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

Defending

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

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)
• FIFA 23 — Wikipedia
• EA Service Updates / online service retirement