--- title: "EA SPORTS FIFA 23: Offline Player's Guide" game: "EA SPORTS FIFA 23" game_url: "https://qna.gg/games/ea-sports-fifa-23" author: "Qloud" author_url: "https://qna.gg/players/Qloud" topics: ["Cheat sheets"] summary: "What still works in FIFA 23 in 2026, and how to get the most out of it: controls and HyperMotion2-era gameplay, Power Shots and the reworked set pieces, attacking and defending fundamentals, Career Mode (manager and…" url: "https://qna.gg/g/ea-sports-fifa-23-offline-player-s-guide-16972cc8" published: "2026-09-27T16:42:41.267Z" updated: "2026-09-27T16:42:41.267Z" source: "QnA.GG" --- # EA SPORTS FIFA 23: Offline Player's Guide What still works in FIFA 23 in 2026, and how to get the most out of it: controls and HyperMotion2-era gameplay, Power Shots and the reworked set pieces, attacking and defending fundamentals, Career Mode (manager and player) in depth, and the World Cup modes. *Researched September 2026 — current as of FIFA 23's final PC build. The game is unlisted on Steam and its online servers were shut down on October 30, 2025 (per Wikipedia). Live games change; check the linked sources if something differs.* > **Status (read first):** FIFA 23 was the last FIFA-branded EA game. **It's no longer sold on Steam** ("unlisted at the request of the publisher"), and **online servers closed on October 30, 2025** — so **Ultimate Team, Pro Clubs, online Seasons, online VOLTA and online friendlies are gone.** If you already own it, **offline modes still work**: Kick-Off, Career Mode, Tournaments, Skill Games, local multiplayer, and the World Cup content added by updates. The franchise continues as **EA SPORTS FC** — buy the current FC game if you want online play. --- ## Quick Start 1. **Use a controller.** FIFA is designed around a gamepad; the controls below use Xbox names (PlayStation: LB = L1, RB = R1, LT = L2, RT = R2, A = X, B = Circle, X = Square, Y = Triangle). 2. **Learn Power Shots early.** LB + RB + Shoot unleashes a slow-windup, high-power, manual-aim shot. Deadly from the edge of the box when you have space. 3. **Don't sprint everywhere.** HyperMotion2 animations punish sprint-spamming; jog with the ball and burst when you have space. 4. **Defend with jockey (LT), not sprint.** Hold LT to shadow the attacker and let your teammates cover passing lanes. 5. **Set Career Mode difficulty to taste**, and use Custom Sliders if matches feel too arcadey or too slow. 6. **Scout young players** in Career Mode — scouting and youth academy are where long saves are won. 7. **Use Playable Highlights** in Career Mode to jump straight into the key moments of a match and save time. 8. **Back up your saves.** With no online services, local and cloud saves are what you have. --- ## Controls Cheat Sheet (Classic, Xbox layout) ### Attacking | Action | Input | |---|---| | Short pass / header | A | | Lob / cross | X | | Through ball | Y | | Shoot | B | | **Power Shot** | LB + RB + B | | Finesse shot | RB + B | | Chip shot | LB + B | | Sprint | RT | | Skill moves | Right stick | | Shield / slow dribble | LT | ### Defending | Action | Input | |---|---| | Jockey | LT (hold) | | Standing tackle | B | | Slide tackle | X | | Contain / teammate contain | A / RB (hold) | | Switch player | LB or right stick | | Rush goalkeeper | Y (hold) | **Tip:** Turn on **Auto Switching** assistance or keep it on "Air Balls" — manual switching (right stick) is much better once you're comfortable. --- ## FIFA 23 Gameplay Features ### HyperMotion2 and Technical Dribbling FIFA 23 uses HyperMotion2 (machine-learning animations, current-gen/PC) and a **Technical Dribbling** system with "Active Touch" for more responsive first touches and close control. What that means in practice: - Close control is best with small left-stick movements, not sprint. - Turns and changes of direction look (and are) weightier — use shielding and body feints. ### Power Shots - **Input:** LB + RB + B. - Long animation: if a defender is close, you'll get blocked. Only use it with space. - **Manual aim**: you place the shot yourself, so misses are on you. - Strong from the edge of the box and on volleys from cut-backs. ### Set pieces (reworked in FIFA 23) - **Free kicks and corners** use a new system with a visible aim target and contact point. Adjust the contact point to add curve, dip or knuckle, then time power. - **Penalties** use a **composure ring** mechanic: the ring shrinks, and firing when it's in the sweet spot makes the shot more accurate. Composure and pressure affect the ring. ### Tactics - In **Game Plan** (D-pad), set Defensive/Balanced/Attacking presets and team tactics. - **Formations to start with:** 4-2-3-1 (balanced), 4-3-3 (possession, wide attack), 4-4-2 (simple, two strikers). - **Custom tactics**: Width, depth and player instructions let you, for example, keep fullbacks back or push a striker to "stay central". --- ## Attacking Fundamentals - **Triangles**: pass-and-move with short A passes, then play through with Y when a runner is between center backs. - **Switch play**: lob (X) across to the far winger to exploit space. - **Cut-backs**: get to the byline and pull the ball back (A) to an arriving midfielder — the highest-percentage chance in most FIFA games. - **Finesse shots** (RB + B) to the far corner from 12–18 yards when a winger cuts in. - **Skill moves**: learn a few rather than all: ball roll, heel-to-heel flick, stepover, drag back. 5-star skillers unlock more. ## Defending Fundamentals - **Jockey, don't charge.** Pressing with sprint pulls your defenders out of shape. - **Stay goal-side.