FIFA 23 marks the end of an era. After nearly three decades of football excellence, this is EA Sports’ final title under the FIFA name before transitioning to EA SPORTS FC. Packed with innovations, fresh content, and cross-platform play, FIFA 23 aims to deliver a grand finale that captures the spirit of global football. From Ultimate Team changes to realistic gameplay and women’s league integration, this installment pushes boundaries while paying homage to the franchise’s legacy.
1. A Historic Milestone: The End of the FIFA Era
FIFA 23 isn’t just another annual release—it’s the culmination of 30 years of collaboration between EA and the global football organization FIFA.
The split between EA and FIFA marked a significant moment in sports gaming history. With FIFA 23, EA aimed to close this chapter on a high note, blending nostalgia with innovation. Legacy features, such as the authentic licenses, official kits, stadiums, and commentary teams, return with added depth and polish.
This symbolic final edition sets the foundation for EA's next phase, while also giving longtime fans a chance to experience one last classic under the FIFA name.
Pros: Strong licensing, historic significance, emotional connection for longtime fans
Cons: Transition concerns about EA’s post-FIFA future
Rating: 4.5/5
2. Gameplay Overhaul with HyperMotion2
FIFA 23 introduced HyperMotion2 technology, an enhanced animation engine designed specifically for next-gen consoles and PC.
With over 6,000 new animations captured from real-life matches and training sessions, players move more realistically than ever before. Dribbling, tackles, and first touches feel smoother and more responsive, while acceleration and sprinting have been adjusted to reflect different player archetypes.
The new AcceleRATE system adds layers to player movement. Players are categorized into styles like Explosive, Lengthy, and Controlled, allowing for more diversity in playstyles and tactical flexibility.
Pros: Realistic animation, better player differentiation, enhanced immersion
Cons: Only available on next-gen and PC, occasional awkward transitions
Rating: 4.6/5
3. Cross-Play and Platform Integration
For the first time in franchise history, FIFA 23 introduced cross-play between platforms of the same generation.
Players on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC can now compete in 1v1 matches across FUT, Seasons, and more. This has unified the player base and significantly improved matchmaking times. However, cross-play is not yet available in all modes, like Pro Clubs, which disappointed parts of the community.
Cross-progression is still limited, meaning progress in FUT or Career Mode does not carry between consoles or generations. Still, this is a major leap forward in connectivity and competitiveness.
Pros: Faster matchmaking, wider competition pool, future-ready infrastructure
Cons: Limited to select modes, no full cross-progression
Rating: 4.2/5
4. Ultimate Team: Chemistry Redefined
FUT (FIFA Ultimate Team) remains FIFA 23’s most played and profitable mode, but this year, it received a fundamental redesign in how team chemistry works.
The new chemistry system eliminates positional restrictions and introduces a more fluid link-based model. Players can gain chemistry across the entire squad rather than relying strictly on adjacent positions, giving users more flexibility when building dream teams.
World Cup content, ICONs, and dynamic events continued to support FUT throughout the year. Still, monetization and pay-to-win complaints persisted, especially with the randomness of packs and prevalence of top-tier cards.
Pros: More freedom in squad building, consistent seasonal content
Cons: Heavy monetization, pack-based rewards still dominate
Rating: 4.1/5
5. Career Mode Improvements
Career Mode received several overdue updates in FIFA 23, pleasing fans who prefer offline or single-player experiences.
The addition of playable highlights lets users jump into crucial match moments without playing the full 90 minutes. Transfer analysis and dynamic manager ratings give more depth to off-pitch decisions, while real-world managers like Pep Guardiola and Antonio Conte are now playable options.
Although features like training and scouting remain relatively unchanged, the immersion factor and cutscenes have improved slightly, keeping career mode engaging throughout a season.
Pros: Playable highlights, real managers, better decision feedback
Cons: Still lacks innovation in long-term simulation and youth systems
Rating: 4.0/5
6. Women’s Football Expansion
FIFA 23 takes a massive step forward for women’s football, introducing fully licensed women's domestic leagues for the first time.
