The short answer is no, FIFA 23 is not free with a standard PlayStation Plus membership. However, there are some discounted options available that can lower the cost, which I‘ll explain in detail below.
As an avid FIFA player myself, I know the annual grind of debating if the latest game is worth paying full price at launch. With FIFA 23 bringing marginal improvements over FIFA 22 based on early reviews, you may be wondering if it‘s worth buying right away or waiting for a sale.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about getting FIFA 23 through PlayStation Plus, EA Play, or at a discounted price over the next few months.
FIFA 23 – What‘s New This Year?
Before we dive into pricing and bundles, let‘s quickly recap what‘s new in FIFA 23:
HyperMotion2 Technology – Uses full 11v11 match capture for more realistic animations and responsiveness. Over 6,000 new animations added.
Women‘s Club Football – Women‘s domestic teams like Chelsea Women and Paris Saint-Germain Féminine debut, alongside the women‘s national teams.
World Cup Modes – New men‘s and women‘s FIFA World Cup tournament experiences that will be updated after launch.
Set Pieces – Completely rewritten set piece systems with more control over delivery and new shooting trajectories.
Defending – Enhanced defensive tactics like coordinated press that responds to triggers like misplaced passes. More nimble jockeying.
Dribbling – 360 degree dribbling plus new skill moves like the zigzag dribble and lane change. Improved first touch mechanics.
Goalkeeper Rewrite – New save animations, wider range of movement, and more consistency on goal line saves.
So in summary, FIFA 23 introduces welcome (if overdue) features like women‘s club football, along with gameplay tweaks that add more realism on the pitch. But initial reviews suggest it still feels quite similar to FIFA 22 rather than a major overhaul.
Is FIFA 23 Worth Buying at Launch?
As a longtime player myself, I feel FIFA 23 only offers incremental improvements over last year‘s game. While the gameplay feels slightly smoother and more responsive, it‘s still hampered by legacy issues like unresponsive switching and player switching.
Based on the Metacritic score sitting at just 78 on PS5, the critical reception is fairly mixed so far. It seems like a case of diminishing returns, where EA Sports is struggling to meaningfully upgrade the engine each year.
If you‘re totally satisfied with FIFA 22, I‘d advise waiting at least 3-4 months to get FIFA 23 at a discount. It‘s unlikely to revolutionize the experience compared to what you already own. However, if you play constantly and want every gameplay enhancement possible, grabbing it at launch may still be worthwhile.
Can You Get FIFA 23 for Free with PlayStation Plus?
Now onto the main question – officially FIFA 23 is not free or included with a standard PlayStation Plus Essential subscription.
Unlike first-party Sony titles like God of War Ragnarok that launch directly into the higher PS Plus Extra/Premium catalogs, third-party games from other publishers are not offered for free.
So if you have a regular PS Plus membership, you won‘t get complimentary access to FIFA 23. You need to purchase the game separately.
Here‘s a quick overview of what the different tiers include:
PS Plus Essential – 2 monthly games, online play access, exclusive discounts. FIFA 23 not included.
PS Plus Extra – 400+ PS4/PS5 games on demand. FIFA 23 not included.
PS Plus Premium – 700+ PS1-PS3 games, game trials. FIFA 23 not included.
No variation of PlayStation Plus gets you FIFA 23 for free. But PS Plus is still required for online play.
Can You Play FIFA 23 Online Without PlayStation Plus?
While single-player modes like Career Mode are playable offline without PS Plus, you need an active subscription for online components like:
Ultimate Team (FUT) – Cards, transfers, matches require online connectivity.
Online Friendlies – Play against others online.
Pro Clubs – Team up with friends in online co-op.
VOLTA Squads – Online team play in street football mode.
So in summary, PlayStation Plus is mandatory for online multiplayer and certain single-player modes like FUT that involve online features.
How Much Does FIFA 23 Cost on PlayStation?
Here is the standard pricing for FIFA 23‘s various editions on PlayStation:
PS5 Standard Edition – $69.99
PS4 Standard Edition – $59.99
Ultimate Edition (PS5/PS4) – $99.99
The Ultimate Edition includes 4600 FIFA Points (worth $40 value), Team of the Week player item, FUT Hero player item, and 3 days early access.
So in the US, you‘re looking at $70 for the base PS5 version, or $100 for the Ultimate Edition that bundles in-game bonuses.
Discounted Options for FIFA 23
While full price is $70, there are a few ways to buy FIFA 23 at a reduced price:
1. EA Play Subscription
- Cost: $4.99/month or $29.99/year
- Perks: 10% discount on FIFA 23, 10-hour trial
EA Play members receive a 10% discount on purchases. This reduces the PS5 Standard Edition from $70 to $63. Big savings add up for the Ultimate Edition ($90 rather than $100).
You also get a 10-hour trial of the full game starting September 27, ahead of release. Progress carries over if you buy the full version.
2. PlayStation Store Sales
- Sales Frequency: Every 2-3 months
- Discounted Price: Up to 50% off
The PlayStation Store runs FIFA promotions a handful of times each year, with the game seeing up to a 50% discount during major sales. Based on the PS Store sale history, you can expect the first big FIFA 23 price drop around late November.
