The list is long in EA’s newest patch for FIFA 23. Affected by revisions and bug fixes are all modes, the presentation and the gameplay.
While Title Update 1 was mainly about the starting problems of the FIFA 23 PC version, only fine details of the gameplay were adjusted in the Live Tuning Update 1. With Title Update 2 EA SPORTS now announces extensive bug fixes.
The patch news reads like a Day 1 patch. This confirms our impression of the quite buggy FIFA 23 start. Almost every mode including gameplay and presentation is affected by the current adjustments.
EA reworked passes, goalkeepers, referees and more
Target impacts on gameplay include lofted balls, tackles, passes and penalties. The accuracy for lobbed balls on goal has generally been upgraded, as has the possibility of winning the ball on a standing tackle. In addition, the probability of scoring a penalty kick with a red shooting circle has been reduced;
In addition to general adjustments in the accuracy of the passing game, EA also increases the speed of the ball during passes – both players and professionals complained about this. In addition, there are tactical adjustments to the AI at high difficulty levels from pro onwards and further changes to the referees’ reactions.
EA is also focusing on the goalkeepers’ play. Here there are mainly adjustments to the animations and implausible reactions. For example, it was often not possible for them to catch balls that came towards them close to the body.
More overview and less waiting time in FUT
To see where a player could be used alternatively to the first position in FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, match ends had to search for a long time until now. With the patch, the second position is displayed in the upper left corner when the round selection menu is active. In this context, a chemistry preview is also introduced if a player is to be used on a position that is not intended for him.
For stadium items, there were always lengthy pack opening ceremonies. These are dropped with the update, at least for Squad Battles, Division Rivals and FUT Champions rewards. And several display screens before scenarios could be played in FUT Moments are also dropped with the patch. This should make star hunting in the new FUT mode much quicker.
In addition to the more prominent changes to FIFA 23’s most popular mode, EA is also looking to fix other buggy displays within various menus and stability issues.
Bug devil also lingers in Career, Pro Clubs and VOLTA
The career mode was also not free of errors at the start. Among the most bizarre problems were goalkeepers who still wore their gloves in transfer fixtures or AI managers who sold players endlessly without procuring new ones. In addition, questions could be asked after a match that had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Title Update 2 is supposed to fix these bugs as well as other display, animation and stability problems in the career mode and in VOLTA and Pro Clubs.
The latter struggled with further problems: For example, it was possible to select a shooter for corners, but they were always taken by the team captain – for free kicks, everyone in the club also saw the shooter’s angle. What is not very helpful in setting up a meaningful attack should now be a thing of the past.
Humble start
Lastly, EA worked on the overall presentation. Goal celebrations could partly end in the confused running back and forth of the shooter if no goal celebration button was pressed. In addition, balls disappeared into the out of bounds, coaches spoke to the wrong players, goalkeepers reacted to goals as if the ball had passed the net and the career mode was started when match ends paused an EATV video.
All in all, the rich adjustments give the picture of a patch that eradicates teething problems and should have been available at launch in FIFA 23. With two weeks on the market EA SPORTS reacts clearly too late to several technical errors.
Title Update 2 is already available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series XS and PC.
