Starting in 2023, EA aims to establish the new “EA Sports FC”, but there will still be a FIFA 23 in collaboration with FIFA beforehand. What can players expect?
Here’s the situation: In recent days, it has been officially announced that EA Sports and FIFA (the football world federation) will part ways. However, this will only take effect from 2023, during which summer EA Sports plans to release further information on what the new “EA Sports FC” will look like. At the same time, FIFA intends to release its own game, which it claims will be the “only authentic, real, best game” (via fifa.com).
However, since this is only starting next year, a strange situation arises where FIFA and EA Sports will still release another game according to the old scheme one year before, even though it’s already clear that they intend to continue without each other.
What kind of game will it be despite the separation?
What is already known about FIFA 23?
This is officially clear so far: It is certain that a FIFA 23 will be released this year, adhering to the known model. This also suggests that it will maintain the usual release window in the fall – although this has not yet been officially confirmed.
Concrete information regarding FIFA 23 is comparatively sparse so far, but one can glean at least a little from the statements of EA and FIFA regarding the separation.
Cam Weber from EA briefly mentioned FIFA 23 in his statement, stating that it will be “our most extensive game to date with our current naming rights partner FIFA […]. We will ensure that the next FIFA will be our best game ever, with more features, game modes, World Cup content, clubs, leagues, competitions, and players than any other FIFA title before.”
This mostly sounds like “more of everything we already know” – which is not surprising, as one is familiar with this from the FIFA series.
Additionally, Weber stated that the following features from FIFA will return in “EA Sports FC”:
- Ultimate Team
- Career Mode
- Pro Clubs
- VOLTA Football
Therefore, it is also expected that these features will appear again in FIFA 23 and will be expanded – one will not take a break for any of the modes.
What stands out in Weber’s statement is the topic of “World Cup content.” This is also addressed in the FIFA statement: “Furthermore, FIFA has agreed to a short-term contract extension with the existing publisher EA SPORTS to release this year’s version of the FIFA game 23, which will feature both the men’s and women’s World Cups for the first time in one game,” it states (via fifa.com).
Accordingly, it is conceivable that the World Cup could play a significant role in FIFA 23. This could also relate to the fact that this year’s World Cup will be held in winter rather than summer. This falls completely within the period when FIFA titles typically receive the most attention – shortly after their release.
It would, therefore, be advisable to focus on this. At the same time, FIFA has announced additional games related to the World Cup, but without EA Sports’ involvement. It remains open how much FIFA will implement in these projects – and what EA Sports will ultimately be allowed to do in FIFA 23.
The Danger of a Transition Title
What about further innovations? EA Sports refers in its statement to “fresh opportunities to be innovative, to create, and to evolve” – but in relation to EA Sports FC. It is still unclear what fan requests will be implemented in FIFA 23. It is conceivable that crossplay will play a role, as tests are already underway.
But otherwise? There, we must wait and see.
After all, the current situation reads somewhat like the classic football dilemma when an important player leaves the club. One already knows in February that the top striker might play for the competition in the summer – but he still has to remain until the new season and perform well. However, in the case of EA Sports and FIFA, this period lasts over a year.
Now, there are, at least simplistically speaking, two options:
- Option A: The striker and club pull together and consistently finish the season. The striker scores goals, the club wins, the fans are happy, and in the end, they part ways amicably.
- Or Option B: They fall out, the striker sits on the bench and saves himself for the new club while the old club is dissatisfied because it continues to pay and receives no performance. The fans are angry with both, and the atmosphere is poor.
In which direction EA Sports and FIFA will go will likely become clear in the coming weeks and months. Typically, the marketing machinery for the next FIFA installment kicks off in the summer. Therefore, it shouldn’t be long before the first impressions of FIFA 23 appear.
Then it will become apparent whether FIFA 23 will just be a transition title – or whether the new game can present exciting innovations.
Before that happens, FIFA 22 is first entering its “season finale”. Recently, the Bundesliga Team of the Season was released.
Therefore, it is also expected that these features will appear again in FIFA 23 and will be expanded – one will not take a break for any of the modes.
What stands out in Weber’s statement is the topic of “World Cup content.” This is also addressed in the FIFA statement: “Furthermore, FIFA has agreed to a short-term contract extension with the existing publisher EA SPORTS to release this year’s version of the FIFA game 23, which will feature both the men’s and women’s World Cups for the first time in one game,” it states (via fifa.com).
Accordingly, it is conceivable that the World Cup could play a significant role in FIFA 23. This could also relate to the fact that this year’s World Cup will be held in winter rather than summer. This falls completely within the period when FIFA titles typically receive the most attention – shortly after their release.
It would, therefore, be advisable to focus on this. At the same time, FIFA has announced additional games related to the World Cup, but without EA Sports’ involvement. It remains open how much FIFA will implement in these projects – and what EA Sports will ultimately be allowed to do in FIFA 23.
The Danger of a Transition Title
What about further innovations? EA Sports refers in its statement to “fresh opportunities to be innovative, to create, and to evolve” – but in relation to EA Sports FC. It is still unclear what fan requests will be implemented in FIFA 23. It is conceivable that crossplay will play a role, as tests are already underway.
But otherwise? There, we must wait and see.
After all, the current situation reads somewhat like the classic football dilemma when an important player leaves the club. One already knows in February that the top striker might play for the competition in the summer – but he still has to remain until the new season and perform well. However, in the case of EA Sports and FIFA, this period lasts over a year.
Now, there are, at least simplistically speaking, two options:
- Option A: The striker and club pull together and consistently finish the season. The striker scores goals, the club wins, the fans are happy, and in the end, they part ways amicably.
- Or Option B: They fall out, the striker sits on the bench and saves himself for the new club while the old club is dissatisfied because it continues to pay and receives no performance. The fans are angry with both, and the atmosphere is poor.
In which direction EA Sports and FIFA will go will likely become clear in the coming weeks and months. Typically, the marketing machinery for the next FIFA installment kicks off in the summer. Therefore, it shouldn’t be long before the first impressions of FIFA 23 appear.
Then it will become apparent whether FIFA 23 will just be a transition title – or whether the new game can present exciting innovations.
Before that happens, FIFA 22 is first entering its “season finale”. Recently, the Bundesliga Team of the Season was released.
