EA SPORTS announced the first extensive news about FIFA 23 last week. The HyperMotion technology introduced in FIFA 22 also gets a refreshment in the new part.
"HyperMotion 2" should not only make the latest part of the football series look more authentic, but also make it more realistic in the game. During the FIFA 23 Producer Showcase in Vancouver, to which kicker eSport was invited, EA's gameplay developers said FIFA is becoming more realistic than ever.
Today's release of the Canadian studio delves deeper into the gameplay innovations of FIFA 23.
Millions of data collected
In the run-up, 11v11 games were played over two days in motion capture suits. For the first time, data from real football matches were obtained: "In recent years, we have carried out the recordings with the players exclusively in the studio. There we told them what movements to perform. But now all the data comes from a real, competitive game," says EA SPORTS gameplay design director Kantcho Doskov in an interview with kicker eSport.
This year, data was not only obtained from men's games, but also women came into play.
For the introduction of the women's leagues in FIFA 23, specific movements for the animations should be possible. EA SPORTS reports a total of 9.2 million images won from games and training sessions.
These are not only finding their way into FIFA 23, they also feed an algorithm for machine learning, according to the developers. He writes new animations and movements in real time in order to be able to depict the diversity of football in its movements.
Bend until your fingers break
Visually, FIFA 23 goes into more detail. Through the accumulated data, body parts react to the effects of force. For example, the goalkeeper's fingers bend backwards when he is just steering the ball over the bar. In a tackle, the foot folds backwards when touching the ball.
For the first time, the gate net also has its own physics. Hard to believe, but true: So far, the movements of this have been solved with a simple, transparent wall animation.
In addition, more individual movements of well-known players should be recreated – including the start of these. Whether a player is evenly fast, explosive or slowly running, is now visible. Different types of accelerations are thus finding their way into FIFA 23 and must be taken into account by the players.
Power shot to happiness?
In addition to the visual improvements, there will be some gameplay advancements with the introduction of HyperMotion 2.
Among other things, the function to place a player on the ground behind the wall provides more variation in standards. EA SPORTS wants to react to the developments in modern football with such innovations.
Defending will be more diverse: In FIFA 23 there will be new tackles and slide tackles. EA is also expanding the portfolio for dribbles. Players who prefer to shoot with their left foot should actually do so from FIFA 23.
The "Powershot" in attack is brand new. Using the upper shoulder buttons on the controller in combination with the shot button, a powerful shot is prepared, even from a distance. If the timing and target alignment match, this should ensure a magnificent slow motion with data on distance and speed in the picture when a goal is scored.
However, while playing FIFA 23, we never found enough time or space to actually see it through to the end.
Ninja Defenders and Ghost Players
As also mentioned in our first impression, EA SPORTS seems to have got the shortcomings of the defenders under control with HyperMotion 2. In an interview with kicker eSport, the developers state that the algorithm and the data of the games have contributed enormously to solving the problem.
Ninja defenders who reach the ball from great distances and players through whom the ball slips through are said to have been turned off for the most part.
Our first impression confirms ea SPORTS' remarks so far. Due to the data from the real games, a more authentic game feeling than in the predecessor actually seems to set in. The plus in possibilities allows for more variation in the course of the match.