** Let AI teammates cover passing lanes while you control the defender between the ball and goal. - **Tackle when the dribbler's touch is heavy**, not when the ball is glued to their feet. - **Slide tackles** are for last-ditch or covering from behind at an angle — mistimed slides give away penalties and cards. - **Contain teammate** (RB hold) doubles up on dribblers but leaves space elsewhere. --- ## Career Mode ### Manager Career - **Real managers**: FIFA 23 added real-world managers to Manager Career, so you can take over as yourself or play as a real manager. - **Playable Highlights**: play only the key moments of a match (you choose how many) — ideal for fast long saves. - **Transfer Analysis** tells you how a signing fits the squad, and you can use it to assess whether to buy. - **Club budget and board objectives**: meet objectives (league position, youth development, brand exposure) to keep your job and your budget. - **Create Your Club**: build a custom club, choose a league slot, and set expectations. **Manager tips** 1. **Hire scouts early** and send them to regions known for cheap talent. Set scouting instructions (age, potential, position) instead of generic searches. 2. **Youth Academy**: set your youth scouts' instructions, and promote prospects when they're ready to play. Loan young players for development. 3. **Development plans**: move players to new positions (e.g., CM to CDM) to fill holes and improve their overall at a needed role. 4. **Sharpness and form**: rotate and train. Players with high sharpness perform better. 5. **Sell high**: players in their late 20s with rising value are your best sell-on assets. 6. **Negotiate release clauses** and wage structures — they drain the budget quietly. ### Player Career - **Personality system**: choices and performances push you toward archetypes (**Maverick**, **Heartbeat**, **Virtuoso**), which unlock perks. - **Activities** (off-pitch purchases) give boosts and influence personality. - **Playable Highlights** and "play as player/team" options let you focus on your own contribution. - Build rating through match ratings and training; focus on attributes that match your position. --- ## Other Offline Modes | Mode | What it is | |---|---| | **Kick-Off** | Quick matches, including house rules and local multiplayer | | **Tournaments** | Run league/cup competitions offline | | **Skill Games** | Drills that teach dribbling, passing, shooting and set pieces — great for learning Power Shots and the new free kicks | | **FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022** | Added by a free update on 9 November 2022, with men's World Cup tournament and presentation | | **FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023** | Added by a free update in June 2023, with all 32 qualified nations, stadium dressings and dedicated commentary | | **Women's club football** | English WSL and French D1 Arkema teams (the first club-level women's teams in FIFA) | --- ## PC Setup - FIFA 23 on Steam launches through the **EA app** and uses EA's anti-cheat. Keep the EA app installed and signed in; offline modes still need the game to launch correctly. - **Controller**: Xbox controllers work natively. PlayStation controllers work but may need Steam Input. - **Graphics**: Lower crowd and cloth quality first if frame rates dip in cinematic moments. - **Camera**: "Co-op" or "Tele Broadcast" with a bit of height and zoom gives the best view of runs. --- ## Common Mistakes to Avoid - **Buying FIFA 23 for online play.** Servers are closed; buy the current EA SPORTS FC game instead. - **Sprinting with every touch.** Slows your turns and loses the ball. - **Power Shots under pressure.** They get blocked. - **Pulling defenders out of position** with sprint-press defending. - **Ignoring sharpness and training** in Career Mode. - **Not scouting**: Career saves stall when you only buy famous names. - **Not backing up saves** before major changes. --- ## Advanced Tips - **Lobbed through balls** (LB + Y) cut through high defensive lines — the AI's high line is vulnerable to them on higher difficulties. - **Learn every shot type in Skill Games** (finesse, chip, power) — knowing which one fits which angle is worth more than any skill move. - **Custom sliders** (Career Mode) let you tune sprint speed, pass error, and fatigue for more realistic simulations. - **Development plans** can turn cheap wingers into strikers with good finishing. - **Youth scouting in bigger nations** tends to produce more high-potential players — check the region's talent info before sending scouts. - **Set-piece routines**: practise a signature free kick in Skill Games and always go for it in Career Mode. --- ## FAQ **Can I still play FIFA 23 online?** No. Online servers shut down on October 30, 2025 (per Wikipedia). Only offline modes remain. **Can I still buy FIFA 23 on Steam?** No — it's unlisted on the Steam store at EA's request. Existing owners can still download and play. **What happened to Ultimate Team?** FUT was online-only and ended with the server shutdown. **Does Career Mode still work?** Yes. Manager and Player Career are offline and fully playable. **What replaced FIFA?** EA SPORTS FC (starting with FC 24) — same core series under a new name after the FIFA license ended. **How do I do a Power Shot?** Hold LB + RB and press B (L1 + R1 + Circle on PlayStation), then aim manually. --- ## Sources - [EA SPORTS FIFA 23 Steam page (unlisted notice)](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1811260/) - [FIFA 23 — Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_23) - [EA Service Updates / online service retirement](https://www.ea.com/service-updates)