In FIFA 23, cross-play will be available at launch in FUT Division Rivals (except Co-Op), FUT Champions, FUT Ultimate Online Draft, FUT Online Friendlies (except Co-Op), FUT Play a Friend, Online Friendlies, Online Seasons (except Co-Op Seasons) and the Virtual Bundesliga competitive game mode that is available to players based in Germany. Cross-play is initially enabled for all players when launching FIFA 23 for the first time, provided the platform level settings allow for it, and it can be opted out of at any time (more on that later in this article).
We want to ensure our product innovation is delivered at quality, and because of the technical intricacies of implementing cross-play, modes that pair players together such as Pro Clubs will not feature cross-play at this time. We see our community's feedback, and any potential cross-play updates, changes, and adjustments will be shared on @EAFIFADirect as they become available.
Note: cross-play availability can potentially be impacted on a platform by platform basis by things like planned or unplanned maintenances, server releases, Title Updates, unexpected downtime, or matchmaking updates.
Additionally, we are planning a new social widget called EA Social. EA Social will help bridge the gap between platforms for cross-play, and also allows players further ease of access when finding, adding, and playing with their local-platform and cross-platform friends.
With the addition of FUT cross-play for FIFA 23, the FUT Transfer Market will be expanded to include cross-platform functionality. The FUT Transfer Market will now be combined within pools of platforms with the exception of PC and Switch, which will continue to have their own separate Transfer Markets.
This means that the above platforms will effectively share the same FUT Transfer Market. For example, if you were to list an Item on Stadia, a PlayStation 4 player will be able to see and interact with it.
This means that the above platforms do not share a FUT Transfer Market with any other platform. This FUT Transfer Market update will apply to all players within FUT, and is not dependent on a player's cross-play opt in/out status.
With the implementation of cross-play, the Elite Top 200 will also have a global leaderboard. You can only view this leaderboard while you have cross-play enabled, but you can toggle between the global leaderboard and the same platform (local) leaderboard.
The same rules listed for the Division Rivals leaderboard apply to the Club Value Leaderboard as well. Platform splits are the same, and players are able to toggle between the global and local views if they have cross-play enabled.
Just like game invites, friend requests will appear in the social menu with a notification that allows you to directly accept or decline. If you miss it, the red indicator will show up on the social icon in the corner of your screen. When opened, the request can be found in the Friend requests tab.
Underaged accounts that have obtained parental approval to play online, will still be able to access all other cross-platform features. Further, underaged accounts can still add 1st party friends via existing 1st party flows and send/receive game invites within their own platform.
Note: players who opt-out of cross-play could potentially take longer to find an opponent when matchmaking, as opting out of cross-play naturally reduces the amount of potential opponents that could be found. Opting into cross-play will ensure that matchmaking will look for the largest pool of potential opponents possible.
Stay in the conversation on all things FIFA by liking us on Facebook , following us on our official Twitter and Instagram , our Dev twitter channel @EAFIFADirect, on the EA SPORTS FIFA Tracker and participating in the official FIFA Forums . Sign-up to receive emails about EA SPORTS FIFA and EA products, news, events, and promotions.
In a letter sent by global players union FIFPRO and the World Leagues Association, which has been seen by The Associated Press, FIFA is criticised for "unilateral decisions that benefit its own competitions and commercial interests" -- including the World Cup and expanded 32-team Club World Cup that debuts next year.
The letter said it is "inherently abusive" for FIFA to continue adding games while forcing players and leagues to adapt. It was addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Secretary General Mattias Grafstrom.
FIFA is urged in the letter to reschedule the revamped Club World Cup, due to take place in the United States in June 2025. The lineup includes Champions League finalists Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund as well as Manchester City and Bayern Munich, among others.
The unions and leagues also want FIFA to "review its decision" -- effectively scrap -- the Intercontinental Cup set for this December involving the same continental champions that will play in the Club World Cup six months later.
