The upcoming FIFA 23 will introduce online crossplay to the series, allowing players to engage in virtual soccer games across various gaming platforms. This year's entry in the annual EA Sports franchise promises to introduce exciting new features like HyperMotion2 Technology, a new shooting mechanic, and FIFA World Cup tournaments for both men and women. With the FIFA and EA partnership finished, the series is expected to go in a dramatically different direction following FIFA 23. However, the franchise's last entry under Electronic Arts will deliver a highly requested feature in the form of crossplay that expands the title's pool of virtual soccer players.
Set for release on September 30, 2022, FIFA 23 will build upon the series' prior titles while introducing a wide range of new features and graphical enhancements. The title's HyperMotion2 technology will create over 6,000 realistic soccer animations by capturing performance data from real athletes. A new shooting mechanic, refreshed free kicks, and more realistic physics will improve the feel of moment-to-moment gameplay on the field. FIFA 23 Ultimate Team will boast a revamped Chemistry system, too, while Career Mode has been made more exciting thanks to Playable Highlights. The inclusion of both the Men's and Women's World Cup in FIFA 23 is also set to improve the franchise's representation of female athletes and women's club teams.
Alongside HyperMotion2 and the Women's World Cup, one of the most exciting features coming to FIFA 23 is online crossplay. This highly requested feature will let virtual soccer fans hit the field together, even if they are playing the game on two completely different consoles. The multiplayer feature has made its way into many popular online games, like the Call of Duty franchise, and now FIFA 23 will introduce it into the series. FIFA 23 will only let certain consoles connect to specific other consoles, however, rather than lumping every player into one massive pool.
FIFA 23 Crossplay Will Create Two Distinct Online Pools
Developer EA has announced that FIFA 23 will be a crossplay game, with every platform able to connect with other platforms within their particular group. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One will be grouped together into one last-generation ecosystem, allowing players on both consoles to face off in online multiplayer. A current-generation pool will then let PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Google Stadia users play together on the digital soccer field. At launch, crossplay will be available in FUT Division Rivals, FUT Champions, FUT Ultimate Online Draft, FUT Online Friendlies, FUT Play a Friend, Online Friendlies and Online Seasons. Crossplay will also lead FIFA 23 to include multiple groupings of the FUT Transfer Market, and the EA Social widget will let players find and connect with friends across platforms more easily.
With FIFA 23 introducing crossplay, it seems likely that more new FIFA games will include the beloved feature in the future. The online mechanic will dramatically increase the size of the soccer simulator's player pool, making it much easier to fill up lobbies and let friends play together. The crossplay ecosystems are operated between last-gen and current-gen consoles, minimizing any gap in performance between different platforms. Crossplay should be a huge boon to FIFA 23, though only time will tell how fans respond to the game's new multiplayer format.
Source: EA