The Pro Clubs community are demanding answers from EA, following confirmation that the game mode won't have cross-play functionality in FIFA 23.
FIFA 23 was officially unveiled to the world on Wednesday, July 20, 2022, with EA Sports releasing the game's official reveal trailer, which subsequently confirmed that cross-play would be introduced to an EA Sports FIFA title for the first time. However, it was also confirmed following the trailer's release that cross-play would only feature in certain 1v1 game modes, including FUT Division Rivals (except Co-Op), FUT Champions, FUT Ultimate Online Draft, FUT Online Friendlies (except Co-Op), FUT Play a Friend, Online Friendlies, Online Seasons (except Co-Op Seasons) and the Virtual Bundesliga competitive game mode.
The lack of cross-play functionality for Pro Clubs was confirmed by EA in the FIFA 23 Cross-Play Deep Dive pitch notes article which was released on the game's official website, with the publisher citing 'technical intricacies' as a reason for the game mode's lack of cross-play.
"We want to ensure our product innovation is delivered at quality, and because of the technical intricacies of implementing cross-play, modes that pair players together such as Pro Clubs will not feature cross-play at this time," Read the statement via the FIFA 23 Cross-Play Deep Dive pitch notes article.
"We see our community's feedback, and any potential cross-play updates, changes, and adjustments will be shared on @EAFIFADirect as they become available."
Following confirmation that cross-play wouldn't be coming to Pro Clubs in FIFA 23, the Pro Clubs community immediately reacted on social media, with Pro Clubs community website @TheVFL_ posting a strongly worded statement on their Twitter page, with the hashtag #SaveProClubs, which is now trending on Twitter as a result.
"TO THOSE AT EA SPORTS INVOLVED WITH FIFA 23," Read the statement via @TheVFL_.
"This is a message on behalf of the Pro Clubs community, all of us, PC, Xbox, Playstation, and more. We demand an explanation as to why you have yet again opted to overlook and bypass Pro Clubs from your cross-play game modes."
"As a community leader that has put 10 years into the game mode, I feel the time has come to be a leader in asking the very public & direct questions to EA Sports in regards to why yet again, for another year, our game mode that we love and play has been ignored.
"I want to understand why heading into 2023, your views on the game mode are still so bleak that you opt to overlook it with a feature like cross-play which is needed. I know you have eyes on everything. Every YouTuber, every content creator, maybe even Twitter accounts like this.
"I am not one of the guys who will rail you every year for not putting tattoos into the game mode, but I will now be the guy who questions why you want the game mode to die.
"This decision confirms to me that you either do not care about Pro Clubs, or are so out of touch that you really don't understand what players want."
"For years, we've had to sit back and watch FUT get the attention, and we understood it, it is the money-maker.
"Nobody is stupid, we get it. But now, in a time where people want to connect with others, where the game mode will become fresh again with the prospect of cross-play, we need answers.
"Is it because of FIFA itself? Is it due to lack of resources in the department? Come out and give the players who have been loyal to your mode, put in THOUSANDS of hours playing, and THOUSANDS more making external communities to keep a buzz around it, an answer.
"If not, you will begin to see the game mode collapse. People were pinning their last hopes on FIFA 23 being the one to give them their spark back, cross-play would have done that.
"For a lot of people, you could have re-released FIFA 22, stuck a FIFA 23 logo on it, added cross-play into it, and you would more than likely have gotten a "free hit" year from the community.
"We would not have been ecstatic, but we would have remembered this year as being the year we could finally interact with more people.
"Now? You're going to see this game mode drop off more, you're going to see more people move on from your game in general, and you're going to see less players actively care.
"Bravo, what a move.
"Come out, give us an answer, and remember, some of us don't buy your game every year for the Premium Gold FUT packs. If there is no answer or clarity from EA, I urge every other player and league to take a stand on socials once and for all. It's not acceptable, and enough is enough.
"They noticed us when friendlies broke, they'll notice us again now.
"#SaveProClubs."
Mirror has contacted EA for a response to this story, regarding the above statement.
FIFA 23 is developed by EA Vancouver and EA Romania and will be available worldwide on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia, PS4, and Xbox One on September 30. Early access for FIFA 23 Ultimate Edition begins on September 27, 2022.
