With the game just days away, a new set of FIFA 23 Pitch Notes have arrived for FIFA 23 Ultimate Team.
We've got all the details here including Early Access timing and several FUT 23 launch updates ahead of the official FIFA 23 release date.
FIFA 23 Pitch Notes: FUT Launch Update, Early Access
The wait for FIFA 23 continues to shrink, and the latest Pitch Notes arrival gives an extensive Ultimate Team update heading into launch.
While most of the update focuses on key FUT 23 details, EA has also given some extra clarity on the timing of Early Access heading into the launch of FIFA 23.
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Here's what EA had to say about launch timing and the first FUT 23 arrivals:
- Companion and Web App Launch: We know getting active in the Transfer Market is a big part of your launch plans. Starting from September 21st you’ll be able to log into the Web App and from September 22nd you'll be able download a refreshed version of the Companion App.
- Early Access launch: If you’ve pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition, or if you’re an EA Play or EA Play Pro member you’ll be able to jump into FIFA 23 from September 27th. EA Play members will be able to play up to 10 hours via the early trial. Ultimate Edition owners & EA Play Pro (on PC) members will get unlimited access to FIFA 23.
- Worldwide launch: And if you’ve purchased the Standard Edition you’ll be able to jump in from September 30th.
- Team of the Week 1, available September 21st - 28th & Team of the Week 2, available September 28th - October 5th. Team of the Week features a selection of the best-performing players from the world of football from the previous week’s games.
- Silver Stars Live FUT Friendly will return alongside Team of the Week 2, where you can compete with Silver teams to work towards rewards in FUT.
- In addition we’ll be kicking off the start of the Ones to Watch campaign with the first Squad Building Challenge (SBC) player, available only through the early access window.
Ones to Watch
FIFA 23 will lead off with Ones to Watch (OTW) celebrating top transfers of the summer on this schedule:
- September 30th - October 7th OTW Main Team
- October 2nd - October 7th OTW Mini Release
If you pre-ordered the Ultimate Edition, you'll receive an OTW item (untradeable) based on when you open the pack:
- September 30th - October 2nd OTW Main Team Only
- October 2nd onwards OTW Main Team & Mini Release
Team of the Week
A longtime mainstay, TOTW is getting an increase in the potential OVR a Featured TOTW item can get with the goal of increasing squad variety.
Featured TOTW items may also get Skill Moves and Weak Foot Attribute upgrades based on the moments that earned them a card.
Player of the Month
FUT 23 will include POTM items from the Premiere League, LaLita, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, and Eredivisie.
In addition to higher potential OVR (like TOTW), POTM may have more drastic attribute changes or Weak Foot and Skill Moves to reflect their performances.
Heroes
We'll also see the return of FUT Heroes starting on September 30 with base versions of Heroes available in packs at the start.
The first Campaign Heroes to be introduced will be at the FIFA World Cup in November 2022.
Icons
There are three new Icons in FUT 23:
- Gerd Müller: The original record breaker, Müller set records at club and international level for fun. His goals pushed West Germany to a World Cup™ win in 1974, and in the process he became the highest FIFA World Cup™ scorer of all time, a title he held for 32 years before being surpassed by Ronaldo Nazário in 2006.
- Xabi Alonso: At home in any elite European club, Alonso has amassed an impressive trophy collection including UEFA Champions League, LaLiga and Bundesliga trophies. The highlight of his career achievements was helping Spain to their first ever FIFA World Cup™ win in 2010.
- Jairzinho: Hailing from Brazil, a country known for their world class wingers, Jairzinho is fondly remembered as one of the best. On the way to winning the 1970 FIFA World Cup™, Jairzinho did something no player had ever done before and has never done since - scoring in every FIFA World Cup™ finals match from group stage to the final.
Base and Mid versions of all Icons, including these three, will be available at launch with additional versions released in FUT 23 at later dates.
Campaign Icons will replace Icon Moments in FUT 23 with smaller, more frequent updates.
FUT Store Update
There will also be some changes to FIFA Points Bundles, and you can see the differences between FUT 22 and FUT 23 here:
Pre-Season Rewards & EA Play Benefits
Players eligible for FUT 23 rewards from the FUT 23 Pre-Season Campaign will have those granted on October 13th, and they must be redeemed by November 14th.
EA Play Members will get the following in FIFA 23:
- 10 hour EA Play Early Access trial
- 10% member discount on FIFA Points
- FUT XP Boosts every season
- Monthly FUT Stadium customisation Items
- VOLTA Coins and Apparel Items every season in VOLTA FOOTBALL and Pro Clubs
That's everything from EA about FIFA 23 in the latest Pitch Notes, but we'll surely learn more as the game finally arrives.