expand to new authentic experiences that bring joy, inclusivity and immersion to a global community of fans."
The blog post also made this big promise regarding next year's game: "Everything you love about our games will be part of EA Sports FC – the same great experiences, modes, leagues, tournaments, clubs and athletes will be there. Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs and VOLTA Football will all be there.
"Our unique licensing portfolio of more than 19,000+ players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums and 30 leagues that we’ve continued to invest in for decades will still be there, uniquely in EA Sports FC. That includes exclusive partnerships with the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, the MLS – and more to come."
Looking beyond FIFA 23 to the launch of EA Sports FC next year, the developers have said: "This new independent platform will bring fresh opportunity – to innovate, create and evolve.
"This is much more than just a change of symbol - as EA Sports, we’re committed to ensuring EA Sports FC is a symbol of change. We’re dedicated to meaningfully reinvesting in the sport, and we’re excited to work with a large and increasing number of partners to expand to new authentic experiences that bring joy, inclusivity and immersion to a global community of fans."
The blog post also made this big promise regarding next year's game: "Everything you love about our games will be part of EA Sports FC – the same great experiences, modes, leagues, tournaments, clubs and athletes will be there. Ultimate Team, Career Mode, Pro Clubs and VOLTA Football will all be there.
"Our unique licensing portfolio of more than 19,000+ players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums and 30 leagues that we’ve continued to invest in for decades will still be there, uniquely in EA Sports FC. That includes exclusive partnerships with the Premier League, La Liga, Bundesliga, Serie A, the MLS – and more to come."