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.

 

[Cummdog3000]

Look gang tackles are great but what we're really missing out on are full blown melees (and resultant fines).

Would actually be kinda cool to see players push and shove randomly after a high free or somebody getting reported in game.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Look gang tackles are great but what we're really missing out on are full blown melees (and resultant fines).

So we could be looking at missing out on the meme'd gang tackles, ground tackles, ground wrestling for the ball, collisions, backwards running to mark the ball, high bumps. What other aspects of the sport do people think will be excluded from the gameplay mechanics? I hope Big Ant surprise us with the final build with most of that being in there.

 

[Xc9894]

So we could be looking at missing out on the meme'd gang tackles, ground tackles, ground wrestling for the ball, collisions, backwards running to mark the ball, high bumps. What other aspects of the sport do people think will be excluded from the gameplay mechanics? I hope Big Ant surprise us with the final build with most of that being in there.

Afl state in their licensing for no melees etc so I bet it’s hard enough for BA to do a cut scene of players pushing another off the ball


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Genuine answer: gang tackles

The memes will be worth it once we can finally do this in an AFL video game.

 

[BRAB]

I'm thinking the content creater stuff is different, more of a deep dive into game modes etc.

I'm still holding out hope we get the dev vs dev game play that was mentioned last week, hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

Maybe I misinterpreted the subtle clues from last week though.

When is the next golf stream?

 

[mclovin99]

How is everyone still so hyped for the game? Genuine question.

Release week... well was supposed to be release week and we've yet to see any sort of footage, gameplay trailer, etc that isn't from the frankenstein build.

Of course I'm going to buy the game, but man it's just mind bloggling that we haven't seen anything substantial this close to release.

It's more the hope of a good Aussie sports game that's league or afl.
Big ants done a pretty good job with the cricket games and with 5x the budget on this one it should be the best afl game by a mile

 

[Freo16]

I'm thinking the content creater stuff is different, more of a deep dive into game modes etc.

I'm still holding out hope we get the dev vs dev game play that was mentioned last week, hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

Maybe I misinterpreted the subtle clues from last week though.

Hopefully the dev gameplay will be tomorrow and then maybe something over the weekend for gather round - even if it’s more phone footage I’ll take it

 

[BRAB]

So we could be looking at missing out on the meme'd gang tackles, ground tackles, ground wrestling for the ball, collisions, backwards running to mark the ball, high bumps. What other aspects of the sport do people think will be excluded from the gameplay mechanics? I hope Big Ant surprise us with the final build with most of that being in there.

I think there will still be a general lack of awareness for the boundary line and players will still run over it aimlessly instead of trying to keep the ball in play.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

I think there will still be a general lack of awareness for the boundary line and players will still run over it aimlessly instead of trying to keep the ball in play.

Right, and with the goal lines, too, but I believe Ross said they had a system that would have the players try and keep the ball alive, similar to their Cricket games.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

I think there will still be a general lack of awareness for the boundary line and players will still run over it aimlessly instead of trying to keep the ball in play.

Yeah I hate that.

 

[StoneyHawk]

Are the new gather round jumpers from some clubs an option in the game?

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Like we do in Cricket 22 fielding near the boundary, bit different but the same

Clarification that there will be a "keeping the ball alive" mechanic.

 

[Treehill23]

Does anyone have the ‘5 year plan’ that Ross detailed when Live 1 first came out ?
Would be interesting to see the comparison between AFL 23 and what would have been their 5th iteration of the game
Eg what’s missing, what we can expect in future versions etc

 

[Andonis1997]

Wondering if there was any news about which grounds would be included in the over 30 in the game? I assume every ground an AFL match is played at is a lock but will every AFLW?

I guess the Whitten Oval is my bias interest given it didn't host a game in season 7 of the AFLW and is a construction site at the moment. Thing I love about the 'MLB The Show' game is the historic stadiums option to play at. Would be amazing to be able to play at the old Suburban grounds.

I think we've only heard about the extra SA grounds from an Adelaide-showcasing website.
They've confirmed the grounds hosting Gather Round games (Adelaide Oval, Norwood & Mt Barker) are included in the game. So there's 27+ more to work out now

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Does anyone have the ‘5 year plan’ that Ross detailed when Live 1 first came out ?
Would be interesting to see the comparison between AFL 23 and what would have been their 5th iteration of the game
Eg what’s missing, what we can expect in future versions etc

That was a news article from 2009, I believe. They said with every game they would focus on each aspect of the sports, specifically. And then a few years back, Ross told me their plans for a then hypothetical AFL game sequel with tactics and such.

 

[FearTheBeard13]

I'm thinking the content creater stuff is different, more of a deep dive into game modes etc.

I'm still holding out hope we get the dev vs dev game play that was mentioned last week, hopefully tonight or tomorrow.

