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.

 

[T2B_]

Eh, won't make or break it for me but I guess I'm in the prefer to have pre-season camp. In the WW games I too would throw in the new draftees and just throw the team positions around in general to get a feel for the newbies or experiment (or just take the piss). But I'm also a weirdo who likes to follow the entire career of certain players I develop as if they were real, so I'm absolutely in the minority.

In this case I can just do the experimentation stuff etc in the first couple of rounds of each season I guess.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

There was no meter. However if a team gained the momentum against you, you had to wrestle it back by slowing the game down, taking possession with slow build up to score. Pretty much what happens now when a team gets a run on.

The problem was, the AI was so easy to beat, I didn't really notice it. Hopefully AFL 23 have made very hard incredibly hard to beat, even if you're a pro.

 

[T2B_]

There was no meter. However if a team gained the momentum against you, you had to wrestle it back by slowing the game down, taking possession with slow build up to score. Pretty much what happens now when a team gets a run on.

Hopefully it's much better than the very obvious rubber-banding that happens in Evo.

 

[andy_c91]

The problem was, the AI was so easy to beat, I didn't really notice it. Hopefully AFL 23 have made very hard incredibly hard to beat, even if you're a pro.

With the fact that they have info from champion data and input from afl assistant coaches that should give us players some confidence.

 

[BigAntStudios]

The problem was, the AI was so easy to beat, I didn't really notice it. Hopefully AFL 23 have made very hard incredibly hard to beat, even if you're a pro.

Was a lot of fun in multiplayer though.

 

[LennyHayes77]

Hopefully momentum doesn't mean rubberbanding. Nothing worse than the AI either becoming unstoppable or useless if they are losing or winning.

 

[Aflsquads]

The problem was, the AI was so easy to beat, I didn't really notice it. Hopefully AFL 23 have made very hard incredibly hard to beat, even if you're a pro.

Was much more noticeable in online matches (as well as other tactics). Online was absolutely where Live 1 shone brightest.

 

[new0066]

AFL ended the NAB cup in 2013 then had the NAB Challenge followed by the Community Series which ended 2022.

In 2023 they didn’t even care about it having a sponser or anything and it was just called “2023 AFL practice matches”.

I assume if there was the nab cup type thing or even the community series then it could have been included in the game but it’s just practice matches now.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Was a lot of fun in multiplayer though.

I had to setup some matches with some Bigfooty guys, when I bought it for PC. The leaderboard on the PC version only had 17 players.

 

[Freo16]

You're two for two

Customising banners is not in the game but we have worked with cheersquads for new and previous banners.

ATM you cannot grab the ball in the ruck. It is on our priority list for a patch down the track, I can't promise it will make it.

In theory, could grabbing the ball out of the ruck work by a player using the left stick to edge the oppo ruck under the ball and then presumably if you don’t use the right stick, you’re ruckman won’t tap the ball and will instead take possession when the ball falls in his hands.

It may not be an actual mechanic or button press but it seems like you should still kind of be able to do it from what I’ve seen in the gameplay footage.

 

[T2B_]

AFL ended the NAB cup in 2013 then had the NAB Challenge followed by the Community Series which ended 2022.

In 2023 they didn’t even care about it having a sponser or anything and it was just called “2023 AFL practice matches”.

I assume if there was the nab cup or even the community series then it could have been included in the game but it’s just practice matches now.

Fair point, it's basically nothing but scratch matches now, not much more than intra-club.

 

[Aflsquads]

I had to setup some matches with some Bigfooty guys, when I bought it for PC. The leaderboard on the PC version only had 17 players.

There was over 31k on the leaderboard for Live 1 PS3

 

[Bianconeri]

Hopefully momentum doesn't mean rubberbanding. Nothing worse than the AI either becoming unstoppable or useless if they are losing or winning.

That’s essentially what it was in the first game, hopefully it’s more refined now.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Rubber banding is one of the most infuriating mechanics in gaming, so hopefully its not that.

