FIFA 23 Prime Icons release date has been confirmed for Dec. 22 giving fans new players to add to their squads through packs and the transfer market.

Prime Icons are the highest rated versions of Icons outside of new Campaign Icons. Prime Icons used to be the second highest rated versions, only exceeded by Prime Icon Moments. EA Sports removed Moments this year in favor of Campaign Icons giving the developer the opportunity to alter the power curve throughout the year in FIFA 23. World Cup Icons were the first released and were rated between middle and Prime versions.

FIFA 23 Prime Icons Release Date Confirmed

EA Sports released a FIFA 23 loading screen with a Brazilian, French and Italian Prime Icon highlighting what's to come. Most would suspect that, in order, it is Pele, Zinedine Zidane and Paolo Maldini.

Prime Icons, once released, will replace base Icons in packs as is tradition in FIFA Ultimate Team. In the past, middle Icons would be replaced later in the year by Prime Icon Moments. With no Moments cards in the game this year, perhaps middle Icons will be in packs for the entire year but they'll be replaced in packs at times when Campaign Icons are in packs. Or, EA Sports opts for a permanent Campaign Icon type in packs replacing middle Icons at a point.

A preferred option for fans would be the simple removal of both base and middle versions for just Prime Icons.

Winter Wildcards is still expected to start on Friday, Dec. 23 at 1 p.m. ET.

This article was originally published on dbltap as FIFA 23 Prime Icons Release Date Confirmed.