The AI Defense System in FIFA 23: Analyzing the Frustrations and Possible Solutions

January 14, 2025

FIFA 23

FIFA 23

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FIFA 23, the latest iteration in the world-renowned soccer video game series developed by EA Sports, has garnered both praise and criticism since its release. While the game offers numerous improvements, one specific area has received considerable attention and frustration from the community: the Artificial Intelligence (AI) defense system. The AI-controlled defenders in FIFA 23 are often seen as inconsistent, overly aggressive, or passive, leading to a lack of realism and frustrating gameplay for many players. In this article, we will explore the complexities and challenges posed by FIFA 23's AI defense system, how it impacts both casual and competitive players, and discuss possible improvements that could make the game more enjoyable and realistic.Commentaires en jeu de EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 - russe 1

Understanding the Role of AI Defenders in FIFA 23

Before diving into the specific issues, it's important to first understand the role of AI defenders in FIFA 23. As players control only one character on the pitch, AI-controlled teammates play a critical role in ensuring the team’s overall performance. These defenders are responsible for intercepting passes, making tackles, tracking opposition players, and positioning themselves effectively to block shots on goal.

AI's Defensive Tasks

In theory, the AI defenders should seamlessly handle the defensive duties, working as an extension of the player’s actions. They should react to the attacking threat in real-time, pressuring opponents, intercepting passes, and positioning themselves effectively to prevent goal-scoring opportunities. FIFA 23 uses a combination of tactical, physical, and statistical models to dictate how AI defenders behave during matches.

The Tactical System Behind AI Defenders

EA Sports has implemented a tactical system in FIFA 23 that allows players to adjust the defensive behavior of AI teammates. This can range from defensive pressing, passive positioning, to more aggressive interceptions. The hope is that this system will allow players to tailor the AI’s defensive approach based on personal preferences or the opponent's style of play. However, while this system provides customization, it is far from perfect.

The Aggressive Defense Problem: AI Overcommitment

One of the most frequent complaints among FIFA 23 players is the tendency of AI defenders to overcommit. In many situations, defenders rush out of position in a desperate attempt to win the ball or intercept a pass, leaving vast spaces in the defensive line that are easily exploited by opponents.Game Switch - FIFA 23 - shoptrongnghia

The Dangers of Overcommitting

When an AI defender overcommits, the entire defensive structure can collapse, leading to a high-risk situation. Opponents can exploit these gaps by launching quick counterattacks, often resulting in goals. In real-life soccer, defenders are trained to stay patient, contain attackers, and work together as a unit. FIFA 23’s AI defenders, however, frequently make decisions that go against these fundamental principles, leading to inconsistent defensive performances.

Example Scenarios

  • Scenario 1: A defender, while trying to block a shot from an attacker, rushes out too early and leaves the far side of the goal exposed. The attacker easily passes the ball to a teammate for a tap-in.
  • Scenario 2: During a counterattack, an AI defender races forward, trying to intercept a pass but misses completely, allowing the opponent to exploit the gap and score.
These instances are far too common in FIFA 23, frustrating players who expect a more realistic and calculated approach from their AI teammates.FIFA 23 Legend Edition - Nintendo Switch

The Passive Defense Problem: AI Inactivity and Lack of Urgency

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are instances where AI defenders appear too passive, failing to track opposition players or make timely interventions. This passivity often leads to moments where attackers are left unchallenged or unpressured in dangerous areas, ultimately resulting in scoring opportunities.

The Lack of Urgency

One of the most glaring issues is when AI defenders fail to react in a timely manner to threatening situations. For example, a player may break into the box, and an AI defender may simply watch as the attacker approaches without making any attempt to close them down or block the shot. This lack of urgency undermines the defensive integrity of the team, often leaving goalkeepers exposed.

Example Scenarios

  • Scenario 1: An AI defender lazily jogs behind an opponent who is sprinting down the wing, failing to track their movements and allowing a dangerous cross into the penalty area.
  • Scenario 2: A through ball is played into the box, and the AI defender is within a few yards of the striker but inexplicably fails to make a challenge, allowing an easy finish.
This type of behavior creates a frustrating gameplay experience, particularly when players rely on the AI to cover defensive gaps when they are focused on other areas of the pitch.

The Defensive AI Behavior in Different Game Modes

The inconsistencies in AI defensive behavior become even more pronounced when we consider different game modes in FIFA 23. Whether playing Career Mode, Ultimate Team, or online modes, the AI defenders seem to perform in unpredictable ways, often differing drastically from one mode to another.

