The 2022 World Cup will be the centre of attention in FIFA 23 for the foreseeable future, with daily promotional event content dropping in Ultimate Team on a daily basis.
In and amongst all the action, EA has dropped FIFA 23's Title Update #5.
Title Update #5 brings us plenty of bug fixes and adjustments across Ultimate Team, Career Mode, VOLTA Football and Pro Clubs.
Alongside these adjustments, EA has made a couple of gameplay changes that could significantly influence the effectiveness of one overpowered in-game mechanic.
Meta no more
The over-the-top through ball has been one of the most effective ways of getting beyond your opponent's defensive line for a long time now.
This lofted-through ball mechanic has been abused and manipulated in different ways to exploit certain kinks within the game throughout the years.
We all remember the famous kick-off glitch from a few titles ago where you could send one long lofted-through pass straight to your striker's feet in the attacking box.
This year, FIFA players even discovered a way of creating a 1v1 scenario from their own goal kicks with just a couple of simple steps involving a long over-the-top through ball.
However, it seems EA is beginning to address the overpowered nature of the lobbed-through ball by nerfing it in the latest Title Update...
Lofted through balls NERFED
The Title Update #5 Patch Notes involved the following gameplay changes:
- Decreased the accuracy of Driven Lobbed Through Passes aimed away from where the passer is facing.
- Lowered the ball trajectory height of Driven Lobbed Through Passes.
So, making an outrageous over-the-top through pass will o longer be so easy in FIFA 23.
This is another step towards total realism within FIFA, given that in the past you'd find average cards pulling off incredible long-range passes with ease.
However, in reality, only the very best creators in world football would be able to execute such difficult long-range passes with accuracy.
You are still able to hit accurate long balls but now you need to find the right player and the right scenario to execute them effectively.