It will be the end of an era when FIFA 23 arrives in September, the last game in the series under the partnership between EA Sports and FIFA.
Maybe that’s why so many big changes were announced this week, with EA clearly intent to go out with a bang. An obvious change confirmed is the exclusion of Russian clubs and the Russian national team from FIFA 23, with the country’s invasion of Ukraine still ongoing.
“In line with our partners at FIFA and UEFA, EA Sports will not include the Russian national team or Russian clubs in FIFA 23,” an official statement shared to Eurogamer said.
“EA Sports stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people and like so many voices across the world of football, calls for peace and an end to the invasion of Ukraine.” Russian players and clubs had previously been removed from FIFA 22 immediately following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year.
Another change that’s been welcomed is the inclusion of the first-ever women’s club football league, with the English Barclays’ Women’s Super League set to feature in FIFA 23. That means fans will be able to play as players like Australia’s Sam Kerr for her club Chelsea.
The much-anticipated cross-play will also arrive in FIFA 23, but not without controversy. Cross-play between PlayStation, PC, and Xbox players will supported on the game, but not on the hugely popular Pro Clubs mode.
That’s what prompted many fans to question the decision. Virtual Pro Gaming released a statement asking for more information about the reason to exclude Pro Clubs.
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“This decision confirms to me that you either do not care about Pro Clubs, or are so out of touch that you really don’t understand what players want,” the statement said.
If you want to see how the final game in the series ultimately turns out, FIFA 23 is expected to be released on September 30th. It’s truly the end of an era.
For more on this topic, follow the Gaming Observer.
Check out the trailer for FIFA 23:
👉🏼 @EASPORTSFIFA @EAFIFADirect
We would like a more detailed response to why Cross-Play was not added into pro clubs for FIFA 23.
The community is standing together, please give us answers. #SaveProClubs pic.twitter.com/NQVtwwcfPa
— Virtual Pro Gaming (@OfficialVPG) July 21, 2022
FIFA 23 will include a new xG feature from free kicks. pic.twitter.com/N3dNWKSrWU
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) July 21, 2022
The fact that the highly-monetized mode of FIFA 23 (Ultimate Team) is getting cross-play while it’s quite possible for EA to implement cross-play for modes like Pro Clubs where the community has been BEGGING for this is ridiculous. Make this right. Please #SaveProClubs pic.twitter.com/RZgYdTC0KZ
— Lando Calrissian (@Lando_31) July 20, 2022
EA finally introducing cross-play to FIFA 23 but not putting it in the only game mode (pro clubs) that actually needs it is everything I expect from them
EA doing EA things
— JCC (@WorldofJCC) July 18, 2022
Sam ker has literally put wsl on the map man
Great https://t.co/gciQiRQ17l— EDIDEM MME NDIDEM 😈😈😈🏅📈📊📉 (@Edidem1996) July 21, 2022
https://t.co/fN1LfNX3nG pic.twitter.com/XkCzaKXbKA
— Kevin (@_KVNYNG) July 20, 2022
