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Introduction
FIFA 23, the latest entry in EA Sports' long-running football video game series, has garnered both praise and criticism. One of the most scrutinized aspects of the game is the Career Mode, a mode that allows players to take control of a team or a player and guide them through multiple seasons of football action. While FIFA has continuously improved its gameplay and graphical realism, Career Mode has faced issues year after year. In this article, we will deeply examine the specific issues surrounding FIFA 23's Career Mode, from AI behavior and lack of meaningful progression to bugs and limited customization options. We will explore how these challenges impact the overall experience and discuss potential solutions to improve the mode.The AI Behavior: Stale and Unresponsive
The Illusion of a Dynamic Career Mode
AI behavior has long been a criticism of FIFA's Career Mode, and FIFA 23 is no exception. Although the game’s interface and player models have become more realistic over time, the AI’s ability to react in a dynamic and intelligent way to player actions or events in the career feels shallow and unrefined.- Transfers: One of the most significant areas where AI behavior falters is in the transfer market. Teams rarely make intelligent signings that reflect the needs of their squads, leading to a lack of strategy in the game. Big clubs often make signings that don't make sense in real life, and smaller teams fail to take advantage of the talent pool available to them.
- Tactics and Formations: The AI teams also struggle to adapt tactically. Despite advancements in other areas of the game, opposing teams continue to play rigid, predictable formations with limited variation. This reduces the challenge players face in career mode, as opposing teams rarely adjust to changing circumstances, leading to an uninteresting, repetitive experience.
The Lack of Dynamic Events
AI managers in FIFA 23 also fail to react in meaningful ways to in-game events such as injuries or poor performances. In real-life football, managers often make mid-game tactical changes to influence the result, but FIFA 23's Career Mode lacks such flexibility.- Tactical Adjustments: While players can make changes during the match, the AI opponent does not respond in kind. AI teams do not switch formations or strategies dynamically. Even when a player goes down with an injury, AI managers rarely make tactical shifts based on the injury’s impact on the squad. This contributes to the lack of immersion in the career experience.
Progression Systems: Too Linear and Repetitive
Player Growth: An Underwhelming System
One of the core features of Career Mode is the ability to develop players over time, but in FIFA 23, the player growth system remains largely unchanged and unremarkable. While young players may develop in terms of their attributes, the overall system feels stale and lacks depth.- Player Development: The development of players in FIFA 23 Career Mode is too simplistic. The skill development process revolves primarily around completing specific training drills, which can become repetitive and fail to create a sense of excitement or reward. There is little to no connection between the development of a player and the narrative of their career.
- Managerial Growth: The managerial progression system also leaves much to be desired. Managers have limited ways to grow in terms of their abilities, and while they can earn new licenses, the rewards for these licenses often feel hollow. Players do not feel any substantial advancement in their managerial career, leaving the experience feeling uninspired.
The Lack of Meaningful Career Milestones
Another significant issue is the lack of meaningful career milestones or goals in FIFA 23. While players can achieve success through winning leagues and cups, the game doesn't give them enough challenges or ways to interact with the game's deeper systems.- Transfer Goals: In previous iterations of Career Mode, players were tasked with goals related to transfer budgets and player signings. FIFA 23, however, fails to provide any tangible incentives to pursue these goals, making the transfer market feel disconnected from the overall progress of a player’s career.
- Long-Term Progression: The lack of long-term, career-defining objectives means players often feel aimless after a few seasons. There are no overarching stories or objectives tied to the manager’s career, leaving players feeling that they are simply moving through an endless loop of seasons without purpose.
Transfer Market: An Unrealistic and Underwhelming System
Lack of Transfer Negotiation Depth
The transfer market in FIFA 23 feels unrealistic and underwhelming, particularly in terms of negotiation mechanics. While there have been improvements over the years, the process still fails to capture the intricacies of real-life player transfers.- Unrealistic Transfer Deals: Players frequently see deals that would never occur in real-life football, such as top players moving for a fraction of their market value. The lack of negotiation depth means that even top-tier clubs struggle to sign the players they need, often making poor decisions during the transfer windows.
- Limited Agent Interaction: FIFA 23 also lacks meaningful interaction with agents during player negotiations. The lack of such depth further exacerbates the issue of unrealistic transfers. In reality, agents play a huge role in the transfer process, influencing negotiations, player destinations, and contracts. Without a robust system, the transfer window feels more like a superficial transaction than a dynamic, engaging process.
No Impactful Squad Dynamics
The game fails to emphasize the importance of squad dynamics in the transfer process. In reality, transfers are deeply influenced by the squad’s needs and chemistry between players. In FIFA 23, transfers feel detached from the needs of a team, and player morale has little impact on how transfers play out.- Player Morale and Chemistry: Although player morale is part of the game, it does not significantly affect transfer decisions or performances. Players often leave clubs without considering how the transfer might affect the team's chemistry. This makes the transfer window feel like a static event rather than one that adapts to the unique needs of each team.
Career Mode Customization: Limited and Lacking
Lack of Customization Options
FIFA 23 offers limited customization options for both players and managers. While players can edit their appearance and attributes, the lack of depth in terms of customization makes the Career Mode experience feel generic.- Limited Manager Customization: In terms of manager customization, players only have a handful of preset options. There are no meaningful choices related to manager personality, background, or appearance that could impact the story. This shallow level of customization detracts from the immersion, as players have no opportunity to shape their manager’s journey.
- No Personalized Storylines: The lack of personalized storylines or narrative arcs for managers means that players have little incentive to invest in creating a unique manager. This contrasts with other sports games, where the player’s choices and actions have a direct impact on the unfolding story.
The Lack of Stadium and Team Customization
In FIFA 23, stadium and team customization options are significantly lacking. While players can alter their kits and logos, the lack of deeper customization options (such as stadium design or club culture) limits the role of personal expression within Career Mode.- Stadium Design: FIFA 23 misses the opportunity to allow players to design and personalize their stadiums, an element that could enhance immersion and allow players to develop a unique home ground.
- No Influence on Club Philosophy: The lack of influence over a club's long-term philosophy, such as the development of youth academies or brand-building, feels like a missed opportunity. These areas could create more engaging narratives and provide players with a sense of direction and purpose.
Bugs and Technical Issues: Hindrances to Gameplay
Game-breaking Bugs
FIFA 23 Career Mode is marred by several game-breaking bugs and technical issues that negatively impact gameplay. These bugs detract from the overall experience and make it frustrating for players who expect a polished product.- Managerial Interface Glitches: The interface sometimes experiences glitches, where actions like squad selection or player negotiation become unresponsive. This significantly disrupts the gameplay flow.
- Match Simulation Issues: Many players have reported issues with match simulations, where the AI-controlled teams behave erratically or don't reflect realistic football patterns. These bugs diminish the quality of simulated seasons, an integral part of Career Mode.
Patch Fixes and Updates
While EA releases patches and updates to address bugs, many of the issues persist for extended periods. The lack of consistent and effective patching exacerbates the frustration, as bugs continue to affect the experience.- Delayed Updates: Updates that fix certain bugs often take too long to arrive, leaving players frustrated and unable to enjoy the full Career Mode experience. This delayed response time reflects poorly on the overall development and quality assurance process.