Players can now play in England’s Barclays FA Women’s Super League and France’s D1 Arkema. Alongside returning national teams, women’s football feels more represented than ever before. New animations and player models were developed specifically for female athletes, enhancing authenticity.
EA has laid the groundwork for further expansion in the upcoming EA SPORTS FC era, but modes like Career and FUT still lack deeper women’s integration.
Pros: Expanded women's leagues, improved authenticity, major inclusion milestone
Cons: Limited to Kick Off and Tournament modes, no Career or FUT integration
Rating: 4.3/5
7. Pro Clubs and VOLTA Fusion
Pro Clubs and VOLTA Football were partially merged in FIFA 23 to streamline social play and reward systems.
Both modes now share progression, meaning you can level up your avatar in either mode and unlock cosmetics that apply across the board. VOLTA arcade minigames return, while Pro Clubs offers deeper customization and seasonal progression.
However, the lack of cross-play in Pro Clubs sparked community backlash. Despite small improvements, many felt the mode remained stale and underdeveloped compared to Ultimate Team.
Pros: Unified progression system, improved cosmetics and leveling
Cons: Still lacks full cross-play, minimal innovation in Pro Clubs
Rating: 3.8/5
8. Visual Presentation and Match Day Experience
Presentation is one of FIFA 23’s strongest assets. The game shines with broadcast-style realism, dynamic weather effects, and enhanced crowd behavior.
Real-time pitch degradation shows scuffs, mud, and wear as matches progress. Goal net physics, referee animations, and halftime analysis segments all add depth. Stadium-specific atmospheres (like Anfield’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone”) make each match feel authentic.
Commentary, while still repetitive, now includes new duo combinations and context-aware reactions to milestones and rivalries.
Pros: Stunning visuals, lifelike stadium atmosphere, immersive animations
Cons: Commentary still lacks diversity, crowd AI occasionally odd
Rating: 4.7/5
9. World Cup and Seasonal Live Content
FIFA 23 capitalized on the 2022 Qatar World Cup with a dedicated tournament mode and real-time squad updates.
Players could relive the tournament through both licensed teams and custom scenarios. The live World Cup Mode reflected real-world group stages, knockout rounds, and results as the actual tournament progressed.
Seasonal content extended into FUT and VOLTA, with limited-time objectives, themed kits, and player cards. This integration added life and variety to the game during the global event.
Pros: Immersive World Cup mode, live updates in sync with real events
Cons: Limited offline customization, seasonal content disappears post-event
Rating: 4.4/5
10. Legacy and Future Beyond FIFA
As the final FIFA-branded title, FIFA 23 serves as a transition point into EA SPORTS FC—a new beginning for the franchise.
While the gameplay core will likely remain intact, EA plans to innovate through new partnerships, more flexible licensing, and deeper community integration. With FIFA 23, the developers demonstrated a commitment to finishing strong and honoring decades of player loyalty.
The legacy of FIFA as a game series spans generations. Despite criticisms around monetization and yearly updates, its cultural impact and technological achievements remain undeniable.
Franchise-Wide Pros: Unmatched authenticity, broad mode variety, strong online infrastructure
Franchise-Wide Cons: Repetitive annual updates, microtransaction-heavy economy
Rating: 4.6/5
Conclusion: A Beautiful Goodbye to FIFA
FIFA 23 is a love letter to football fans worldwide. It captures the essence of the sport with unmatched realism, inclusive representation, and engaging modes across both solo and multiplayer formats. While issues like monetization and some stagnant features persist, the game still delivers a robust and satisfying football experience.
As EA prepares to enter a new era with EA SPORTS FC, FIFA 23 stands tall as a worthy send-off to a legendary partnership. For longtime players and new fans alike, it’s a must-play title that honors the past while hinting at a bold future.
Final Franchise Rating: 4.6/5 — A respectful, feature-packed finale for a football icon.
