FIFA 23 Release Date, Gameplay, And Trailers
Every year fans eagerly await the end-of-year release of the FIFA games, signalling the new season of football and the latest title for gamers to put their skills to the test. FIFA 23 will also be the last title to stick with the FIFA name, as EA recently confirmed the switch to EA Sports FC going forward in 2023. If you're already falling off the latest FIFA title and are eagerly awaiting the popularity boom that comes with the game's launch, we've got you covered with everything we know about FIFA 23.
FIFA 23 Release Date
The official FIFA 23 release date is finally here, and the standard edition is due to release September 30, with FIFA 23 early access coming to EA Play and Ultimate Edition users on September 27.
This is roughly the time period that we were expecting, as it is just one day before the release date of the previous title. As usual, subscribers to EA Play will get a 10 hour trial, and EA Play Ultimate users plus those who have preordered the Ultimate edition of the game will get full access three whole days early. It is a great opportunity to get a head start in game modes like Ultimate Team, which can really give you an edge in the early game grind.
Will FIFA 23 Have The EA Sports FC Name?
Previous leaks saw that EA Sports is looking to overhaul some of their major sporting titles, and though we originally thought FIFA 23 might get the brand-new EA Sports FC name, it's been confirmed that the first title debuting with this name will come in 2023. Having stuck with the name since the first-ever FIFA was released back in 1993 (FIFA International Soccer), the 20th anniversary of the game's release will now see EA rebrand to EA Sports FC. This means that this year's iteration will be staying as FIFA 23, but it will also be the last, and the end to a long-running partnership between both companies.
Click to enlargeWill FIFA 23 Be Free to Play?
Despite leaks pointing to the contrary, and the recent action of Konami making their eFootball franchise free to play, FIFA 23 will remain as as paid title at least for this year.
The Standard Edition of FIFA 23 is likely to set you back £69.99/$79.99 on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X│S, with the Ultimate Edition coming in at £89.99/$99.99 for the added benefits. Additionally, you can pick the Standard Edition up for £59.99/$69.99, or the Ultimate Edition for £79.99/$89.99 on PC.
FIFA 23 New Features
Will FIFA 23 Be Cross-Play?
Whilst there are also leaks of cross-platform progression, thanks to DonkTrading and others, cross-play still remains the number one feature desired by FIFA fanatics.
At the moment, FIFA players can only play with friends and opponents on the same console, leaving Romeo and Juliet romances from PlayStation to Xbox being impossible. The previous-generation consoles also can't mix with new-generation unless the latter uses a downgraded version of the game - severely depleting the popularity of Pro Clubs. Cross-play will be the number one wanted FIFA 23 feature.
Will EA Sports FC Have Naming Rights?
One of the largest holes in FIFA at the moment is the fight for naming rights, with eFootball nabbing the rights to the likes of Serie A sides Juventus and Atalanta, and stadiums like the Allianz Arena. With the dropping of FIFA (the name of the footballing governing body), it is feared that the developers will struggle to keep the trademarks and naming rights to Europe's elite leagues and teams when EA Sports FC comes to fruition.
Despite the uncertainty, EA has been explicit in stating that they believe any rebranding will help secure more naming rights, which will be a nice added bonus for a FIFA 23 feature. We know that FIFA 23 will still retain most of the naming rights that it had in the previous years entry, but don't be surprised to some familiar names altered slightly.
Stay tuned for more FIFA 23 leaks and features as they are unearthed before the release in late September.
