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via HyperMotion2. With twice as much real world motion capture as FIFA 22 , this year’s mocap was taken from multiple matches and training sessions. Also, look out for signature run styles for superstar players, which will highlight the visual difference between your key players. Stars such as Mbappé and Messi all have unique movement features, so you’ll be able to easily identify them on the pitch. DEFEND!

An era ends, with FIFA 23 the last official coupling of FIFA and EA.While next year will herald the arrival of EA Sports FC , the existing franchise is going out with a bang, including many new and exciting features to celebrate EA’s time at the helm of one of gaming's most important sports titles.We take a look at just some of the highlights Words Dan Nicholson World Cups galore This year is a huge year for football, with IT’S THE FINAL KICK-OFF!

With the inclusion of new attacking options, defence comes at a premium. FIFA 23 will introduce new natural goalkeeper and defender mechanics to properly simulate the real-world responses of the key position players.

• FIFA 23 is out on Sept 30

Goalkeeper physics will include some new animations around their fingers, so rather than seeing the ball hit just a flat hand, you’ll see individual fingers move as they deflect balls away from the goals. While you may not catch this at first glance, this is going to look pretty spectacular on the slow-motion replays. Defenders and goalkeepers will also now respond more accurately to line of sight.

This means that if your keeper is blocked from seeing the ball by another player, they’ll react more slowly to shots on goal. No longer will you have psychic super-players diving across to block impossible shots. However, you’ll need to be mindful of positioning your defenders to allow everyone to see what’s happening. And now, the end is near… FIFA 23 is a thoughtful update of

both the men’s and women’s World Cup events scheduled. We’ll see all of the national teams included as free DLC, so we’ll all be able to represent our country of choice on the big stage from November 11. Luckily, we’ll be able to experience the heat of the finals without the heat of the actual venue, with the men’s tournament kicking off in the open oven that is Qatar! You have entered “power drive” FIFA 23 sees the inclusion of a new, high risk, high reward mechanic, the PowerShot. This will allow players to wind up a massive kick from distance to slam a ball home past the keeper. Powershots will come with their own unique animations and, while you’re not guaranteed to score, 60 per cent of the time they’ll work. Kicking for glory It wouldn’t be a new FIFA game without a complete overhaul of free kicks and penalties. New mechanics have been included for each situation to provide players with a new level of challenge when lining up for goals. Free kicks will use a combination of right and left sticks to provide direction for your kicks, as well as targeting the spot on the ball to strike. Meanwhile, penalties will utilise a more intuitive mechanic that will require players to time their shots against a pulsing circle around the ball. Get it right, and the ball will zip past the keeper like they’re standing still. Incorrect timings will see the ball sail into the car park behind the stadium.

Get hyper! HyperMotion was a great new feature last year, providing more detailed images of players in movement, and this year it’s been expanded

the game that we have known and loved for nearly 30 years. As the EA sports era of FIFA comes to a close, it’s certainly planning to go out in style.

Aussie legend Harry Kewell will feature in FIFA 23 , returning to the game as a FUT Hero. Like Tim Cahill last year, he'll also have a Hero poster, now with an exciting Marvel tie-in. We recently had a chance for a brief word with the man himself, and asked the big question, “Are we going to get your avatar with the Harry Kewell signature ponytail, or the business time crewcut?” Said Kewell, “I’ve always loved having different styles of haircuts, and I’m starting to grow it out again. I figure, why not enjoy it? But I do think that some of my best years were when I had my short back and sides. So that’s what you’re likely to see.” KEWELL WORLD

10 SEPTEMBER 2022

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