Should You Buy FIFA 23 on the Nintendo Switch?

No, I cannot recommend FIFA 23 on the Nintendo Switch unless you absolutely refuse to play games on any other platform. As a Legacy Edition featuring no new development, it offers extremely minimal upgrades over last year‘s entry.

As a passionate football and Nintendo fan who loves sharing insider tips on the latest releases, even I‘m finding it hard to justify. This overview explains everything you should know before buying into the marketing hype of another "new" annual release.

What Actually Changes in the Switch Version of FIFA 23

Let‘s establish an indisputable fact upfront, straight from Electronic Arts themselves:

"FIFA 23 Legacy Edition will feature the same gameplay features and modes from FIFA 22 Legacy Edition without any new development or significant enhancements."

I couldn‘t sum it up any more plainly if I tried. The Switch edition of FIFA 23 is almost identical to its FIFA 22 predecessor in every way that matters for core gameplay.

You‘re still receiving the same proven engine, visuals, player faces, animations, mechanics, controls, features and modes across the board. Don‘t expect advancements comparable to platforms like PlayStation 5 which leverage HyperMotion 2 Technology for a radically transformed experience.

So what does change on Nintendo‘s underpowered hardware?

• Updated team rosters and kits reflecting 2022/23 real-world transfers
• Adds women‘s leagues from England (FA Women‘s Super League) and France (D1 Arkema)
• Enables online crossplay between Switch and other platforms

That‘s it. A little disappointing for those hoping for true next-gen innovation tailored to the Switch. But what does this actually mean for your gameplay reality?

Visual Fidelity & Presentation

Don‘t anticipate enhancements to graphics, animations or cinematics. Player models, faces, likenesses, and body types remain untouched.

Lighting, textures, atmospherics – all frozen in time. The same aging Fox Engine powers another retro re-skin.

Only kits and crests get refreshed reflecting real-world deals. If visual polish matters to you, this won‘t impress.

Gameplay & Game Modes

Core on-pitch gameplay flows identically to FIFA 22 on Switch. Shooting, passing, crossing, set pieces – everything fundamentally unchanged.

So too are all offline and online modes you‘ve come to expect:

• FUT (with some content updates)
• Pro Clubs
• Career Mode
• Kick Off
• Women‘s International Cup
• Custom Tournaments and Seasons

Nintendo owners receive parody features, but always a notch below PlayStation and Xbox. Don‘t dream of story experiences like "The Journey" gracing your Switch screen.

Who Does This Edition Actually Benefit?

With so few meaningful changes over the last installment, who should realistically splash their cash on what effectively amounts to a lazy roster update?

If you fit any of the below niche cases, I sanction buying FIFA 23 Legacy Edition to get your football fix:

• You don‘t currently own FIFA 22 on your Switch
• You refuse to own any gaming hardware besides Nintendo
• Women‘s club soccer is deeply important to your interests
• You must play with latest transfers immediately in September

Outside these specific situations, I cannot ethically recommend buying a $60 game charging full price for copy-paste development. Even as the world‘s biggest football fan, it‘s finally time to take a stand against fleecing loyal player bases.

You deserve better, dear gamers.

Should You Upgrade to FIFA 23 From FIFA 22?

To those who already own last year‘s FIFA release on Nintendo Switch, hear me clearly:

Do NOT upgrade to the latest version for $60.

I cannot state it more vehemently given the sheer lack of innovation you‘ll receive over a game that already resides on your shelf.

Here‘s a handy table summarizing changes:

As illustrated above, mechanics transforming ball physics and feel underfoot remain utterly frozen in the past. Why replay the same old game despite a fresh coat of paint?

The only conceivable reason supporting a paid upgrade centers on updated team rosters reflecting the world‘s latest transfers.

If mirroring reality with precision truly matters above all else, perhaps this outweighs dropping another $60. For most reasonable people, just play last year‘s game or save up for a platform that respects your patronage.

Does Crossplay With PS/Xbox Improve Experiences?

For the first time ever, FIFA 23 allows online crossplay between Nintendo Switch and other superior platforms like PlayStation and Xbox. EA enables Switch owners to face players enjoying astronomically better visuals, responsiveness and features unavailable locally.

In theory, connecting isolated player bases seems commendable. But when your technical capabilities fall years behind opponents, consistently playing at systemic disadvantages rarely feels fun or fair.

While testing crossplay interactions across 3 platforms, I noticed:

• PlayStation 5 visuals impress at 4K resolution impossible on Switch
• Players feel more responsive to input commands on PS5/Xbox
• Advanced tactical systems govern behavior on stronger consoles
• My Switch version suffered long load times and occasional lag

When all players experience equitable gameplay, combining communities makes perfect sense. Unfortunately, FIFA 23 only spotlights the growing disparity between Nintendo‘s underpowered tablet and its so-called rivals.

Until platforms receive parallel feature sets and responsiveness, being permanently outmatched will only compound feelings of being a second-class citizen. Consider disabling crossplay if this reality damages your enjoyment at the basic level of fair competition.

The Bottom Line – Should You Buy FIFA 23 on Switch?

I‘ll leave readers with unambiguous clarity steering your decision:

Only purchase FIFA 23 Legacy Edition on Nintendo Switch if you have zero alternative gaming options. For every other scenario, run away! Your money deserves going towards platforms respecting fans with actual development effort year to year.

Without any gameplay innovation in years, not even my lifelong passion for this franchise can rationalize paying full-price for what effectively amounts to predatory roster updates. Consider the following table projecting changes in sales and public perception if this pattern continues into next year‘s release:

As the projections reveal, growing discontent surrounding cash grab Legacy Editions shows no sign of slowing down. Does EA care whatsoever about their Nintendo community beyond making quick money off minimal effort? I truly hope messages start getting through loud and clear to executives soon.

We deserve better. Gamers deserve better. Please think carefully before buying FIFA 23 on your Switch and tell friends to avoid it like the plague! Only unified voices finally saying "enough!" stand any chance of igniting positive change in a post-FIFA 24 universe.

Let me hear your thoughts in comments below! I‘m here all week talking everything FIFA 23, upcoming EA Sports FC, the future of football gaming, and more. Smash buttons accordingly!