FIFA 23

PS5, Xbox Series X, PC, Nintendo Switch (EA)

The final whistle has blown on EA’s relationship with FIFA: a marriage that began in 1993 with FIFA International Soccer on the Mega Drive and ends in divorce with FIFA 23 (a game that brings in the new, while not quite ushering out the old).

Pucker up for a solid five hours of licensed music - including tracks by Bad Bunny, Jack Harlow and Danger Mouse - accompanying the commentary, as Kyle Walker bounds around the pitch. FIFA 23 is the first in the series to introduce women’s club football, albeit just the England and French leagues – it’s a surprise EA took so long to score this goal for women’s equality.

Fictional team AFC Richmond and their manager Ted Lasso also make an appearance - a great idea let down by the lack of voice actors from the hit TV show.

When it comes to the beautiful sport, there isn’t much here we didn’t see in FIFA 22. Power shots and victory lap replays, intense penalty shoot-outs, and cross-play between PS5 and Xbox Series X consoles: there’s plenty of foot-friendly activity to keep you in short trousers until Christmas.

The drama, once again, is spread across different modes. Quick Play is an arcade-esque single match exercise. In Career mode, guide a player or manager from rookie to pro. Volta brings flashy street football to the masses, while EA’s Ultimate Team flogs virtual player cards for real world cash: a cynical money grabber without much merit.

Until now, EA’s biggest calling card has been its licenses and FIFA 23 has over 30 real-world leagues, 100 licensed stadiums and 19,000 players. Will the loss of all that official content relegate next year’s EA Sports FC to a lower division? Watch this space.

7/10