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Save Pro Clubs. That is the simple message trending online from the FIFA 23 community. FIFA 23 Pro Clubs has long been a game mode that fans flock to with their friends as it remains by far the most sociable mode on offer in the FIFA franchise.
While we are late in the FIFA cycle, and the EA Sports FC 24 release date is just around the corner, FIFA 23 players are rightly demanding that EA fix Pro Clubs. After all, certain players will have paid for FIFA 23 specifically to play Pro Clubs.
So, what is the issue? For anyone who has played Pro Clubs this year, it is abundantly clear that it is not a priority mode for EA. Ultimate Team raked in over $1 billion in 2021 so EA is clearly focusing on the profits, but this abandonment of Pro Clubs has riled up the loyal fans who play the game exclusively for the 11v11 mode.
The actual issues within Pro Clubs make the game unplayable. Broken matchmaking, constant disconnecting, irritating glitches, and a general lack of updates for several seasons have pushed the Pro Clubs community to the limit.
In response, hosts of Virtual Pro Leagues, organised 11v11 Pro Clubs competitions from all over the world have banded together to take a stand against the lack of action from EA regarding the issues in FIFA 23 Pro Clubs. This has led to the trending hashtag #SaveProClubs on Twitter.
Virtual Pro Gaming directly messaged EA’s various accounts, demanding an answer. The message read as follows:
“It is unacceptable that customers who have purchased your product FIFA 23 are having their experience marred by a broken Pro Clubs mode which has been broken for over 30+ days. Despite customers attempting to contact EA to ask for a resolution, it appears that EA are not taking any steps to fix the issue and are instead prioritising other areas. This is an inadmissible situation as customers have paid for a service that they are not receiving.
The issue has been added to the EA tracker, with no update and prioritising FUT packs over customers being unable to play: Pro Clubs disconnect issue
The same issue, that was once fixed, then in the next update it was broke again and made things 10x worse.
The pro clubs loyal, passionate customers deserve answers, we are bigger than what you think, treat us with respect. We all buy your product for pro clubs only!”
A multitude of other Virtual Pro Leagues and Pro Clubs fans have also weighed in. Even Mark Goldbridge of Manchester United fandom fame weighed in, sharing his disappointment at “such a great platform completely neglected.”
One fan has suggested a tongue in cheek solution to the issue, claiming that to access a Pro Clubs match you must first complete ten jumping jacks, pray on your knees, rest the lobby 100 times, set all players to bald, solve world hunger, run a marathon, and finish another slightly more lude task.
While this obviously won’t solve the technical issue, it goes some way to showcasing the exasperation of the Pro Clubs community. Another fan has also highlighted a pathway that EA may want others to pursue.
“I’ve played this game mode [Pro Clubs] ever since it was created, and it feels like EA have driven me to FUT with the lack of attention Clubs gets,” explained Avitinho on Twitter. Whileit may not be a deliberate ploy from EA, Avitinho won’t be the only fan seeking a game mode that actually works, only to stumble into the lucrative world of the bright and shiny golden child that is Ultimate Team.
The worry is that these issues will persist in EA Sports FC Pro Clubs. The merging of Pro Clubs and VOLTA hasn’t worked, and we must see Pro Clubs as a stand alone mode next season. The message is clear and simple. Save Pro Clubs.
With EA’s new football title coming soon, a new talking point among fans will be the EA Sports FC 24 ratings. Will Mbappe remain the best player in the game, or will he be bested by Man City’s goal machine Erling Haaland? We are sure to see some new Icons and FUT Heroes in Ultimate Team too, with several leaks already suggesting at some top players returning next season.
