Multiplat AFL 23 - PS/Steam Releasing May 4, Xbox TBC

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

WHEN CAN I PLAY? READ BELOW:

• PlayStation (Physical): Thursday 4 May
• PlayStation (Digital): 8:01am AEST Thursday 4 May
• Steam: Currently 8:01am AEST Thursday 4 May, may be moved to 12:01am AEST
• Xbox (Digital or Physical): TO BE CONFIRMED, unlikely to be 4 May

Spoiler: Specific Big Ant quotes about the release:

Those that pre-ordered PS versions will be able to play on Thursday, disks will have already been mailed by retailers, they will also be available in-store.

Steam will also be available Thursday.

Stating the obvious, we are still having issues with XBox.

Seriously, anyone that looks hard knows there’s issues - why do you think there are so many exclusives for a particular platform that are not marked as exclusive, but are only on that platform.

If I took that road, life would have been a lot easier.

Xbox digital and retail will release at the same time - that is not a decision we get to make.

It applies now and I will no doubt pay a price.

Spoiler: Other Quotes

Re: commentary team

Spoiler: Other Quotes

Hamish is still there, Daisy didn't make it into the final version of the game.

We added Gary and increased the workload of Harf.

Re: game availability/release dates

I can never give 100% guarantee about anything in the future, but as it stands today, the statement I am prepared to make it that all stock that is at retailers on 4 May will be available for sale.

As to the amount that will be there for sale, and whether it is enough, that is a question I cannot answer.

It will be made digitally available on the various platform holder electronic stores.

Clarifying, the game will not release prior to 4 May 2023.

I am vague as there is one platform that has had sufficient stock at retailers and the other has not, and I cannot name them (contractual reasons).

The game will not be further delayed because of the numbers of units in stock.

Re: Steam listing

I've already put in a request for the screenshots to be replaced with current ones, they'll probably only be there for a day.

As much as the feedback has generally been positive, these are old, meant to be placeholder only and were not meant to go live.

Re: playing lists

All playing lists are accurate for the 2023 season.

Re: content creator footage

This is all prior to day one patch (as some have noted updates like numbers etc are apparent)

Re: Career mode

A head's up on Career mode.

At the AFL 23 Launch night I mentioned the non-team based Individual Career Mode in an interview with Dean (Twistie3). As alluded to at that same event, we were working with the AFL and AFLPA to include as many past legends in the game as possible.

The great news is that we have received approval for far more AFL legends than were previously envisaged, but this has meant that we had to make the tough decision to divert resources away from the Individual Career mode development. The individual Career Mode function will not make it into AFL 23, Career Mode will be entirely team based. I expect this mode to be include in future iterations of the game.

Re: microtransactions

You do not have to make purchases, things can be earned.

Re: general development

So fundamentally flawed, in so many ways, it’s bananas.

We are doing AFL as it’s a passion project, without us doing it there would not be one being made.

So much more upside with making games that are played internationally, let alone one that will not even be played in every state in this country.

 

[Oliver G]

I wonder if Whitten Oval will include the redevelopment or if they are going with the old ground.

 

[Freo16]

It is interesting that so much info is being held back (player career, state leagues etc.) but it’s also exciting that we might have some big info drops in these next few weeks - which will hopefully make the wait seem shorter.

 

[Freo16]

Leaked photo of Vic Park
Got hold of it via an AFL23 Facebook group
View attachment 1637729

Being able to play state league games at actual smaller grounds is going to be huge for that realism factor

It’s an outside chance but I’m hoping they might bring the WACA over from Cricket 22 since East Freo play their atm

 

[GoldbergsGold]

BigAntStudios
Can you shed some light on the soundtrack? I’m hoping there will be more than just 2 songs on repeat? Haha

Hoping for a custom track option.

 

[Strahany]

With "Big Head Mode" seemingly gone the way of the dodo, I wouldn't mind if Big Ant incorporated "Joe Misiti

Joe Misiti

Age

50

Ht

186cm

Wt

88kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.8

5star

K

12.3

5star

HB

9.6

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

1.5

3star

No current season stats available

D

22.2

5star

K

15.6

5star

HB

6.6

4star

M

4.4

4star

T

0.6

3star

Mode".

 

[Dez!]

Why are people surprised that not everything was revealed?

For all the bitching about marketing you would think people would realise that releasing everything at once isn't good marketing.

 

[StoneyHawk]

Why are people surprised that not everything was revealed?

