FIFA 23: Release Date, FUT Details, Best New Features and Cover

It's that time of the year. The Champions League is back, the Qatar World Cup is just a couple of months away and a new FIFA—the very last FIFA—is available for purchase.

With EA Sports confirming that its soccer series will officially drop the FIFA title and become "EA Sports FC" starting in 2024, this year's game marks the end of a virtual era. After nearly 30 years of simulated soccer, FIFA 23 arrives on September 27, 2022 with new features and technology befitting the occasion.

In the real world, soccer is marching toward its quadrennial fever pitch. Beginning in November 2022, 32 countries will send their teams to Qatar for the men's World Cup. Then, in July 2023, the women's World Cup will be contested by 32 nations in Australia and New Zealand.

This year's FIFA makes no mistake of its timing, with the Ultimate Edition's cover featuring both French star Kylian Mbappé and Australian star Sam Kerr—as the latter becomes the first woman to grace the game's cover in franchise history.

Within the game, too, the World Cups and cover diversity are reflected. FIFA 23 will allow players to play through both World Cups and, for the first time ever, also give players a chance to enjoy women's club football.

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New Features: HyperMotion2, Cross-Play and More

From a technological standpoint, FIFA 23 is shifting to HyperMotion2, which promises double the real-world motion capture and over 6,000 reality-inspired animations. Consequently, these will allow players to enjoy a number of new mechanics—from power shots, bouncing shots and diving headers to outside-of-the-foot passes and backheel tackles.

In another franchise first, FIFA 23 will also feature full cross-play, allowing players from last-gen consoles, current-gen consoles and PC to compete across modes.

While there are a number of new additions to the Career and VOLTA modes, another point of emphasis has been the improvement of the game's AI. As EA explained, the CPU will now be more responsive to score, match time, and available substitutes when adjusting formation and playstyle mid-game.

FUT 2023

The bread and butter of the franchise, Ultimate Team will also be seeing change in FIFA 23. On an elementary level, the mode's updated player ratings should provide some excitement for new and returning players.

Champions League hero for Real Madrid, Karim Benzema is now the game's highest-rated base player with an overall of 92. And, as far as the biggest movers, fellow Frenchman, Paris Saint-Germain striker Hugo Ekitiké's rating has jumped a whopping 15 points—from 61 to a serviceable 76.

In terms of FUT's actual structure, it's the same mode as fans have become used to, but with some adjustments and additions. There's more stadium customization and a revamped chemistry system, as well as expanded matchmaking and market options with the arrival of cross-play.

Lastly, the franchise is delivering a new option for FUT players who prefer to go solo. With "Moments," users will be able to play through single-player challenges that occupy specific in-game scenarios (e.g. scoring with a goalkeeper, coming back from down 0-2, etc.). Beating these challenges will award players with a new "stars" currency, which can then be traded in for players, packs and the like.

Overall, FIFA 23 aims to deliver on a decades-old tradition of authenticity in virtual soccer, while delivering enough change for a worthwhile grand finale for the franchise's name.