However the fact that Ultimate Team's bread and FIFA 23 Coins butter of purchasing and selling absurd little boys is difficult to recommend. Even if I still have some pleasure with it each year without having to pay, the problem is the barbarous nature in which it's easy to get into debt, if you're able to go full Gollum by purchasing one last player pack.

In addition to consolidating the transfer markets, there have been no substantial changes to EA's morally suspect approach to microtransactions, but I did notice that ratings are increasing during the spectacle, which somehow makes it feel even more as if it's a one-armed bandit...

Despite continuous pressure from regulators, microtransactions that allow players to win are, unfortunately, still a problem on FIFA 23. Loot box appear in form of player-filled card packs inside FIFA's popular Ultimate Team mode. It is possible to purchase FIFA Points in bundles, beginning in PS0.79 at 100 FIFA Points and rising to an astounding PS79.99 with 12,000 FIFA Points. The Premium Gold Pack costs 150 FIFA Points and contains 12 gold-rated players or consumables that can be used in-game or sold on the transfer market.

According to the company's policy, EA told Eurogamer that FUT Lootboxes "are a part to FIFA that players enjoy," and that "giving players the choice to spend whenever they'd like is fair." The company has no plans to shift its policy in the direction of "surprise mechanics" unless laws are passed that force it to. This doesn't make it any better however it is worth noting that due to some of those laws , you can currently set weekly limits on FIFA Points spending and pack to open in Ultimate Team, and see the likelihood of getting the highest-rated player prior to opening an actual pack. FIFA 23 also features time-limited Preview Packs that let you see what's inside a pack prior to deciding to purchase it. However, this currently only works for only one pack of cards which refreshes every day.

FIFA 23 is a wild swan song for the series (under its current name at the very least) with a refreshing emphasis on the theatrical. FUT Moments and action replays as well as viral-friendly game design tweaks like Power Shots make it a better-thought-out, memorable sport of football simulation, featuring intentional defense, as well as plenty of goals and drama. However, their Spartan approach to the modes which don't generate revenue ensures cheap FIFA 23 Coins is an all-too-familiar model to previous years and Ultimate Team's focus on microtransactions continues to take much of the fun out of the game.