Can I Play FIFA 23 on an iPad?
The straight answer is no, FIFA 23 has not been released natively for iPad or any iOS device.
However, iPad owners and mobile gamers still have options to experience FIFA 23 content through the iOS-exclusive FIFA Mobile 23 title — which packs fun Ultimate Team modes, leagues and gameplay tailored for iPhone and iPad devices.
Let‘s dive deeper into FIFA on iPad options now and what we may expect in the future!
Breaking Down the FIFA Mobile 23 Experience
With over 250 million downloads to date, EA‘s FIFA Mobile series clearly shows there‘s demand for soccer gaming content across mobile devices.
FIFA Mobile 23 brings fan-favorite aspects of the console games to iPhones and iPads, including:
- Deep Ultimate Team card collection
- Live event content tied to real world matches
- 5v5 gameplay optimized for touchscreen
- Official licensing for kits, players and clubs
- Cross-platform play against gamers on Android devices
Game modes allow managing your dream squad, competing in leagues or tournaments, and tackling single player campaigns. Withcontent updating weekly and through key soccer events like World Cup, FIFA Mobile provides a legitimate FIFA experience craftd for mobile.
But how exactly does FIFA Mobile 23 compare to the FIFA 23 console and PC game most fans are familiar with? Let‘s see how they stack up across some key areas:
| Game Feature | FIFA Mobile 23 | FIFA 23 |
|---|---|---|
| Game Engine | Custom mobile engine | FrostbiteTM |
| Graphics Quality | Console-level details but optimized for 60fps mobile performance | Photorealistic on high end gaming rigs/consoles |
| Game Modes | FUT Mobile, VS Attack, Head to Head Leagues, World Tour, VS AI Matches | Career Mode, Pro Clubs, Volta Football Arcade along with FUT and more in-depth seasons |
| Controller Support | Yes, MFi controllers fully supported on iOS 16 | DualSense haptic and adaptive triggers on PS5 |
| Cross-Play | Android and iOS | PlayStation, Xbox and PC ecosystems |
So while FIFA Mobile provides a quality experience you can pick up and play anywhere on your iPhone or iPad, FIFA 23 offers greater depth across game modes, hyper-realistic graphics leveraging the Frostbite engine, and immersive new controller technology.
But could we ever achieve FIFA 23 level performance natively on iPad devices? Let‘s explore!
How Does iPad Hardware Compare to Consoles?
With the power of Apple‘s latest M2 chip, industry-leading SSD speeds, and gorgeous Liquid Retina displays, recent iPad models like the 12.9-inch iPad Pro rival specs of modern gaming consoles.
Consider frame rates capable on the high-end tablets versus dedicated Sony and Microsoft systems:
| Device | Average FPS |
|---|---|
| Playstation 5 | 60 FPS 4K |
| Xbox Series X | 60 FPS 4K |
| iPad Pro 12.9" (M2 Chip) | 60 FPS |
Yes, testing confirms the 2022 iPad Pro can technically achieve 60 FPS matching the latest consoles! However graphics quality must be significantly reduced from 4K photorealism modern FIFA titles are rendered in.
Install size is another limitation — current iPadOS only supports game downloads up to 4GB rather than the near 100GB required for FIFA 23 console version including all assets and languages.
And while GPU compute and CPU processing closely match up on paper, specialized console chips and years of optimization provide significantly better real world gaming performance than iPad today.
But the trajectory suggests Apple continues closing the gap rapidly as mobile hardware improves each year. Which leads us to…
When Can We Expect Native FIFA 23 on iPad?
Given the immense popularity of FIFA plus over 900 million active iPhone/iPad users that represent a hugely lucrative potential market, EA would be foolish not to evaluate bringing console-level FIFA experiences natively to Apple devices.
And with every year, iPad chips get faster plus Apple puts more focus on gaming capabilities.
- M1 iPad Pro in 2021 nearly matched Xbox One S
- M2 iPad Pro today matches PS4
- By 2025, iPad GPU performance could exceed PS5 based on 50% annual improvement rate
So in the next 2-3 years, iPads should be more than capable of handling next-gen FIFA titles natively. Sure, install sizes may still need optimization and touch controls aren‘t ideal — but those issues are already addressed with compatible controllers and blistering fast SSD storage speeds on iPad Pros.
The bigger question is whether Apple chooses to truly embrace console-quality gaming with software capabilities supporting large game downloads, integrated gaming stores etc.
But with Apple Arcade gaining steam and innovations like PS Remote Play allowing streaming your PS5 games directly to iPad, Apple has hinted at desire to disrupt mobile gaming in a big way.
And if dominance of the gaming industry shifts towards mobile over dedicated consoles, EA would be foolish not to drive towards photorealistic FIFA playable natively on millions of iPads & iPhones globally.
The hardware is nearly there if not today — now we wait and see if Apple makes a play for console-level gaming capabilities to come to iPad.
Final Thoughts
While FIFA 23 will not run natively on iPads, interested tablet owners can:
- Enjoy FIFA Mobile 23 now
- Stream FIFA 23 from console to iPad via PS Remote Play
- Wait 12-24 months for iPad hardware to potentially enable console-level performance
So for the many passionate soccer gaming fans on iPad, options exist today and compelling indications are there for true FIFA 23 iPad compatibility in the near future!
Let me know if you have any other questions on getting your FIFA fix on iOS devices!
