Is Ted Lasso in FIFA 23 for Nintendo Switch?
Hey friend, if you‘ve been following the hype around FIFA 23, you may have heard about Ted Lasso coming to the game. Unfortunately, I‘ve got some bad news for Nintendo Switch owners.
Ted Lasso and AFC Richmond will not be playable on the Switch version of FIFA 23.
No Richmond in the Legacy Edition
The Nintendo Switch is receiving a scaled back Legacy Edition of FIFA 23 that omits the Ted Lasso crossover. This Legacy Edition is essentially a repackaged version of FIFA 22 with updated rosters and kits. None of the new features, modes or gameplay changes that appear in FIFA 23 on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC and last-gen consoles made it to the Switch.
That means no Ted Lasso barking instructions from the sidelines. No Jamie Tartt curling shots into the top corner. And no leading out AFC Richmond for an emotional night at Nelson Road.
Richmond is exclusive to the full fat version of FIFA 23. The Legacy Edition on Switch just didn‘t make the cut.
What You Get and Don‘t Get in the Legacy Edition
Let‘s quickly compare what gameplay you get and don‘t get in the Legacy Edition on Nintendo Switch:
| Game Mode | Included? |
|---|---|
| Kick Off | ✅ Yes |
| Career Mode | ✅ Yes |
| Pro Clubs | ❌ No |
| Volta Football | ❌ No |
| FIFA Ultimate Team | ✅ Yes |
| Ted Lasso Integration | ❌ No |
| World Cup Mode | ❌ No |
So Switch owners can still play exhibition matches, manage a club career, and build their dream FUT squad. But flashy new additions like Ted Lasso, women‘s club teams, and the World Cup experience won‘t be available.
Nintendo Fans Deserve Parity
Many Nintendo diehards have expressed disappointment that the Switch isn‘t getting the full-bodied FIFA 23. Based on sales figures, the installed base is large enough to warrant significant investment from EA:
- 109+ million Nintendo Switch units sold worldwide
- FIFA games have sold over 9 million copies on Switch
- Switch player count on FIFA 22 was over 1 million
With such considerable interest in the franchise, it‘s easy to see why players want the same innovations other platforms receive. Hopefully EA will prioritize closing this feature gap in future installments!
The Verdict as a Switch Gamer
As someone who does most of my gaming on a Nintendo Switch, I‘m let down by the minimal improvements in FIFA 23. Ted Lasso‘s humour and heart would‘ve brought something fresh to my soccer gaming routine.
That said, I appreciate that EA still produces a Legacy Edition so I can get my yearly soccer fix. And Switch hardware limitations likely make a true parity port challenging.
For now, I‘ll continue playing my beloved AFC Richmond in FIFA 22 career mode and hold out hope that one day Ted and Coach Beard could lead my club to glory in a full FIFA 23 Switch port!
What do you think? Should the Switch get the same FIFA treatment as other consoles? I‘d love to hear your thoughts!