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Does FIFA Career Mode Carry Over? The Ultimate Guide

Unfortunately, the direct answer is no, your FIFA Career Mode progress does not carry over between different versions of the game. Each new iteration of FIFA (now EA Sports FC) essentially starts with a clean slate. Your painstakingly built team, your meticulously developed youth academy stars, and your hard-earned trophies all remain within the version of the game in which they were achieved. However, there are nuances and related aspects we need to explore. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Game Progression and FIFA’s Structure

FIFA’s structure is designed around yearly releases, encouraging players to purchase the newest version. This model significantly impacts how progression works. Think of it as a fresh season in the real world of football; teams rebuild, players transfer, and new narratives emerge. The same philosophy applies to FIFA. While it might seem disappointing that your Career Mode doesn’t transfer, this ensures a level playing field and encourages continued engagement with the latest features and updates. Let’s break down the key elements:

Game Version Specificity

Career Mode progress is tied directly to the specific FIFA or EA Sports FC game version you’re playing. This means FIFA 22 Career Mode stays within FIFA 22, FIFA 23 Career Mode stays within FIFA 23, and so on. There is no mechanism to move this data forward.

Online vs. Offline Progression

It’s important to distinguish between Career Mode (an offline, single-player experience) and modes like Ultimate Team (FUT), which have online components. While some elements of FUT, such as FIFA Points, can be transferred under specific conditions (same console family, one-way transfer), Career Mode data is solely local to your console or PC.

The Nature of Yearly Releases

Each year’s release brings roster updates, gameplay tweaks, graphical enhancements, and often new features. These changes are significant enough that simply transferring Career Mode data wouldn’t work seamlessly. Imagine trying to import a team built around FIFA 22’s meta into FIFA 23, which might have completely different player stats or tactical options!

What Does Carry Over (And What Doesn’t)

While your Career Mode save itself doesn’t move between games, here’s a rundown of what you can expect to carry over or reset with each new FIFA/EA Sports FC release:

FIFA Points (Under Specific Conditions): As mentioned, FIFA Points can be transferred, but only between games within the same console family (e.g., PS4 to PS5, Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S). This transfer is typically a one-time, irreversible process.
Ultimate Team Progress (Partially): While your entire FUT squad doesn’t transfer, you often receive returning user rewards or early web start access in the new game based on your previous FUT activity. These rewards are generally small boosts to help you get started.
Settings and Preferences: Some basic settings, like controller preferences, may carry over if you’re staying within the same console ecosystem.
Everything Else Resets: Player career mode, Manager Career mode, pro clubs, etc..

Maximizing Your Career Mode Experience

Knowing that your Career Mode journey has a definite end within each game version, it’s essential to make the most of it. Here are some tips:

Set Realistic Goals: Define clear objectives for your Career Mode, whether it’s winning a specific trophy, developing a youth academy player to stardom, or simply enjoying the process of building a team.
Experiment with Different Teams and Leagues: Don’t be afraid to try managing teams in less popular leagues or taking on a challenge with a team facing financial difficulties.
Utilize Youth Academies: Focus on developing young players through your youth academy to create a long-term legacy.
Embrace the Role-Playing Aspect: Immerse yourself in the storylines and decisions that come with managing a football club.
Share Your Experiences: Connect with other FIFA players online to share your Career Mode stories, tips, and achievements. Consider using social media or forums to document your progress.

Related Aspects of FIFA and Football Gaming

The evolution of FIFA into EA Sports FC also reflects broader trends in the gaming industry. The focus on live service models, digital content, and online communities is increasingly prevalent. It’s worth exploring how these trends impact the gaming experience and player engagement. The Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) explores aspects of video games and their effects on engagement and education in general.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions regarding Career Mode and data transfer in FIFA/EA Sports FC:

1. Can I transfer my Career Mode save from FIFA 23 on PS4 to FIFA 23 on PS5?

Yes, as long as you are using the same PlayStation account, saves are typically transferable between the same game (FIFA 23 in this case) across the same console family (PS4 to PS5). You would need to upload your save data to the PlayStation Network cloud storage and then download it on your PS5.

2. Do FIFA Points carry over from FIFA 22 to FIFA 24?

No. FIFA Points can only be transferred to the immediately subsequent release (FIFA 22 to FIFA 23, FIFA 23 to EA Sports FC 24). You cannot skip a year.

3. What happens to my FIFA 23 Career Mode when EA Sports FC 24 is released?

Your FIFA 23 Career Mode remains playable within FIFA 23. It is not affected by the release of the new game, but you will not be able to transfer any of its progress to EA Sports FC 24.

4. Is there any way to continue my Career Mode team in the new EA Sports FC game?

No, there is no direct way to continue your exact team and progress. You start with a fresh Career Mode in each new game.

5. How long does a Career Mode last in FIFA 23?

In FIFA 23 (and previous FIFA titles), Career Mode typically lasts for 15 seasons. After that, your managerial or player career comes to an end.

6. Can I transfer players from FIFA 22 to FIFA 23 in Career Mode?

No, you cannot transfer individual players from one game to another. Rosters and player stats are specific to each game version.

7. Will my manager rating carry over to the new game?

No, your manager rating is specific to each Career Mode save and does not transfer to new games.

8. Do youth academy players age in Career Mode?

Yes, youth academy players age and develop over time within Career Mode, following a similar progression curve to real-life footballers. FIFA 22 has new player degradation mechanics meaning beyond the age of 26, a player’s overall rating will stop increasing, and by 29 it’ll begin declining.

9. What happens when my Career Mode ends after 15 seasons?

After 15 seasons, your career concludes. In manager mode, the game usually generates a simple ending cutscene. In player career mode, you can manually retire the player to get job offers for manager career mode.

10. Can I edit player stats in Career Mode to make it more realistic?

Yes, you can often edit player stats within Career Mode using the game’s editing tools or through third-party mods (on PC). This allows you to adjust player abilities to better reflect real-world performances.

11. Can I play a Career Mode using historical teams?

While the base game doesn’t always include historical teams, you can sometimes find custom rosters and mods created by the FIFA community that allow you to manage classic teams.

12. Are financial takeovers still a feature in Career Mode?

Yes, financial takeovers (where a new owner invests heavily in the club) are typically a feature in Career Mode, offering the opportunity to quickly boost a team’s transfer budget.

13. What is the transfer limit in FIFA 23 Career Mode?

The transfer limit is 30. It has been maxed out at 30 since the beginning of the web/companion app launch.

14. Can I become captain in FIFA 23 Career Mode?

Yes you can, you will need to manually change the captainship. so you press on the button on your controller or you scroll to the right using your mouse. until you get to the roles section here you have the captain. role you select it and you can give it to any player you want for example.

15. Can you recover a Career Mode in FIFA 23?

For game console users, you can also restore the career mode by clearing the game cache data.

Final Thoughts

While the lack of Career Mode carryover might be disappointing, it’s a deliberate design choice in the FIFA/EA Sports FC ecosystem. It encourages engagement with each new iteration and the updated features and mechanics they bring. Embrace the fresh start each year offers, set new goals, and enjoy the journey of building your virtual football empire! Consider browsing the Games Learning Society for more context and research on gaming and its broader effects.

Does FIFA career mode carry over?