 

[jdobs95]

There was over 31k on the leaderboard for Live 1 PS3

That number now would be double that surely, online is such a presence these days

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

In theory, could grabbing the ball out of the ruck work by a player using the left stick to edge the oppo ruck under the ball and then presumably if you don’t use the right stick, you’re ruckman won’t tap the ball and will instead take possession when the ball falls in his hands.

It may not be an actual mechanic or button press but it seems like you should still kind of be able to do it from what I’ve seen in the gameplay footage.

Could be the type of action that either gives a free kick away depending on timing, strength rating and a touch of RNG, or gives you first possession

 

[Monfries7]

At the risk of this descending even further... out of interest, how is inserting an 8qrt 40- a-side game which is a completely different format to an actual football match, regarded as "simplest of things"?

Clear straw man argument lol. You are the only one that brought up the 8 quarter games. All teams played 1 full four quarter game before this season started. Shouldn't be hard to comprehend that people who enjoy management game modes would enjoy that also being in the game?

Being able to play your rookies and get a feel of them after you've drafted them without testing them in a game for points. That's fun to me, might not be for others. That's why you can simulate games.

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Clear straw man argument lol. You are the only one that brought up the 8 quarter games. All teams played 1 full four quarter game before this season started. Shouldn't be hard to comprehend that people who enjoy management game modes would enjoy that also being in the game?

Being able to play your rookies and get a feel of them after you've drafted them without testing them in a game for points. That's fun to me, might not be for others. That's why you can simulate games.

And being able to play around with game plans, tactics and other features would be great. Could also be very beneficial for new players who need the extra game to practice or refine some things before playing games that matter.

 

[StoneyHawk]

Rubber banding is one of the most infuriating mechanics in gaming, so hopefully its not that.

pretty sure that’s what Geelong where like in the second half today…wasn’t much Hawthorn could do to stop that wave of goals.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Clear straw man argument lol. You are the only one that brought up the 8 quarter games. All teams played 1 full four quarter game before this season started. Shouldn't be hard to comprehend that people who enjoy management game modes would enjoy that also being in the game?

Being able to play your rookies and get a feel of them after you've drafted them without testing them in a game for points. That's fun to me, might not be for others. That's why you can simulate games.

If they were going to do that, they'd also need to bring in playable training, internal matches, and reserves games for management mode, so it'd be close to a proper full experience. For now, simulating that rather than being playable would be the best thing, so they can focus on the more important things to develop.

 

[Monfries7]

If they were going to do that, they'd also need to bring in playable training, internal matches, and reserves games for management mode, so it'd be close to a proper full experience. For now, simulating that would be the best thing.

I disagree that you'd need all those things. As per my comment I'd like at least 1 preseason match. I don't think you're making the argument you think you're making.

 

[Bianconeri]

If they were going to do that, they'd also need to bring in playable training, internal matches, and reserves games for management mode, so it'd be close to a proper full experience. For now, simulating that rather than being playable would be the best thing, so they can focus on the more important things to develop.

I’m not sure why you’re still on this, would love the latter to be included but it’s not needed for the former to be included.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

I disagree that you'd need all those things. As per my comment I'd like at least 1 preseason match. I don't think you're making the argument you think you're making.

So, why one preseason match only? What's the point? To trial players? You can just do that in exhibition mode. If you mean consequences for in season, the preseason games are not the only variable, there's much more, including off the field things.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

I’m not sure why you’re still on this, would love the latter to included it’s not needed for the former to be included.

Because if you want the "full experience" than they'd have to include all that extra stuff, too. They're just as important.

 

[Monfries7]

So, why one preseason match only? What's the point? To trial players? You can just do that in exhibition mode. FIf you mean consequences for in season, the preseason games are not the only variable, there's much more, including off the field things.

We're talking 5+ years into a career mode, testing those drafted players. Clearly that's not something you'd play which is fine. That's why the last AFL game allowed you to simulate them. I didn't mention anything about consequences (but you have like 5 times for some reason), just because there's more than one way for consequences to happen doesn't mean you do all or nothing.

You said it yourself, we want them to prioritise that more important things. I think a preseason game is important.