FIFA 23: Breaking Down Regional Covers and Newest Features

FIFA 23 from EA Sports, the last in a 30-year run before becoming "EA Sports FC," stresses the importance of the occasion with its covers.

Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain superstar, again graces the cover of the game's various editions. He's done so in FIFA 21 and FIFA 22 as well.

But joining Mbappé this year is Sam Kerr, Chelsea forward and winner of the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award and Golden Boot.

Both superstars grace the cover of the game's Ultimate Edition together, but Kerr gets her own specialized solo regional cover in Australia and New Zealand. This is the first time a female player has been on a global cover (outlets like Amazon will sell it online outside the region) of the game, according to Kotaku's David Smith.

Past cover stars besides Mbappé have included Lionel Messi (FIFA 13, 14, 15 and 16) and Cristiano Ronaldo (FIFA 18 and 19), so it speaks to the momentous occasion that Kerr takes the stage.

Call it perfect timing, too. This year's game marks the debut of the Women's Club Football mode that features the Barclays FA Women’s Super League and Division 1 Arkema.

While the game has kept the details about the mode a secret besides the playable clubs within those leagues, the suite of gameplay upgrades and additions that feature in it is not so secretive.

What EA Sports has dubbed "Hypermotion2" is the latest evolution to the on-pitch action.

A developer diary from the game's website explains how motion capture will boost all facets of the experience: "Data from two new full-match motion capture shoots and five training drills with professional teams - including a FIFA-first motion capture of a women’s match - leads to more high-quality, true-to-life animations than ever before in an EA SPORTS™ FIFA title."

This means droves of new animations compared to last year. In addition, a brand new dribbling system promises organic motions based on momentum, defender location and more. Speaking of defense, that same motion-capture work promises more natural and adaptive defenses after a reworking of the jockeying system.

Perhaps most notable after motion capture work is how different players will reach their top speed differently when using sprint. The type of trigger pull and on-pitch factors like defenders, surface and differences between individual players could mean no two players accelerate the same, just like in real-world broadcasts.

Outside of behind-the-scenes stuff to make the gameplay feel more authentic and diverse, straight-up new features improve the experience too.

Power Shots is a prime example. Players can now choose to enable this instead of a normal shot and add more power to a shot, but it's a risk-reward gamble that might not pay off.

Next-generation consoles will now power new impact physics that gives heightened importance to individual limbs involved in a play.

That's not a typo or exaggeration, per the game's website:

"Deflections and blocks from defenders and goalkeepers’ arms, legs, hands, and even fingers will now have more realistic outcomes determined by the impact of the ball upon them, as they absorb the power of the shot to affect the ball’s path and create more visually authentic deflections based on the speed and force of each individual strike."

Some presentation tweaks mean an upgraded on-pitch experience too, with new set pieces and redesigned corner camera angles aimed at realism as notables.

Based on what has gone public so far, FIFA 23 will again push the boundaries of what's possible in a sports video game as it gets comfortable with the next-generation tech of consoles.

That it's the last in the current branding of the series and a landmark moment for Kerr only makes the package more appealing as a must-see moment in video games.