If you've played FIFA 23, you will notice that the small and quick players aren't as effective as in previous years.
Instead, it seems the taller and stronger players are dominating the game, especially the ones with a high-speed rating, like Manchester City's Erling Haaland. More and more players are catching onto this trend, and it's all down to the brand-new AcceleRATE feature on FIFA 23.
On Playstation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC, FIFA 23 players will notice the new AcceleRATE feature which has seen EA divide every player into a unique archetype. These archetypes impact the speed of a player over a longer distance in-game, with players' acceleration types either being 'Controlled', 'Explosive' or 'Lengthy'.
EA previously explained in their pitch notes ahead of FIFA 23's release what each AcceleRATE type will do, with each type inspired by real-life differences between footballers, where players with similar speeds can move differently over different distances. And, there was a big giveaway in EA's pitch notes that Lengthy players could be very powerful on FIFA 23.
This is how the Lengthy AcceleRATE type was described by EA: "Taller and stronger, these players need a bit more time to get going, but are able to catch up to anyone and even surpass them, provided they have enough distance. These players start slower but will thrive over longer distances."
Whilst Controlled players maintain a steady speed and Explosive players accelerate quick but slow down, lengthy players will only get faster. This is a major reason why Lengthy attackers are able to break away from their markers, and Lengthy defenders are able to catch up to attackers, even when their speed stats are much lower.
In FIFA 23 Ultimate Team, the likes of Haaland naturally have the Lengthy AcceleRATE type. But, using chemistry styles like Architect or even Hawk, some players such as Robert Lewandowski, Darwin Nunez and more are able to change their AcceleRATE type from Controlled to Lengthy.
This is because the chemistry styles can adjust and boost certain stats on a player and make them meet the requirements needed to have the Lengthy AcceleRATE type.
Here are the requirements for players to have the Lengthy acceleRATE type:
- Strength >= 65
- (Strength - Agility) >= 14
- Acceleration >= 55
- Height >= 174 cm (~ 5’9”)
For example, the reason that attacking chemistry styles like Hawk, Architect, Sniper and Marksman work on Nunez is that each of these chemistry styles is boosting his strength rating, making the difference between his agility and strength greater than 14. For any player to become Lengthy, they need to have a chemistry style applied that boosts their physical and strength, enough to make the difference between their agility and strength 14 or more.
So, using chemistry styles to boost certain attributes, players' AcceleRATE type can change, and this also applies the other way around. So, if you have a Lengthy player in your squad, be careful you don't apply a chemistry style that will change them to Controlled.
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.
