Hi,

Could you explain to me why the tactical formations are more reduced in the FM2023?
I don't understand, a lot of tactical options disappeared

Thank you

It was a decision made by the game devs because they found that in a formation like the standard 4-2-3-1 Wide (with 2 MCs behind an AMC, and AML/AMR), the AI managers were using players like Mason Mount, Kevin de Bruyne, James Maddison or Phil Foden in the MC slot with no true holding midfielders (I guess because attacking players have higher CA than more defensive players like Casemiro or Fernandinho).

So SI's solution was to remove the 4-2-3-1 Wide formation from being used by the AI, and instead use 4-2-3-1 DM Wide with 2 DMs. I think it's a quite inelegant solution because in real life there will always be managers who have their 2 midfielders higher up the pitch or closer to the defenders, and this change reduces tactical variation as a result, but also means AI managers can't use a Box-to-Box midfielder in the 4-2-3-1 anymore. The in-game 4-4-2 formation is still with 2 CMs rather than DMs which is a bit inconsistent as well. I also think the change was decided quite late-on in development and was rushedly implemented as a result, because many of the game's researchers didn't have time to adjust playing positions of some central midfielders to be natural/accomplished at playing in DM, so (at least in the first database) I often saw AI playing centre backs at DM instead because they had the most proficiency in their squads!