"FIFA has ignored repeated attempts by leagues and unions to engage on this issue," FIFPRO and World Leagues said, aiming to step up pressure before the football body's ruling council and congress of 211 member federations meet next week in Bangkok, Thailand.
"Should FIFA refuse to formally commit to resolving the issues, as set out above, at its upcoming council, we shall be compelled to advise our members on the options available to them, both individually and collectively, to proactively safeguard their interests," the letter said.
In response, FIFA rejected their claims that they made unilateral decisions to benefit its competitions in the international calendar. In the letter seen by Reuters, Grafstrom stated that they have regularly engaged with relevant stakeholders on the subject of the International Match Calendar (IMC).
"Consequently, there could hardly be a clearer demonstration not only that a genuine consultation took place but also that your views were very much taken into account during the course of that consultation," FIFA's letter concluded.
Teams in the Champions League and Europa League next season will play two guaranteed extra games in an opening-stage schedule running from September through January instead of December, using 10 midweeks instead of six across the three competitions.
"Players are being pushed beyond their limits, with significant injury risks and impacts on their welfare and fundamental rights," FIFPRO and World Leagues warn, adding the fixture squeeze is harming the ability of leagues to organize properly.
FIFA conservatively budgeted for more than $11 billion in revenue from 2023-26 -- about a 50% increase from the previous four years -- that did not include money from the inaugural Club World Cup expansion and a top-tier sponsorship confirmed last month with Saudi Arabian state oil firm Aramco. More Saudi sponsorship is expected with the kingdom set to host the 2024 men's World Cup.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has consistently said the extra money and playing opportunities are needed to raise the level of teams from outside Europe and South America, which traditionally dominate the World Cup and other international events.
He enhanced that reputation at the 2023 European U23 Championships in Espoo, Finland, taking silver behind Havard Ingvaldsen who subsequently broke Karsten Warholm's Norwegian record on his way to the World Championship final. Spitz then ran a sensational anchor leg in the men's 4x400m relay heats which went viral on social media.
"I could cry actually, when I think about it," he told Olympics.com in an exclusive interview. "It makes me so happy to have the opportunity to do it. It's a big honour for me every time I speak with him and also play with him.
At the start of April, Spitz spoke us from his training camp in Belek, Trkiye where former 200m world champion Ramil Guliyev and Olympic champion javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra are among those also gearing up for the season ahead.
"And she can perform for the whole year. Normal people will peak sometimes, but she's peaking for 365 days a year. Also in training, she goes 100 per cent everyday. I don't know how this is possible, but it's Femke Bol."
He said, "Normally I start the season in June but this year I have to start earlier. I really love relay. It's a team event and, sometimes in athletics, I miss the team spirit because you're alone and you have to work for yourself. It's way more fun to celebrate in a team. And I think I like to work for other people even more than for myself.
"Last year, the U23 was a very good week," he recalls. "I was in top form, top shape. But the rest of the year... In Budapest, my race was horrible. We did the mixed relay one day before the race and I had too much lactic there, so I was already dead at the beginning. It wasn't the best year for me.
"I've always had this feeling that there is so much more in me. And I'm pretty sure I can show that this year. I really hope I can. Training is going well and it's a really open event this year. Also at the Olympics, the 400m, you cannot predict it now.
"Last year, everyone was within a second of each other or a bit more. That's nothing. So everyone can win, everyone can lose. There are events where it's pretty clear who the finalists will be. But in the 400m, no one is safe."
"I really want to run 44 this year consistently, not just once. Making Paris would mean a lot, for sure. But I'll never be happy with just the qualification. I will go there to perform and qualification is just a step towards something big for me.
Spitz got into athletics through his mother who coached track in his hometown just south of Zurich. Regularly running up a steep hill to avoid being late helped him build speed and stamina.
He said, "In younger years, I wasn't even good. I didn't qualify for the national under-16 championships. At 17, I improved a bit, the intensity grew, but maybe I was in the top 10 in Switzerland for three or four years.
795a8134c1