FIFA 23 Important Notes guide screenshot

Important Notes

FIFA 23 Important Notes – Everything You Need to Know Before You Play



This section covers critical warnings, common pitfalls, irreversible decisions, missable content, difficulty spikes, grinding traps, online etiquette, save management, and things players often wish they knew from the start.

Warnings & Anti-Cheat


  • PC Anti-Cheat (EA Anticheat): FIFA 23 on PC uses EA's proprietary anticheat software. It runs at system level and may conflict with certain overlays, VPNs, or simracing software. Uninstall any third-party mouse acceleration or input managers before launch. The anticheat is known to cause performance drops on some rigs – disable it via the EA App settings if you only play offline (though this may prevent FUT access).

  • Nintendo Switch (Legacy Edition): The Switch version is a legacy port with no FUT, no cross-play, no new gameplay features, and uses an older engine. Avoid this version if you expect the full FIFA 23 experience.

  • Cross-Play Limitations: Cross-play exists only between same-platform generations (PS5/Xbox Series X|S/PC, and PS4/Xbox One separately). You cannot play with friends on different console families (e.g., PS5 vs PS4).

  • Online Disconnections: Unexplained DNF (Did Not Finish) penalties in FUT can lead to bans if frequent. Ensure stable internet, use wired connection, and avoid leaving matches early.


    • Irreversible Choices & Permadeath-like Mechanics


  • FUT SBC (Squad Building Challenges) Submissions: Once you submit players into an SBC, they are permanently consumed. You cannot get them back. ALWAYS double-check that you are not submitting a valuable untradeable card, a duplicate you meant to quicksell, or a player you might need later for objectives.

  • FUT Player Contracts & Consumables: Applying a contract or chemistry style to a card is irreversible – the consumable is used up. Do not apply a rare chemistry style (e.g., Hunter) to a gold common card you might replace soon.

  • Career Mode – Player Training (Create a Pro): When you allocate skill points to your virtual pro in Career Mode or Pro Clubs, they can be respecced only in limited ways (via reset tokens in Pro Clubs; in Career Mode you cannot respec at all once points are spent). Plan your build carefully.

  • Career Mode – Loan-to-Buy Options: When you accept a loan offer for a player, you may be forced to pay the agreed transfer fee at the end of the loan if the clause is active. You cannot cancel this mid-season. Only accept loans with optional buy clauses if you want to keep control.

  • Ultimate Team – Club Names & Kits: Your club name and kit selection are permanent for that FUT save. You can change kits via the catalogue store, but the club name cannot be changed once set (except via a one-time rename token from the store – limited availability).


    • Missable Content & Time-Limited Events


  • FUT Objectives & Season Pass: Many objectives expire at the end of each season (approx. 6 weeks). Rewards include packs, coins, and special players. Miss them, and they are gone forever. Always check the 'Objectives' tab regularly.

  • Limited-Time SBCs: Flash SBCs, Player SBCs (like POTM, FUT Heroes), and Marquee Matchups are available for a limited window (e.g., 24 hours to 7 days). If you skip them, you might never get that card again (unless re-released in a future batch).

  • Career Mode – Pre-Season Tournaments: Accepting or rejecting pre-season tournament invitations is a one-time choice per save. The tournament can yield bonus XP for your squad. Declining means you miss out on the rewards, but you can’t go back.

  • Volta Story Mode Choices: Volta's narrative has branching dialogue that can lock you out of certain skill-based rewards or endings. Replays are possible but require restarting the mode entirely.

  • Achivements/Trophies: Some achievements are tied to specific promotional events (e.g., ‘Score from a corner in FUT Champions’ during a certain weekend). If you miss the weekend, you cannot earn that achievement until the event cycles back (if ever).


    • Difficulty Spikes & Learning Curves


  • General Gameplay: The jump from Professional to World Class is steep due to tighter AI defensive AI and slower player reactions. Practice Skill Games (especially ‘Advanced Shooting’ and ‘Defending & Pressing’) before stepping up.

  • FUT Division Rivals: The skill-based matchmaking means you will eventually hit a ceiling where you lose most matches. Progress is tied to performance, not playtime. Do not expect to reach Elite Division quickly if you are new to the series.

  • Pro Clubs – Input Delay: Online Pro Clubs can have noticeable input lag, especially with high ping. This is a game issue; adapt by playing with simpler skill moves and early passing.

