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]

Can we get confirmation of Holy Grail?

At bare minimum can we place this towards top of the wish list for the next iteration??

 

[AnAussieWancker]

Overall Big Ant were absolutely never in doubt for this game well done lads you’ve done extremely well and should be extremely proud of yourselves for revamping AFL Games for the good and love of footy.

 

[Etto]

BigAntStudios Is there anychance we can get a screenshot of the end of game stats screen?

 

[allwrightythen]

Do people actually remember PS2 graphics?

Hell, even looking at this against FIFA 19's (last FIFA game on PS3) PS3 graphics, this game shits all over that. People shitting on the graphics here have no idea.

 

[dont argue 04]

Trailer looks mint, how goods f**** footy. Can’t wait BigAntStudios

 

[Sewelly101]

Trailer looks awesome, but disappointed with the lack of bulldogs content in there tho

 

[RU_]

Yep, trailer is fantastic.

Still have fingers crossed for some news of an earlier release but at the same time cannot wait for May 4th!

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Honestly this seems so surreal. Such an awesome trailer, no doubt the game will be the goods. Who would have thought this would ever happen? Just 1 year ago WW were still making threads for improvements to make in Evo 3.

On their forum? I thought they ignored everyone, they never bothered to expand their gameplay mechanics to incorporate the missing aspects of the sport, and they had over a decade to do it.

 

[illnino]

New ruck animation looks great. Less clunky. Hopefully there's a few different ones.

The ball drop and kicking also look much improved. Great trailer overall

Have we heard anything more on gang tackling? I'm genuinely interested.

 

[game_chromosome]

On their forum? I thought they ignored everyone, they never bothered to expand their gameplay mechanics to incorporate the missing aspects of the sport, and they had over a decade to do it.

Yeah it was on that website wickedsports I think it is

 

[bdawwg1021]

BigAntStudios Ross the boss. I can't help but notice Patrick Crips model looks off. Maybe its his skin tone? Or the hair? I thought your boy would get the 5☆ treatment?

No big deal, but just wondering if those sorts of things may get touched up in future patches?

 

[ptrg]

I figure the mechanics will be fine/acceptable/great, but for me, it’s the AI that makes or breaks this game. (Would still love a targeting system that gives closest 4 teammates a symbol that matches the game pad for quick chain footy)

While 18 1v1 matchups just kill the immersion, so to does 36 ants chasing a footy. I just really hope it plays like real life, with fwd/def 1v1s, but also ability to have sweepers, QBs, interceptors, and also more tactics around the ball. And lesser team ratings mean miscommunications, poor handoffs etc. Need some “randomness” in the game to make it not feel 100% pre-programmed.

The last WW game became so frustrating seeing the same tactics every game, where the only bit of “freedom” was when the entire 44 players tired themselves out with 5mins to go Resulting in fun overlaps, mis matches and chain linkage.

 

[George]

Nice trailer.

Any gameplay out yet?

 

[GoldbergsGold]

I figure the mechanics will be fine/acceptable/great, but for me, it’s the AI that makes or breaks this game. (Would still love a targeting system that gives closest 4 teammates a symbol that matches the game pad for quick chain foot)

While 18 1v1 matchups just kill the immersion, so to does 36 ants chasing a footy. I just really hope it plays like real life, with fwd/def 1v1s, but also ability to have sweepers, QBs, interceptors, and also more tactics around the ball. And lesser team ratings mean miscommunications, poor handoffs etc. Need some “randomness” in the game to make it not feel 100% pre-programmed.

The last WW game became so frustrating seeing the same tactics every game, where the only bit of “freedom” was when the entire 44 players tired themselves out with 5mins to go Resulting in fun overlaps, mis matches and chain linkage.

I would like to see a feature that allows customizable player positions and tactics from users, similar to Madden 12 for PS2.

 

[AnAussieWancker]

Would love a players meters gained stat tracker btw think it would enhance selection

 

[jdobs95]

BigAntStudios JNT BA bravo!

 

[robertto]

Looks so good. Been waiting for a big ant AFL game for a decade.

Would love to get it for both ps5 and steam deck..... But I just lost my job lol

 

[hawk699]

Trailer looks awesome can’t wait when it’s coming out

 

[BigAntStudios]

BigAntStudios Ross the boss. I can't help but notice Patrick Crips model looks off. Maybe its his skin tone? Or the hair? I thought your boy would get the 5☆ treatment?

No big deal, but just wondering if those sorts of things may get touched up in future patches?

It's probably the lighting in that scene as he's looking pretty good in motion.

We'll no doubt have some touching up to do for a few players - there's so many, we're bound to have technical errors when players are converted from the raw assets.

 

[bdawwg1021]

It's probably the lighting in that scene as he's looking pretty good in motion.

We'll no doubt have some touching up to do for a few players - there's so many, we're bound to have technical errors when players are converted from the raw assets.

Appreciate the response mate

 

[avceh]

BigAntStudios are all the recently drafted players like harry sheezel aaron cadman will ashcroft etc all been face scanned into the game or will that happen later down the line?

 

[BuddyF23]

BigAntStudios any chance we can get a glimpse of some swans players , mainly Chad! Just haven’t seen much swans yet!!

 

[DTLSchulzy16]

Didn't see anyone mention it, but probably missed it with the amount of comments.

Whats up with Pendles using a red footy at night? Surely those type of things are easy to get right?

 

[DaveM303]

Looks like a store in NSW has broken embargo already.

 

[magpienato]

Animations look great up close, should look even better from afar.

Still would like to see gameplay though, that has been the make-or-break for so many AFL video games over the years and it be nice to know how it plays at least a week before release to temper expectations.

Also why tf does Pendles have a red footy in a night game? Surely that's some sort of bug to do with the time of day