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.

 

[Coxy_]

Never been interested in UT ever in any game. But if that's how I can play as Matty Richardson and a bunch of other former Tiges, I'll get amongst it.

Can't wait to unlock Rory Hilton and Ty Zantuck to be honest

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

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.

Not sure addicts have a choice, otherwise they wouldn't be addicts.

Whether its kids or adults, a mode designed to hit the same psychological beats as a casino, which is what FIFA and 2k etc absolutely 100% do, rubs me the wrong way. Especially in a G rated game.

No issues if it's like Cricket 22. Would be nice for clarification but I know we're not getting that any time soon.

 

[Quivorir]

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

Not really. There is a matchmaking. You're only going to be playing against other players around your skill level.



Im of the opinion of let people be adults. If I want to "gamble" my money who is anyone else to tell me otherwise?

 

[Pickitt]

Not sure addicts have a choice, otherwise they wouldn't be addicts.

Whether its kids or adults, a mode designed to hit the same psychological beats as a casino, which is what FIFA and 2k etc absolutely 100% do, rubs me the wrong way. Especially in a G rated game.

No issues if it's like Cricket 22. Would be nice for clarification but I know we're not getting that any time soon.

I just hope they do it so there's a balance of people who only play to make a fair amount of points, don't want to be putting in hours just to be destroyed by someone who's spent hundreds.

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Reckon some of the first UT legends will be the current coaches and assistant coaches

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Fitzroy as a team would be pretty awesome as a legends thing.

 

[ultimaotaku]

Now that ultimate team is pretty much confirmed.

What legends do people want ?

Depending how the rights go Russell Ebert and Scott Hodges are a musttttt but from the AFL era Wanganeen and Robbie Gray <3

 

[Fear Boner]

G TRAIN!!!!!

Yes!

 

[Fear Boner]

G TRAIN!!!!!

Yes!

 

[StoneyHawk]

Not sure addicts have a choice, otherwise they wouldn't be addicts.

You always have a choice at the start......and then if you keep going back to the well then its on you!

 

[Nicho50]

Don’t need ultimate team for those legends if the creation academy is as popular crickets people will make the sides with realistic looks of legends in no time anyway. Granted cricket has the advantage of a very pro Indian fan base that do a lot of work on the community and the internationals other leagues are all great with real kits logos and player models that look as good as the real ones.

Not sure that footy will have the same fan base on the academy but let’s hope so.

 

[bdawwg1021]

From a graphical standpoint - I'm nervous how it will go, bringing legends into the game.

Given they won't face scanned due to their current age, body shapes, possibly deceased... it'll be interesting to see how Big Ant will go capturing their likeness via photo references.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Hope we see non-VFL/AFL legends too, like Stephen Michael.

 

[FearTheBeard13]

Hopefully we see Strauchanie in UT lol would be a funny easter egg

 

[Sixpence]

Still seems to be a few important questions that have gone unanswered. Things like:

Are there adjustable sock heights?
Can we customise the field with pictures of half-naked girls?
Is there an in-game chat where we can brag about fornicating with the opponent's mother?

 

[SugarShane]

I just hope they do it so there's a balance of people who only play to make a fair amount of points, don't want to be putting in hours just to be destroyed by someone who's spent hundreds.

I think that's what's always turned me off from even bothering with the modes. If they're pay to win and I'm not going to pay, is there a point?

 

[Michaels]

I think that's what's always turned me off from even bothering with the modes. If they're pay to win and I'm not going to pay, is there a point?

they aren't really pay to win though, your own skill level has a lot to do with it.

as mentioned i built a team with no money spent that was beating teams with god level cards because I was a better player.

And as Quivorir said the games have skill level match making built in so it is all relevant.

It isn't weighted towards people who spend big bucks if that's what you're worried about.

 

[ultimaotaku]

On a topic totally unrelated to the current one being discussed, Hopefully if the game is good the AFL/Big Ant/both will setup an Esports league like the Aleague has.

Every team could sign a player to represent them in the Esports league and there could then be 2v2 (or more) exhibitions where say the proffesional AFL23 player for Port teams up With an actual Port player to play the person signed for Collingwood and one of their actual players.

unlikely but i'd watch it as an avid lover of most esports.

 

[Dez!]

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.

2k have done it a couple of times where they'll drop info rather late.

EA have done it with their NBA Live games.

I have a genuine question for you, whether you know tomorrow or two days before release what's the difference? You'll have the same information before it releases regardless.

 

[FearTheBeard13]

2k have done it a couple of times where they'll drop info rather late.

EA have done it with their NBA Live games.

I have a genuine question for you, whether you know tomorrow or two days before release what's the difference? You'll have the same information before it releases regardless.

Yeah 2K especially in the past few years drop the developer blogs/features with only 2-3 weeks until release. I think thats a better option then revealing info 6 months before a release, it builds and fades anticipation if its left too long.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

they aren't really pay to win though, your own skill level has a lot to do with it.

as mentioned i built a team with no money spent that was beating teams with god level cards because I was a better player.

And as Quivorir said the games have skill level match making built in so it is all relevant.

It isn't weighted towards people who spend big bucks if that's what you're worried about.

Yet EA and 2k go out of their way to make it as casino-like as they can to try and get people to spend as much as they can (and in many cases, more than they can). The level of grind required to keep up with the spenders is increasing as well.

If the interest is in making it even and fair and not pay to win etc etc etc then there should be no issues with making like Cricket 22.

 

[Rowdoss]

From a graphical standpoint - I'm nervous how it will go, bringing legends into the game.

Given they won't face scanned due to their current age, body shapes, possibly deceased... it'll be interesting to see how Big Ant will go capturing their likeness via photo references.

Madden and Fifa do it pretty well, nba2k are a little inconsistent. Not sure of the process in doing it for legends, but looking at the quality of the visuals thus far, id have some faith in them doing a pretty good job.

 

[SugarShane]

as mentioned i built a team with no money spent that was beating teams with god level cards because I was a better player.

Sounds like the kind of shithousery I'd get a kick out of.

 

[JT_the_Man]

Sounds like the kind of shithousery I'd get a kick out of.

Oh trust me it's good. You can tell pretty quickly when you run into a mum's credit card team and it's always sweet beating them.

 

[jc12]

This is the 2K player in me talking but I'd love for them to go down the path of moments cards. Say back when Ben Ronke kicked 7 goals that one time, we then get a 90 something Ben Ronke added to the game. Or more recently we would get say an upgraded Harry Sheezel after his historic performance. I guess the FIFA equivalent would be TOTW cards.

Dusty 99 norm Smith medal card would be epic
Basically the motm cards they have in fifa