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.

 

[BRAB]

I don’t really get why they couldn’t just release it on the initial release date for all platforms that had stock available.

 

[Millky95]

As an Xbox One player who was buying a physical copy, I welcome the delay

 

[BigAntStudios]

BigAntStudios JNT BA Given the “stock” hasn’t arrived in Australia yet and we are 7 days our from normal release, why push it back 3 weeks instead of 1-2?

It needs to be at retailers at least 7 days prior to release. It's not here yet, that why we have said it can't make it, we are 7 days from release.

if it lands after Easter, plus custom clearance (how long? who knows at this point?), then shipping to us, then shipping to retailers, rather than set a date that might not be met and give a second delay, we set an achievable date.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Is this equity and fairness line actually a thing in gaming? ridiculous. Quivorir big red flag, you were right. Haven’t got a gameplay video sorted. For Cricket 22 it was a month out. Judging by the mood on here the last week, they’ve known for sometime it was getting delayed.

If games were ready electronically and available on PC this ‘issue’ of equity and fairness wouldn’t be a problem, would it not? Everyone could get it digitally or on PC. But then again, there won’t be a switch version - so the games called off Due to equity and fairness.

 

[winds low]

This is the stuff of nightmares

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Allow the people to get refunds on their orders and go digital on the 13th. Every gaming console has the ability to buy and download digital games. Deliver unique codes to input into their consoles on the 13th for those that did pre order.

What baffles me is BA postponing the game instead of providing alternative ways to own the game. I’ve stuck up for BA for the most part, but this is quite poor.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Is this equity and fairness line actually a thing in gaming? ridiculous. Quivorir big red flag, you were right. Haven’t got a gameplay video sorted. For Cricket 22 it was a month out. Judging by the mood on here the last week, they’ve known for sometime it was getting delayed.

If games were ready electronically and available on PC this ‘issue’ of equity and fairness wouldn’t be a problem, would it not? Everyone could get it digitally or on PC. But then again, there won’t be a switch version - so the games called off Due to equity and fairness.

I could tell, so close to release, with no demos or any extra promotion it was either gonna be a quiet release or a delay.

 

[Etto]

It needs to be at retailers at least 7 days prior to release. It's not here yet, that why we have said it can't make it, we are 7 days from release.

if it lands after Easter, plus custom clearance (how long? who knows at this point?), then shipping to us, then shipping to retailers, rather than set a date that might not be met and give a second delay, we set an achievable date.

Are we going to get some gameplay at least, seems to be a pretty dry lead up to a game that was hyped?

 

[NOVA4]

Even on the chance that's not the case, delaying makes zero sense when digital distribution is widely available. Just poor all around.

Agree that it’s poor. But they’re going to get panned for a delay, no matter the reason. It’s almost as if people want the game to be bad, just so they can say “I told you so”, more than they actually want the game to be good?

 

[Freo16]

It needs to be at retailers at least 7 days prior to release. It's not here yet, that why we have said it can't make it, we are 7 days from release.

if it lands after Easter, plus custom clearance (how long? who knows at this point?), then shipping to us, then shipping to retailers, rather than set a date that might not be met and give a second delay, we set an achievable date.

I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to give any false hope/expectations but is there any chance of it arriving sooner and it being released immediately or is the new date 100% the earliest ?

 

[Supersuns]

This is too good. Im going to enjoying this car crash

 

[BigAntStudios]

Are you able to answer this? In the case of that happening, what does stop it from being released on the 13th seeing as the game could go online via their store platforms within the console?


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

There is no way we would let down our retail partners, and they would, quite rightly, cancel their orders. It's not like we could sell those disks anywhere else in the world.

 

[footyfreak_]

So hyped for a decent afl game then I get a notification from Twistie3 saying it’s been delayed.

 

[mickelboy182]

Agree that it’s poor. But they’re going to get panned for a delay, no matter the reason. It’s almost as if people want the game to be bad, just so they can say “I told you so”, more than they actually want the game to be good?

That's probably a byproduct of the people pointing out obvious red flags being labelled as whingers... certainly some of the comments by the CEO in this thread have put me right off.

 

[Treehill23]

Digital release didn’t get it’s stock either, damn

 

[BigAntStudios]

I’m guessing you wouldn’t want to give any false hope/expectations but is there any chance of it arriving sooner and it being released immediately or is the new date 100% the earliest ?

If we get it earlier, it will go out earlier.

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

There is no way we would let down our retail partners, and they would, quite rightly, cancel their orders. It's not like we could sell those disks anywhere else in the world.

Ahhh. Bugger.

 

[Xc9894]

There is no way we would let down our retail partners, and they would, quite rightly, cancel their orders. It's not like we could sell those disks anywhere else in the world.

Yeah that is 100% understandable from that end. I don’t think a lot of the thread would’ve known that aspect, appreciate the response and clarification on that!


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Sorry Ross, must be hard news for you too in that case.

 

[Freo16]

This is the stuff of nightmares

Why do we never get texts that say “it’s releasing a week early”

Also, at this point I feel they have to release some gameplay footage and insight into some modes over the next few weeks as ‘crisis management’ of sorts

 

[Yablettt]

Allow the people to get refunds on their orders and go digital on the 13th. Every gaming console has the ability to buy and download digital games. Deliver unique codes to input into their consoles on the 13th for those that did pre order.

What baffles me is BA postponing the game instead of providing alternative ways to own the game. I’ve stuck up for BA for the most part, but this is quite poor.

I back this. Why not give Xbox users unique codes like the ones that come in the console bundles. And every one can buy digitally too it’s not like they have to miss out. What am i meant to do these holidays

 

[bdawwg1021]

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Yeah that is 100% understandable from that end. I don’t think a lot of the thread would’ve known that aspect, appreciate the response and clarification on that!


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Agreed, was not aware retailers would pull out if it went digital before it went physical. Not your fault BigAntStudios hopefully this gives you some time to get all the tiny little things right

 

[BigAntStudios]

Allow the people to get refunds on their orders and go digital on the 13th. Every gaming console has the ability to buy and download digital games. Deliver unique codes to input into their consoles on the 13th for those that did pre order.

What baffles me is BA postponing the game instead of providing alternative ways to own the game. I’ve stuck up for BA for the most part, but this is quite poor.

Preorders are always refundable.

It is entirely beyond our control, there are contractual reasons why you cannot release one platform before the other.

We are not on our own with this, it has happened to Ubi and EA this year in Australia.

We will have an opportunity to release more gameplay footage and do more gameplay sessions during the delay.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Agree that it’s poor. But they’re going to get panned for a delay, no matter the reason. It’s almost as if people want the game to be bad, just so they can say “I told you so”, more than they actually want the game to be good?

I completely disagree with this statement

There is no way we would let down our retail partners, and they would, quite rightly, cancel their orders. It's not like we could sell those disks anywhere else in the world.

ah okay, I wish Ross initially said this. The fairness and equity makes sense now. I’m not fuming anymore