For all the bitching about marketing you would think people would realise that releasing everything at once isn't good marketing.

Because the current crop of 16s and under expect everything to be handed to them and their opinion is the only one that matters.

 

[RG16]

I wonder if Whitten Oval will include the redevelopment or if they are going with the old ground.

Or perhaps even going the MCG style in AFL 04/05 with part of the stands being constructed. Regardless, keen to see Whitten Oval on the game

 

[pOleK]

I personally think any game with gambling-like mechanics shouldn't be rated G. If a parent has to impose parental controls etc to lock out part of the game because it's inappropriate for a child, then the game itself should be rated for an adult audience.

It's not just children either, I'm firmly in the addiction is an illness camp and it's far more complicated than its being portrayed.

If it’s anything like Cricket 22 Big XI’s, I don’t think that’d be too much of a worry. From what I’ve seen it sort’ve runs similar to your AFL Fantasy/Supercoach teams where you start off with a budget and players are split into different Tiers based on their ratings and you can only have a certain amount of players from each tier. Otherwise I can see 3 ways that micro-transactions work in the game

The first option is probably if you want to skip the grind and get the best team possible, which you probably just have to sink some time in if you want to not pay anything.

Secondly, I can see Legends potentially being behind a paywall solely by the way Ross was talking at the event. It sounds like they want it to be reasonably fair deal with the AFLPA where at least some amount of that money makes it’s way back to the legends represented in the game.

And the third option, similar to previous games, is probably roster update DLCs for the next year or two after the game is released.

Those are just my thoughts though, being a local company with the target demographic for this game being small compared to other sports titles, I can’t see BigAnt wanting to come across as too predatory or intrusive and alienating the small amount of the population that is going to buy this game. I’ve got a reasonable amount of faith in them

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

If it’s anything like Cricket 22 Big XI’s, I don’t think that’d be too much of a worry. From what I’ve seen it sort’ve runs similar to your AFL Fantasy/Supercoach teams where you start off with a budget and players are split into different Tiers based on their ratings and you can only have a certain amount of players from each tier. Otherwise I can see 3 ways that micro-transactions work in the game

The first option is probably if you want to skip the grind and get the best team possible, which you probably just have to sink some time in if you want to not pay anything.

Secondly, I can see Legends potentially being behind a paywall solely by the way Ross was talking at the event. It sounds like they want it to be reasonably fair deal with the AFLPA where at least some amount of that money makes it’s way back to the legends represented in the game.

And the third option, similar to previous games, is probably roster update DLCs for the next year or two after the game is released.

Those are just my thoughts though, being a local company with the target demographic for this game being small compared to other sports titles, I can’t see BigAnt wanting to come across as too predatory or intrusive and alienating the small amount of the population that is going to buy this game. I’ve got a reasonable amount of faith in them

Oh yeah I have no issues with the cricket game model or season pack DLC, it's the predatory EA/2k model I have issues with.

Was a good day when EA ripped it out of Battlefront 2 after the beatdown they copped at launch.

 

[haydo]

I for one want to thank BigAntStudios, JNT BA, Michaels & whoever else has had a hang in producing, marketing or giving us access to have this much information available before release date. I for one, will be purchasing this game whatever the end result because I know my investment in the game will help for future titles. I’ve read through every single page of this thread and 99% of the comments are garbage. I’m here to support a local company wanting to create a game for our national game…. That’s enough for me to throw my $$$$$ at no matter the result

 

[BRider]

Management mode - does that mean you will coach your side and watch it play? OR do you have to actually control the players?

 

[Michaels]

It's never that simple otherwise it wouldn't be an issue. Add all the others to that, vaping in schools and what have you, addictions in general, it's not as simple as "you dumb parents".

in this case it really is.

in some cases you can have a step authentication process before the transaction goes through.

 

[Quivorir]

Why are people surprised that not everything was revealed?

For all the bitching about marketing you would think people would realise that releasing everything at once isn't good marketing.

Probably because the game launches in 3 weeks.

 

[dont argue 04]

For Richmond has to be Richo with a special dummy spit button.

And KB, but handballing is turned off for him.

And a 99 rated Relton Roberts.

100% Richo
Give me the push up king

I need to win Deledio a premiership with Richmond the poor bastard

90s Gale, Campbell, Gasper, knights

Older greats Sheedy, Hafey, Titus, Bourke, hart

 

[Financialpanther]

Management mode - does that mean you will coach your side and watch it play? OR do you have to actually control the players?

