FIFA 23: Release date, cover stars, new features & more
By Tom Gott
The new football season is right around the corner, and that means the next instalment of EA Sports' FIFA series is fast approaching too.
FIFA 23 promises to be the biggest and best version of the game yet, and the hype is really starting to build ahead of its release later this year.
Here's all you need to know about FIFA 23.
When is the FIFA 23 release date?
As of yet, there is no formal release date for FIFA 23.
History suggests it will launch in the autumn. FIFA 22 was released on 27 September, while FIFA 21 came a little later on 6 October.
Who is on the FIFA 23 cover?
On the cover of FIFA 23 Standard Edition will be Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe for the third year in a row.
He retains his place on the Ultimate Edition alongside Chelsea Women forward Sam Kerr, who becomes the first female player to ever make the cover of a FIFA game.
“It’s an honour and a dream come true to be on the cover of FIFA 23.” said Kerr. “It’s been incredible to work with Kylian and the whole EA SPORTS team, and I can’t wait for fans to get their hands on a copy of the game."
Kerr will also be on the cover of the Standard Edition in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in an Amazon exclusive release.
FIFA 23 new features
HyperMotion2
FIFA 22 was modelled around the all-new HyperMotion technology, and FIFA 23 will bring an improvement on that with the launch of HyperMotion2*. The gameplay will now feel more immersive than ever, with team and player movement as realistic and responsive as it has ever been.
*HyperMotion2 technology is only available on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Stadia.
Women's football
There is a whole new system for women's footballers in the game, with all-new animations designed to mirror the movements of real-life female players.
Women's football will play a prominent role in FIFA 23 with the addition of the Barclays Women’s Super League and Division 1 Arkema.
Technical Dribbling
FIFA 23 comes with a whole new dribbling system known as Technical Dribbling, which has been designed to make dribbling - and movement in general - more responsive.
It's the default style of dribbling this year and players with high stats will notice it more.
Is the World Cup in FIFA 23?
The World Cup mode is back.
There is a game mode for the 2022 World Cup, but also one for the 2023 Women's World Cup which will be held in Australia and New Zealand. Further details of these tournaments will be released in the future.
FIFA 23 trailer
The FIFA 23 release trailer went live at 17:00 (BST) on 20 July.
Is FIFA 23 cross-play compatible?
For the first time ever, fans on different consoles will be able to play FIFA together.
Current-gen players on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be able to face each other, while next-gen players on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Stadia, and PC can play alongside one another as well.
However, the feature is not available in Pro Clubs.
Why is FIFA changing to EA FC?
FIFA 23 will be the final game in the iconic FIFA series, with EA Sports already confirming the next game will be part of a major rebrand.
The rights deal between EA and FIFA comes to an end in 2023 and the next game will instead be titled EA Sports FC.
The game itself and its most popular modes are expected to remain the same, while EA will continue to use their licenses for 9,000+ players, 700+ teams, 100+ stadiums and 30 leagues to make the game as realistic as possible.