FIFA 23 is just around the corner, with a tentative release date already set for the brand new game.
We've already looked at some of the leaks and rumours spilling out regarding this year's game, but now we want to explore the potential pitfalls of a returning feature is confirmed for FIFA 23.
We all love the World Cup, but could its arrival signal bad news for the rest of FIFA?
World Cup Distractions
The World Cup DLC has been confirmed to be arriving in FIFA 23, with plenty of people getting excited about the possibility of heading to the grandest stage.
World Cup Heroes have been confirmed, and we already know that an Ultimate Team spin-off is once again set to arrive.
Whilst this unique mode will offer a distraction from the sometimes formulaic nature of Ultimate Team and Career Mode, we're concerned that EA could spend too much time focussing on a mode that will only bare relevance for two months of the cycle.
Qatar 2022 arrives in the middle of the season, with everyone having to acclimatise to a winter World Cup.
The arrival of this tournament will no doubt have an effect on FIFA 23's cycle, with a focus shifting from club football to international games very quickly.
All this is to say, could other modes suffer from the World Cup's arrival?
Room to Improve
FIFA 22 was far from perfect, and it would be nice to see progression once FIFA 23 rolls around.
Ultimate Team needs a face-lift, with the constant promo cycle and arrival of boosted cards (who are usually French defenders) becoming tiresome to fans.
Career Mode is in desperate need of TLC, with the most popular offline mode becoming stale and - at times - unplayable due to numerous glitches.
Pro Clubs and VOLTA could also be left behind, with the former seeing very little improvement in recent years.
Whilst the arrival of World Cup mode in FIFA 23 would no doubt lead to great excitement, we could ultimately see it distract from other major issues in the game.
End of an Era
With FIFA 23 being the last instalment in the franchise developed by EA Sports, we want to see this game become a celebration of the relationship between the two companies.
Instead, with EA Sports FC in development and the World Cup mode set to play a big part in FIFA 23, we fear that this game could become an awkward buffer.
Lessons are there to be learnt, and EA will once again need to earn the trust of the player if they are going to win the battle against FIFA.
The World Cup always provides a carnival atmosphere, but we're hoping that the party lasts longer than a couple of months in FIFA 23.