Maybe I misinterpreted the subtle clues from last week though.

Oh I hope we do get that dev vs dev gameplay sooner rather than later and hoping I’m wrong on my earlier predictions.

 

[Xc9894]

Clarification that there will be a "keeping the ball alive" mechanic.

Big double edged sword, could be good to keep it alive, but if there isn’t a way to just run over the line or it isn’t well enough balanced to do that I feel some controllers will end up in walls in a close game. Obviously defensive 50 it’s more likely a player to run it over the line as opposed to forward 50


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[Cummdog3000]

Big double edged sword, could be good to keep it alive, but if there isn’t a way to just run over the line or it isn’t well enough balanced to do that I feel some controllers will end up in walls in a close game. Obviously defensive 50 it’s more likely a player to run it over the line as opposed to forward 50


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Could be a good use for the “homing” button if it’s not mapped for anything when you’ve got the ball. Hold the button when gathering the ball? You use the stay in bounds mechanic. If you don’t hold it, it’s not “active”.

I have no knowledge about developing video games, all statements are general in nature only. You should seek a professional software engineers advice before endorsing this comment.

 

[Cubs2Lions]

I think we've only heard about the extra SA grounds from an Adelaide-showcasing website.
They've confirmed the grounds hosting Gather Round games (Adelaide Oval, Norwood & Mt Barker) are included in the game. So there's 27+ more to work out now

Well we can 100% guarantee that the following stadiums will be in the game:

Melbourne Cricket Ground, Marvel Stadium, GHMBA Stadium (Geelong), IKON Park (Carlton) MARS Stadium (Ballarat), Adelaide Oval, Norwood Oval, Mount Barker Oval, Optus Stadium, GABBA, Metricon Stadium, Sydney, Cricket Ground, GIANTS Stadium, UTAS Stadium (Launceston), Bellerive Oval (Hobart), Manuka Oval (Canberra) TIO Stadium (Darwin), Traeger Park (Alice Springs

Others that could possibly be or I would personally would like to see in the game (but not limited to)*:

Victoria Park (Collingwood), Punt Road Oval (Richmond), Arden St Oval (North Melbourne), Windy Hill (Essendon), Casey Fields (Melbourne), RSEA Park (St. Kilda), Trevor Barker Oval (St. Kilda), Whitten Oval (Western Bulldogs), Waverley Park (Hawthorn), Queen Elizabeth Oval (Bendigo), Coburg City Oval (Coburg), Frankston Oval (Frankston), North Port Oval (Port Melbourne) Avalon Airport Ground (Werribee), Williamstown Football Ground (Williamstown), Lavington Sports Ground (Albury-Wondoga), Blacktown International Sports Park (GWS), Robertson Oval (GWS), Henson Park (GWS / Sydney), North Sydney Oval (Sydney), ANZ Stadium (Sydney), Tramway Oval (Sydney), Brighton Homes Arena (Brisbane), Fankhauser Reserve (Gold Coast), Cazaly Stadium (Cairns), Riverway Stadium (Townsville), Unley Oval (Adelaide), Glenelg Stadium (Adelaide), Alberton Oval (Port Adelaide), WACA Ground (West Coast / Fremantle), Fremantle Oval (Fremantle), Lathlain Park (West Coast), Subiaco Oval (Fremantle / West Coast)

Hopefully that isn’t too much to ask for BigAntStudios and JNT BA, regarding stadium ideas in the present and future

 

[Sewelly101]

After all that talk of pre-season games yesterday, just been informed that they are in the game. (As much as I don't rate them, I did say I wasn't sure if they were there or not.)



Future trades can be traded, but ATM only for the next year. (edit)


I think SOS (Jack) looks pretty spot on, a bit easier to judge when you see them week-in-week-out so that's a biased view. You'll like Dusty, I'll make sure he's one of the first that I take a screenshot of.

Will you be able to add custom Guernseys to licences teams? Also, surely “Holy Grail” is in the main menu music

 

[jdoggdrool]

So, all that talk of XBOX copies being in Australia was bs?

 

[Etto]

So, all that talk of XBOX copies being in Australia was bs?

Apparently, Ross said they haven't been declared through customs yet

 

[jdoggdrool]

Apparently, Ross said they haven't been declared through customs yet

I see. But that could mean that they are in fact in Australia, though? They just haven't been declared yet - but from memory people with experience say it can take two weeks?

 

[Etto]

I see. But that could mean that they are in fact in Australia, though? They just haven't been declared yet - but from memory people with experience say it can take two weeks?

Yea i believe they are in Australia, but haven't been declared...

 

[jdoggdrool]

Yea i believe they are in Australia, but haven't been declared...

Gotcha, thanks for clearing that up, Etto!