  • Penalty Shootouts: The new timed penalty mechanic (using the right stick) requires practice. Missing the timing window results in a weak shot. Spend 10 minutes in the penalty practice arena before playing online.


    • Grinding Traps & Time Wasters


  • FUT – Buying Packs with Real Money: Packs are gambling. The odds of packing a high-value card are extremely low (e.g., 1% chance for a top rare player). You will likely waste money. Stick to earning packs through objectives and SBCs.

  • Squad Battles Grind: Playing all 40 Squad Battles matches each week yields high rewards but is immensely time-consuming. For most players, Gold 2/3 is the best balance of effort vs reward. Do not force yourself to play all matches if you dislike the offline grind.

  • Career Mode – Training Drill Repetition: Completing every training drill to maximize player growth is tedious and can burn you out. You can sim most drills and still get decent growth if you set your training plan to ‘Balanced’.

  • Volta – Coin Grinding: Volta currency (Volta Coins) is hard to earn in large amounts. Buying vanity items early is inefficient; focus on upgrading your player’s attributes first.


    • Online Etiquette & Toxic Behavior


  • Message Drops: After losing, some players send abusive messages via platform chat. You can disable messages from non-friends in your console/PC settings. Do not engage.

  • Pausing Spam: It is considered poor etiquette to pause repeatedly during a match unless genuinely needed. FIFA has a built-in limit of 3 pauses per half, but some players use pauses to disrupt rhythm.

  • Celebrations & Replays: While not a rule, excessive celebration or watching full replays (especially after a lucky goal) is seen as disrespectful. Celebrate briefly or skip entirely to keep the game flowing.

  • Rage Quitting: Quitting a match early (before the end) grants your opponent the win, but you receive a DNF reduction that can lead to bans if repeated. Finish most matches unless absolutely necessary for mental health.


    • Save Management & Backup Advice


  • Career Mode Manual Saves: The autosave overwrites your progress before key matches. To avoid losing a season due to a bad result or bug, create a manual save before each transfer window, cup final, and youth academy promotion. You can keep up to 10 manual saves.

  • FUT No Manual Save: FUT is cloud-only; your club is saved on EA servers. There is no way to rollback a mistaken SBC or transfer. However, you can contact EA Support for accidental consumable use (rarely granted).

  • Cross-Platform Progress: Your FUT club, Volta progress, and Pro Clubs stats are tied to your EA account, not platform. If you switch from PS4 to PS5, you can transfer once via the Companion App. BUT Career Mode saves do NOT transfer across platforms.

  • Backup of Local Files (PC): Career Mode save files are stored locally on PC (Documents/FIFA 23/Settings). Back them up periodically to recover from corruption (common after large title updates).


    • Common Regrets – Things Players Wish They Knew Earlier


  • Chemistry Styles in FUT: Applying the right chemistry style (e.g., Hunter for pace, Shadow for defense) can make a mediocre player feel elite. Always check Futbin for recommended styles before applying.

  • Custom Tactics & Player Instructions: Default tactics are poor. Spend 15 minutes per squad to adjust formation, defensive line, and player instructions. This alone can elevate your win rate by 10-20%.

  • Market Timing (FUT): Always buy players on Sunday night/Monday (after Weekend League – lowest prices) and sell on Thursday/Friday (before Weekend League – highest prices). Avoid buying meta cards mid-week.

  • Career Mode – Release Clause: Always negotiate a release clause when signing high-value players so you can profit if a bid comes. Without one, you may lose the player for free on a contract expiry.

  • Skill Moves Overuse: In higher divisions, spamming skill moves is easily read. Focus on passing and off-the-ball movement instead. Practice 2-3 essential skill moves (ball roll, drag back, fake shot) rather than trying to execute complex combos.

  • Academy Players in Career Mode: Scouting high-potential youth players early (first season) gives you a cheap, loyal core for later years. Ignoring the academy leaves you paying inflated transfer fees for aging stars.


Final Note


FIFA 23 is a deep game with many pitfalls for new and veteran players alike. Take your time in menus, read SBC descriptions carefully, and never gamble money you can't afford to lose in FUT. The most common regret is rushing into irreversible decisions. Use this guide as a checklist before you jump into your first season or FUT match.