A week after the official release, FIFA professionals have already spent many hours on the virtual turf of the football simulation FIFA 23. The players of Fokus were satisfied with the dpa request.

"The game has definitely become more realistic," said reigning Canadian singles champion Dylan "DullenMIKE" Neuhausen. "All in all, I'm happy with the new FIFA part".

FIFA 23: Haaland can't be stopped here either

Strong are currently big players such as ex-Dortmund Erling Haaland or Liverpool's central defender Virgil van Dijk, "because they have an advantage due to their sprint type," said DullenMIKE.

"Lenghty" is the word that dominated the discussions of the German e-sports scene in the first days of FIFA 23. Some big players with the "lengthy" sprint type are slow in the first meters in the running duel, but then they gain a lot of momentum on long distances. This could bring a breath of fresh air into the season. So far, it was mainly the nimble and small players who determined the offensive game of the e-athletes.

FIFA Global Series launches new competition

Dullenmike's focus teammate Fabienne "FabienneXIII" Morlok also thinks the game is "on the whole really good," she said. However, she sees a need for improvement on a few points: passes, mobility and the referees are "sometimes bottomless". Traditionally, developers Electronic Arts brings regular updates in the first months after release.

In addition to the long sprint type, Fabienne sees new strengths in the outside of the players. "Shots, flanks, passes. It all works very well," said the focus player.

The Virtual Bundesliga starts in November. The FIFA Global Series starts in October. With a new team competition: the EA SPORTS Cup. The final is scheduled to take place in London in April.