Does management mode allow you to surpress questionable players social media habits or drinking buddies?

 

[jdoggdrool]

I don't ask this facetiously at all - only out of pure curiosity: What is interesting about Ultimate Team mode? It seems to be incredibly popular and I couldn't give a rat's toss-bag about it. Just wondering what I might be missing.

 

[LennyHayes77]

just on this, even with FIFA and NBA, you don't have to purchase anything in order to play the Ultimate Team modes. It is fully optional and nothing is forced.

I built a pretty decent FIFA team without spending a extra cent just by playing to get packs, using their SBC card trading and so on.

Simple answer is don't give kids access to parents credit cards!

It's not even just kids that are the problem. Plenty of fully grown adults have serious issues with gambling and these pay to win services don't help. Getting some of the absolute best cards in game require a lot of luck or a lot of money!

 

[Michaels]

It's not even just kids that are the problem. Plenty of fully grown adults have serious issues with gambling and these pay to win services don't help. Getting some of the absolute best cards in game require a lot of luck or a lot of money!

Understand the adult piece but the comment in question I was replying to was in relation to kids buying things, which is very simple to stop as a parent.

The adult piece is definitely a bit more tricky and a few more layers of complexity, but even as an adult now, everyone has a choice.

Definitely a lot of pack luck is involved but you can still build a pretty decent team without spending a cent.

 

[Michaels]

I don't ask this facetiously at all - only out of pure curiosity: What is interesting about Ultimate Team mode? It seems to be incredibly popular and I couldn't give a rat's toss-bag about it. Just wondering what I might be missing.

for me it just added a whole new layer to online multiplayer games.

From a FIFA standpoint, instead of it just being Tottenham vs Arsenal, which don't get me wrong is still good fun, you are building your own side with players from all over the world both past greats and current players at with different skill levels.

there is an overall team chemistry as well so you need to find balance and get the right type of players. Bit of management involved as well.

Then taking your team online to compete in the online rankings to climb divisions is really fun.

they also had an 'offline' mode where your team can play against a series of AI teams to still earn rewards, would be awesome if that was involved somehow. you could have mates join your team as well online to play against the AI too which was even better.


I'm not sure how much of the above will feature in AFL23 obviously, but that is the general enjoyment piece.

 

[Dez!]

Probably because the game launches in 3 weeks.

Exactly, they can drop more information over the 3 weeks.

 

[jwint43]

for me it just added a whole new layer to online multiplayer games.

From a FIFA standpoint, instead of it just being Tottenham vs Arsenal, which don't get me wrong is still good fun, you are building your own side with players from all over the world both past greats and current players at with different skill levels.

there is an overall team chemistry as well so you need to find balance and get the right type of players. Bit of management involved as well.

Then taking your team online to compete in the online rankings to climb divisions is really fun.

they also had an 'offline' mode where your team can play against a series of AI teams to still earn rewards, would be awesome if that was involved somehow. you could have mates join your team as well online to play against the AI too which was even better.


I'm not sure how much of the above will feature in AFL23 obviously, but that is the general enjoyment piece.

Is the fun kinda taken away by knowing if people spend enough they will just have the best teams? This is why I could never truly get into UT

 

[dont argue 04]

Is the fun kinda taken away by knowing if people spend enough they will just have the best teams? This is why I could never truly get into UT

True, still need to be good at the game though

 

[Michaels]

Is the fun kinda taken away by knowing if people spend enough they will just have the best teams? This is why I could never truly get into UT

I can definitely understand that point of view, but I will say that there were plenty of times I came up against people who had far better players than I did but I was still able to beat them.

So your actual skill level plays a huge part as well and just because you have a stacked team of stars because you spent big $$ does not mean you will win games, which was good.

There were obviously also players who had great teams and were great players of the game and sliced me up accordingly, but you take the good with the bad.

I think FIFA has 8 or 10 divisions to work your way up and I usually sat in Div 3 comfortably which is a decent level without buying anything extra.

 

[stkilda7894]

Exactly, they can drop more information over the 3 weeks.

Genuine question, any other AAA sports games come to mind where the fanbase knew next to nothing about the game 3 weeks out from launch?
No gameplay, no details, the only thing available 3 weeks out from launch is a trailer, phone footage, and the opinions of people who played a dev kit model of the game from 6 months ago.