Career Mode AI Defenders

In Career Mode, where players have to manage a team over several seasons, the AI defenders sometimes fail to improve despite having higher skill ratings or training. Players often notice that their defenders do not react to situations in a realistic way, which can be frustrating when managing a top-tier team.

Tactical Discrepancies

Career Mode presents tactical challenges, where players may want to play a more defensive style to counter tough opponents. However, despite having AI defenders set to a defensive mindset, the defenders often play too aggressively or too passively in critical moments, which ruins the team's overall defensive strategy.

Ultimate Team AI Defenders

In Ultimate Team, players often face a different issue: AI defenders in FUT matches seem to perform more erratically when compared to offline modes. The higher the division or skill level, the more glaring the inconsistency becomes. Many players feel that the defensive AI is either too passive or too aggressive, leaving them to manually correct these issues in the middle of a game.

Online Matches and the Difficulty Spike

In online play, players often encounter skilled human opponents who can take advantage of AI defensive flaws. This is especially problematic when playing in the higher divisions, where even a slight mistake in defense can result in conceding a goal. Players complain that the AI defenders at these levels are unpredictable, often causing more harm than good in high-pressure situations.

The Impact on User Experience: How AI Problems Affect Gameplay

The inconsistent behavior of AI defenders directly affects the overall enjoyment of FIFA 23. Players who expect intelligent, calculated defending are instead met with erratic decision-making, leading to frustrating moments.

The Psychological Impact on Players

The frustration caused by AI defensive errors often leads to a negative psychological impact. Players may become upset or demotivated, especially after losing matches due to avoidable AI mistakes. These moments can lead to an overall decline in player satisfaction, and in competitive modes like Division Rivals or FUT, this frustration can even lead to players quitting the game.

Losing Trust in AI

The most significant impact is the erosion of trust in AI teammates. When defenders consistently perform poorly, players become more inclined to play solo, neglecting team strategies and relying on their individual actions to save the game. This defeats the purpose of the AI defense system, which is designed to support players when they cannot control every aspect of the game.

The Community’s Response to the AI Defense System

The community's response to the AI defense system in FIFA 23 has been overwhelmingly negative. Players across various forums, social media platforms, and YouTube channels have voiced their frustrations with the system. EA Sports has acknowledged some of the complaints but has yet to implement significant changes.

Petitioning for Changes

Fans of FIFA 23 have petitioned EA Sports for improvements to the AI defense system. Many players have requested that the defensive AI be given better decision-making capabilities, such as more responsive reactions to attacking threats, improved positioning, and smarter tactical choices. However, despite these efforts, the changes so far have been relatively minor, leading to continued dissatisfaction.

EA’s Response and Patches

EA Sports has released multiple patches attempting to improve AI behavior, including updates to defensive positioning and reaction times. However, these updates have not been enough to satisfy the community, as players continue to experience inconsistent defensive performances in both online and offline modes.

Possible Solutions for Improving AI Defense

There are several ways that EA Sports could improve the AI defense system in FIFA 23, some of which could be implemented in future patches or sequels.

AI Reaction Time Improvements

One of the first areas to address would be the reaction time of defenders. Increasing the responsiveness of AI defenders to offensive threats would ensure that they react more appropriately to through balls, crosses, and shots on goal. This would create a more fluid and realistic defensive experience.

Smarter Tactical Decisions

AI defenders should be programmed with a deeper understanding of tactics. For example, AI defenders should recognize when to stay in position to block passes and when to step up to intercept through balls. Smarter decision-making would make the defense system feel more intelligent and consistent.

Better Coordination Among Defenders

AI defenders should coordinate better as a unit, working together to close down spaces and cover each other's mistakes. In real-life soccer, defenders often work in tandem, covering for each other when one player is caught out of position. This type of behavior should be reflected in FIFA 23’s AI system.

Conclusion

FIFA 23's AI defense system remains one of the most frustrating and inconsistent elements of the game. While AI defenders play a crucial role in the overall gameplay experience, their erratic behavior—ranging from overcommitting to being passive—has led to significant dissatisfaction within the player community. Despite some efforts by EA Sports to address these issues through patches, the AI defense remains a persistent problem that hinders the game's overall enjoyment. As FIFA 23 continues to evolve, it is essential for EA Sports to focus on improving the AI's decision-making abilities, tactical awareness, and responsiveness to make the game feel more realistic and enjoyable for all players. Summary: FIFA 23's AI defense system suffers from overcommitment, passivity, and erratic decision-making, causing frustration among players and diminishing overall enjoyment.