FIFA 23 is here, and fans are already getting stuck into the last game to bear the title. Thanks to EA Sports and FIFA ending their agreement, the decades-old title will no longer feature as part of the gaming landscape, which means FIFA 23 is acting as the final chapter in the series. It has many enhancements, including new Ultimate Team challenges and an expansion to the women’s game.
The demand for early access was such that Eurogamer reports servers were temporarily down two days before it was officially released to the public. Ultimate Team was unplayable as they struggled to cope with demand from those chasing early access. All that demand proves how popular the series is, and that’s before the anticipated World Cup DLC.
The World Cup kicks off in Qatar just six weeks after FIFA’s release, which means early DLC for fans to enjoy. If you’re going to be engrossed in the World Cup, then here’s everything you need to know about the expected DLC.
What’s Included?
The World Cup mode is one of the most exciting yet. The base game will include all of the stadiums from Qatar and the official teams. That means a return to FIFA for teams like Colombia and Bolivia, who were omitted from FIFA 22 as the international section was chopped right back. Indeed, even fans of Iran, rank outsiders in the current Ladbrokes odds, can be guided to the final in the official World Cup mode. Can you take them to the final, defeating England and the United States along the way? FIFA’s World Cup DLC will let you find out.
However, much of the enjoyment comes from controlling the best players in the world, and that’s where the World Cup mode will excel. Favorites such as Brazil and France will likely feature boosted players in Ultimate Team mode, meaning the World Cup mode will impact your general gameplay. Ultimate Team also tends to have a special game mode added to run alongside the World Cup, so even if you’re not trying to get Iran out of their group, you may still incorporate their players into your Ultimate Team.
What’s New?
In a unique twist to the World Cup theme, EA Sports teamed up with Marvel to deliver a new set of legends cards linked to the competition. Initially, this will be five heroes, including Park Ji-sung, Landon Donovan and Yaya Toure. They’ll be illustrated cards rather than featuring the photo of the player and will be included with the base version of the game. However, once the World Cup DLC drops, they’ll be boosted and available to add to your Ultimate Team.
Why Is It So Anticipated?
Normally, a World Cup takes place in June and July, meaning the World Cup content is only playable for a couple of months before the new FIFA comes out. This World Cup is different; it’s played in November, meaning the content will be good for ten months. That means gamers have longer access to the features and the special players that release.
The World Cup Final is scheduled for December 18, meaning some great Christmas content could be linked to the final. Expect that to include special cards for players appearing in the final, again with longevity for players that goes beyond 2022 and deep into 2023.
However, EA Sports will seek to release their new game, EA Sports FC, in autumn 2023, so this will be the last World Cup game they handle. Given how World Cup 2010 helped relaunch their brand, it’s a shame to see the collaboration end, but it still promises to be the best edition yet.