How do you play FIFA 23 online with friends?
As a long-time FIFA gamer, one of my favorite parts of each new release is gathering friends online for some intense soccer showdowns. FIFA 23 makes playing with buddies better than ever across consoles and PC with enhanced cross-platform support.
In this guide, you‘ll learn everything about creating or joining Online Friendly matches, connecting across generations and platforms, troubleshooting issues, and more. Let‘s kick off!
Starting an Online Friendly Match
Here is a step-by-step walkthrough to get an online session going:
On your platform, launch FIFA 23 and select "Play Modes" from the main menu. Choose "Online Friendlies" then "Create New Friendly Season."
You‘ll then be given a unique invite code to share with friends.
On their end, have them select "Online Friendlies," choose "Join Friendly Season," and input the code. Once everyone has joined, you can pick teams, kits, stadiums, and settings.
Pro Tip: Set a password so only friends can join your session. And pay attention to the round timer to prevent the room from closing when idle too long.
Then…play ball! FIFA 23‘s online play runs smooth in my experience – perfect for those intense player vs. player matchups with buddies.
Cross-Platform and Cross-Gen Compatibility
One major advantage FIFA 23 has over previous entries is expanded cross-platform support. Here‘s a quick breakdown of which platforms can play together:
| Platforms | Can Play With |
| PS5 | Xbox Series X|S, PC, Stadia |
| Xbox Series X|S | PS5, PC, Stadia |
| PC (Origin/Steam) | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Stadia |
| Stadia | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC |
| PS4 | Xbox One |
| Xbox One | PS4 |
However, cross-generation play is not supported. So PS5 can‘t play with PS4, and Xbox Series X|S can‘t connect to Xbox One. Keep this in mind when playing with friends who haven‘t upgraded yet.
Sharing Digital Copies Between PlayStation and Xbox
If your buddy owns FIFA 23 on PS5 and you have a PS4, there‘s a cool system in place to share access.
Essentially by activating each other‘s accounts as "Primary PS4/PS5" through Settings, you can play the same digital games online together even if you‘re on different PlayStation generations.
Just note that PlayStation won‘t allow sharing between Xbox and vice versa. But it can save you $60+ if a close friend already owns the latest FIFA!
Troubleshooting Online Connection Issues
Of course with all the cross-play and connectivity happening behind-the-scenes, you may encounter the occasional hiccup getting online or playing with friends:
- Double check internet access and accounts – Can‘t play without an active PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, Origin, or Steam account!
- Restart the game or platform – Clearing temporary files/cache by rebooting can fix invites not sending or players not appearing.
- Review account suspensions or bans – Check under Account Settings if your profile‘s privileges were revoked.
- Test with a different friend – See if it‘s an isolated issue on their end before troubleshooting further.
In my experience, most online problems are caused by temperamental connectivity or background system updates temporarily disrupting gameplay. Relaunching the title or console usually has me back up and running quickly!
For additional help, EA Sports provides dedicated troubleshooting resources regarding FIFA 23 connectivity and errors.
Enjoy Other Online Modes
Once comfortable playing friendlies, try out FIFA 23‘s other stellar online modes too including:
- Pro Clubs – Join a squad and control just your custom player in 11v11 team play
- Ultimate Team Co-Op – Build your fantasy FUT roster then partner up and take it online
- VOLTA Squads – Team up with friends for fast-paced small-sided street football action
The ability to partner with friends brings so much energy and excitement to the pitch!
I also recommend checking out the Official EA SPORTS FIFA Competitive Gaming website at FIFA.gg to follow high-level tournaments, leaderboards, news and to watch streams showcasing the game‘s top talent playing FIFA 23 competitively online.
That sums up my ultimate guide on playing FIFA 23 with friends online! Let me know if you have any other questions in the comments below or tweet me @mygamehandle.
As a lifelong soccer gaming fanatic, I‘m extremely pleased with the new social and cross-platform features EA Sports has introduced this year. Football‘s better with friends, so get out there and start a friendly seasons journey on the pitch!
