FIFA 23 is the game of the moment and it comes with new features like Hypermotion 2.0 and more accurate player stats. However, the question for this year’s version is about cross-platform play. Ever wanted to play against friends and opponents on different platforms like PC and Xbox Series X? Well, now you can. At least, to some degree. Read on to find out the full scope of the cross-platform feature.
Deep Dive into Cross-Platform Play
Cross-platform support means multiplayer mode across different game platforms like Xbox, PlayStation, and PC. FIFA 22 didn’t fully support cross-platform play making FIFA 23 the only game in the series that does. FIFA 22 players can only enjoy full cross-play in the Online Seasons and Online Friendlies modes.
However, in FIFA 23, cross-platform is fully supported and players can compete against their friends regardless of their platform of choice. The only modes with no crossplay support are Pro Clubs and Ultimate Team Co-Op. Everything else, including FUT and 1v1 supports crossplay.
In short, players using PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia, and PC will be able to play against each other. Likewise, PS4 and Xbox One can compete against each other as well. Finally, don’t mistake crossplay for cross-gen. So, Xbox One and PS5 FIFA 23 players can’t compete against each other.
Below are the modes that support FIFA 23 cross-play.
- Online Friendlies
- Fut Play A Friend
- Fut Online Friendlies
- Online Seasons
- FUT Rivals
- FUT Champions
- FUT Online Draft
How Cross-Platform Play Affects the FUT Transfer Market?
The FUT transfer market has been tweaked to accommodate the crossplay feature. Gaming platforms now have their own section of the market hub of players to surf through. On the other hand, PC and Nintendo Switch have their standalone transfer markets. To put things in better perspective, the platforms that share the transfer market hub are:
- PlayStation 5
- PlayStation 4
- Xbox Series X or S
- Xbox One
- Stadia
This means that any item you list on your Stadia device will be seen by PlayStation 5 and Xbox users alike. So, platforms with individual transfer markets like the PC share a single transfer hub. That is, only PC players will find items listed by another PC player in the FUT Transfer Market.
Easy-to-Use In-Game Social Menu
The in-game social menu lets players search for each other. But this time around, you can search across platforms for your friend or opponent of choice. You can access this menu by pressing the social icon at the bottom-right corner of the main menu screen. Note that the social menu is subject to changes over the coming months. EA keeps updating it with features that better the experience.
Your Friends Tab
This is the spot where you’ll find all your friends who you added through the local friends list and EA Network. The friends tab also lets you see which of your friends are online and offline. Players that have turned off crossplay will be highlighted accordingly. You’ll also be able to view your friends’ data, such as:
- Lobby status
- Invite compatibility
- Online status
- Options menu for blocking, reporting, muting, and removing a friend
Receiving and Sending Game Invites
The social menu also lets you send and receive invites from other players on the EA Network. There are just some key features you should know about before sending or receiving invites. They are:
- Cross-platform invites will only appear in the social menu
- Local invites automatically pop up on the main screen
- You can hide your notifications during gameplay or even turn it off entirely
Friend Requests
Friend requests are different from game invites because invites are one-time events. On the other hand, accepting or declining a friend request via the social menu means your friends’ online status will be visible and vice versa. Any friend request that you miss will be highlighted in red and can easily be found in the Friends request tab.
Find Your Friend or Opponent
You can connect with your friends and opponents using the social menu search bar. All you have to do is just enter their name and any match will soon pop up. Your results will be accompanied by the platform your friends are playing on.
Recent Meets
The recently met menu lets players track the 30 most recent players they’ve played against online. After selecting a player from this list, you’ll also have the option to block, mute, or report them for any inappropriate behaviour. So, you have full control over your friends list.
Sidelining Cheaters
PC players are notorious for using cheating software to cheese matches with their opponents. So, cross-play leaves console players at a huge disadvantage. Luckily for gamers though, EA is working round-the-clock to ban hackers from their Network. Yes, this also means that the EA Anti-cheat software isn’t fool-proof.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to Turn Off FIFA 23 Cross-Platform Play?
Luckily, you don’t need to learn how to activate FIFA 23’s cross-platform play. This is because it’s turned on when you launch the game for the first time. But if you’re avoiding unwanted invites or you just need your privacy, you can turn this feature off. You can do this by following these simple steps.
- Head to Customise Menu
- Then, click Online Settings
- Now, press Matchmaking Options
- Untick Opt in Cross Play
Can Switch and PC Players Compete Online in FIFA 23?
No, it doesn’t work that way because Switch players will be at a huge disadvantage. Look on the bright side though – Switch players can compete online. Although, you’ll need a Nintendo Switch Online Membership to play online with friends. Membership starts from $3.99 per month.
FIFA 23 on Switch also doesn’t have console features like FUT moments, weekend league, the new chemistry system, improved animation system, and changes to the free kick and penalty. But kickoff mode and 11 others are still available on the FIFA 23 Legacy Edition.
Is FIFA 23 Cross-Platform with PC?
Yes, FIFA 23 is cross-platform with PC so PlayStation and Xbox players can link up with their friends online. You can easily use the social menu search bar to send an invite. But keep in mind that not all platforms can play against PC players in FIFA 23. But considering previous years have been lacking in the crossplay department, this is a good move from the company. It’s just a shame that this is the last iteration in the series.