3. Physical Retailer Deals
- Pre-order Savings: 10-15% discounts recently
- Black Friday: Likely all-time low price end of November
Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy often take 15-25% off upcoming pre-orders. For the Black Friday sales event, FIFA typically drops to around 50% off at various stores.
Estimated FIFA 23 Sale Prices and Dates
Based on past pricing trends, here are my predictions for when FIFA 23 will hit certain price thresholds:
October 2022: $63 with EA Play (10% off)
November 2022: $35-45 (Black Friday sales)
December 2022: $40-50 (Christmas deals)
January 2024: $30-40 (New Year sales)
May 2024: $20-30 (4 months before FIFA 24)
So in summary, I‘d expect between $35-45 in November, closer to $20 by May, and then down to $10-15 in the 1-2 months leading up to the FIFA 24 release.
Is the FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition Worth it?
The FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition costs $40 more than the standard one, at a full price of $100. For that premium, you get:
4600 FUT Points – $40 value
FUT Team of the Week 1 Player – Packed TOTW card
FUT Hero Player Item – Special FUT hero card
3 Days Early Access – Play from September 27
If you were already planning to spend $40-60 on FUT Points to acquire players, the Ultimate Edition is decent value. You basically get the points and bonus player items for "free".
But for offline players not interested in Ultimate Team, I don‘t think the extra $40 is worthwhile. The early access only amounts to around 10 hours of additional playtime.
Overall, the Ultimate Edition is a solid deal for hardcore FUT fans ready to spend big on launch day. But more casual players will be just fine with the Standard Edition.
Which Platform Should You Buy FIFA 23 On?
FIFA 23 is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Here‘s a quick rundown of the key differences:
PS4 vs PS5 – PS5 has much faster load times, enhanced animations and graphics. But PS4 can upgrade to next-gen for free.
Xbox One vs Xbox Series X – Faster load times on Series X, with 4K resolution and visual improvements. Xbox Smart Delivery allows free next-gen upgrade.
PC – PC gives you ultimate flexibility in graphics settings and mods, but has a smaller player base for online modes like FUT.
Nintendo Switch – Switch version is essentially a legacy edition of FIFA 22 with updated rosters. No new gameplay features or enhancements.
In terms of player base, PlayStation and Xbox are the most popular platforms. PS5 or Xbox Series X offer the premium experience, but staying on PS4/Xbox One still provides a smooth 60fps gameplay. PC is great if you value customization and mods.
Should You Buy FIFA 23 Now or Wait?
Based on the minor year-over-year upgrades, I suggest more casual players wait several months to pick up FIFA 23 at a discount unless you really want to play RIGHT now.
The upcoming World Cup mode won‘t arrive until November anyway, so you aren‘t missing much at launch. And EA will inevitably offer deep discounts leading up to Christmas.
However, if you play FIFA daily and want every ounce of gameplay improvement, grabbing it at release may still be worthwhile. The overall experience does feel a bit tighter than FIFA 22.
For most, I think joining EA Play for a 10% discount and early trial, then buying on Black Friday is an ideal plan. But dedicated fans who will put in 500+ hours can justify paying full price to access it ASAP.
FIFA 23 Free Trial Options
If you want to sample FIFA 23 first, here are a few ways to play for free:
EA Play – Gives you a 10-hour trial through EA‘s subscription service
EA Access on Xbox – Another way to get 10 hours of gameplay
Origin Game Time – On PC, get a limited game trial through Origin
Xbox Free Play Days – Xbox Live Gold periodically offers free weekend access
So in summary, EA Play is the most direct way to access the new 10-hour FIFA 23 trial. Xbox and PC alternatives exist too.
Just set a timer so you don‘t accidentally burn through all the hours in one sitting!
Will FIFA 23 Come to Xbox Game Pass?
FIFA games have not traditionally been added to Xbox Game Pass for free. Based on past patterns, I would not expect to see FIFA 23 included with a Game Pass subscription.
The EA titles that tend to get added to Game Pass are generally older catalogue games, around 6-12 months after release.
So while you can play other EA sports games like Madden NFL 22 and NHL 22 via Game Pass, the newest FIFA release likely won‘t appear until FIFA 24 in late 2023 at the earliest.
Final Thoughts on Getting FIFA 23 for Cheap
Hopefully this guide has given you a comprehensive overview of getting FIFA 23 at the best price! Here are some final tips:
Standard Edition on PS5/Xbox Series X costs $70, PS4/Xbox One is $60
Join EA Play for 10% off, plus 10-hour early trial
Monitor Amazon/Best Buy for potential 30% launch discounts
Black Friday in November will likely see 50% off or more
Opt for PS4/Xbox One versions to save $10-20 initially
Consider waiting until 2023 to buy when price may drop under $30
The path you choose really depends how much you want to play right now compared to saving money. As someone who buys annually, I‘m going EA Play trial first, then grabbing on Black Friday.
But take the approach that works for your budget and patience level! Ignoring the marketing hype and waiting for a sale is often the smartest move.
Now get out there, score some screamers, and walk away with The Treble! Just don‘t rage quit and break another controller, those things aren‘t cheap.
