FIFA 23

FIFA 23: The Final Whistle – A Look Back as the Pitch Shifts to FC 25!

As mid-2025 rolls around, FIFA 23, released in September 2022, is firmly in the rearview mirror for most players. While it holds a significant place as the last game in the long-running FIFA series developed by EA Sports, the focus has entirely shifted to its successor, EA Sports FC 24 (released September 2023), and the eagerly anticipated EA Sports FC 25 (released September 2024, and the current active game).

For players still holding onto FIFA 23, the experience is largely a static one, maintained by a dedicated modding community rather than official updates.

FIFA 23 in Mid-2025: A Game in Retirement

FIFA 23 was a landmark title, being the last installment under the official FIFA license before EA Sports branched off to create its own football simulation series.

• End of Official Support: EA Sports officially ceased live service and major content updates for FIFA 23 shortly after the launch of EA Sports FC 24 in September 2023. This means no new seasons, no new promotional events in Ultimate Team, and no major gameplay patches from the developer.
• Player Count Decline: Unsurprisingly, the active player base for FIFA 23 has dwindled significantly. According to Steam Charts, FIFA 23 saw a peak of around 2,709 players in the last 30 days leading up to June 2025, with a 24-hour peak of only 2,024. This is a stark contrast to its all-time peak of over 110,000 players at launch. The vast majority of players have migrated to EA Sports FC 24 (which averaged over 10,000 players in May 2025 on Steam, with a peak of 96,314 in May 2025 for EA FC 25) or are now anticipating EA Sports FC 25.
• Community-Driven Updates (Mods): For PC players, the life of FIFA 23 continues through its robust modding community. Websites like Nexus Mods host numerous fan-made updates. As recently as February 2025, there were “Squads Updates for FIFA 23” to reflect real-world transfers, and other mods to update themes, kits, and even add new leagues (like the Brasileirao). This shows a dedicated niche keeping the game alive, particularly for those who prefer specific features or the final “FIFA” branding.
• Ultimate Team (FUT) Market: The FIFA 23 Ultimate Team market is now largely stagnant. Without new card releases, promotional events, or a large active player base, card prices would have settled into predictable patterns, with very little major fluctuation. Trading and investment strategies are effectively over.
• Career Mode: Career Mode remains playable, but without any official updates from EA, rosters are frozen at the last official update from late 2023. Modders have provided some “24-25 season” updates for leagues for PC players.

FIFA 23’s Innovations at Launch: A Look Back

When it launched, FIFA 23 introduced several notable features, many of which laid the groundwork for the EA Sports FC series:

• HyperMotion2 Technology: This was a significant leap in animation capture, utilizing real match data from actual football games to create over 6,000 realistic animations. This resulted in more fluid player movement, realistic tackling, and authentic ball physics, particularly on the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC versions.
• Women’s Club Football: For the first time, FIFA 23 included women’s club teams from the FA Women’s Super League (England) and the Division 1 Arkema (France), significantly expanding the playable content and roster.
• Cross-Play (Limited): A highly requested feature, FIFA 23 introduced cross-play for players on the same generation of consoles (PS5 with Xbox Series X|S, PS4 with Xbox One) in 1v1 modes like FUT Division Rivals, FUT Champions, and Online Friendlies. This helped consolidate player pools.
• Redesigned Set Pieces: Corner kicks, free kicks, and penalties were overhauled, offering players more control over ball placement, power, and curl.
• Power Shots: A new, high-risk, high-reward shooting mechanic that required precise timing and extra input for powerful, but slower, shots.
• FUT Moments: A new single-player mode in Ultimate Team offering bite-sized challenges to earn “Stars,” a new currency for purchasing players and packs.
• Overhauled Chemistry System in FUT: This was a major change, simplifying links between players based on shared clubs, leagues, and nations, regardless of position. Icons and FUT Heroes always had maximum chemistry.
• New FUT Heroes and Icons: A continuous flow of legendary players (like Yaya Touré, Park Ji-Sung) and new Icons added to the Ultimate Team roster.

The New Era: EA Sports FC 24 and EA Sports FC 25

The football simulation landscape has moved on. EA Sports FC 24 (the first post-FIFA game) saw its player counts drop significantly by mid-2025 (Steam average around 2,886 players in late June 2025), largely due to the release of EA Sports FC 25.

• EA Sports FC 25 (Current Game): Released in September 2024, FC 25 is the current flagship. Its Steam player count in May 2025 averaged over 52,000 players, with a peak of over 96,000, indicating a healthy active player base. Recent updates for FC 25 (June 2025) include:
  • Season 8: Launched on June 27, 2025, bringing new content and rewards.
  • Gameplay Balance: Adjustments to ground pass accuracy, reduced effectiveness of rushing goalkeepers, and increased accuracy of headers.
  • Ultimate Team Updates: Increased the maximum number of PlayStyle+ assignments on UT Player Items to five, and new Premium Pass content. The Ultimate Team transfer market for FC 25 is still active and dynamic, with ongoing player transfers and promotions influencing prices.
  • Career Mode Enhancements: Refreshed UI for Fixtures & Results, new ICON selections for Player Career, and 5v5 Youth Tournament Matches in co-op for Manager Career.
  • Final Squad Updates: Recent updates (June 2025) for FC 25 also include the latest real-world transfers (e.g., Liam Delap to Chelsea, Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid rumors), face scans, and player rating changes, reflecting the ongoing football season.

Conclusion: FIFA 23’s Legacy Fades as FC Takes the Field

FIFA 23 stands as a significant marker in football gaming history – the end of an era. While it brought valuable innovations like HyperMotion2 and cross-play, its official support has long concluded. The focus has decisively shifted to EA Sports FC 24 and, more importantly, the currently active EA Sports FC 25, which continues to receive regular updates, fresh content, and engage a massive global community.

For those nostalgic for the final FIFA-branded game, the PC modding scene offers a way to keep FIFA 23 somewhat updated. However, for the cutting edge of virtual football, the dynamic, evolving experience now resides entirely within the EA Sports FC franchise. FIFA 23 will be remembered as the curtain call for a legendary name, paving the way for a new chapter in digital football.