Beyond the immediate gameplay, FIFA 23 Coins predictably focuses its updates on the mode which earns EA biggest money. The microtransaction-ridden Ultimate Team is flush with additions, but Career Mode and Volta Football barely get a look-in, which says much about EA's long-standing attitude to these modes, especially in this supposedly ornamental final FIFA-branded entry.

It's the same issue we've had regarding Madden NFL 23 along with NBA 2K23: despite how we hate the way they have the advantage of tilting the field to benefit the person who spends the most, so many players are playing and spending on it that EA is constantly doubling down on it instead of the fair and balanced games we like more.

FIFA 22 is the next technological advancement in the field of virtual football and , while it's not re-inventing the ball, the attacking and defending gameplay gains moment-to-moment fluidity. Inconsistencies in goalkeeping and visuals aside this year's FIFA remains to be one of the most refined and enjoyable multiplayer sports games available on the market. Furthermore, new features across Career Mode and Volta Football are making FIFA's primary modes more fun to play.

Microtransactions continue to be a huge issue however small, incremental changes and the power of the latest-gen consoles makes FIFA 22 feel like a worthy upgrade, without needing anything groundbreaking or even awe-inspiring from EA's part. - Jordan Oloman, September 27, 2021

Player Career comes with a new personality system which lets you play, with the most dramatic air quotes, pretend to be the player you choose to be. For me, this was equivalent to receiving 25 "Maverick Points to purchase a 'High-end Hybrid Mattress' for a Serbian striker in the K-League, so you can imagine how long I stayed with that.

It is now possible to choose the real Manager (or Ted Lasso, however real you judge him to have been) that you're able to take on Manager Career also, but unless you're looking to play as Jason Sudekis' mute, or dress Eddie Howe in a cheapest FUT 23 Coins lovely sweater, there's really little to do but enjoy the awkward cutscenes.