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.

 

[magpienato]

Damn really? I actually think these menus are super clean and feels much more like I'm playing a polished product but to each their own I guess

I don't mind it, keep it simple.

But that is just all personal preference.

That's fair enough, I think it's more so just a lack of usage of the space available. Could've easily had that clean look while overlaying related images to at least add to the immersion of it all. It's not terrible by any means but it's not particularly exciting either.

Couldn't quite find the exact oranges for oranges menus but I think these illustrate the point (Evo 1 vs Evo 2 vs AFL23)

 

[OhDustinMartin]

Would be weird to have mid season drafts without some state league representation I reckon.

 

[Michaels]

That's fair enough, I think it's more so just a lack of usage of the space available. Could've easily had that clean look while overlaying related images to at least add to the immersion of it all. It's not terrible by any means but it's not particularly exciting either.

Couldn't quite find the exact oranges for oranges menus but I think these illustrate the point (Evo 1 vs Evo 2 vs AFL23)
View attachment 1674220View attachment 1674222View attachment 1674221

Yeah I get what you mean for sure!

 

[game_chromosome]

Unless I picked a midfielder I found the be a pro mode boring in evo/evo 2.

Backline/forward line wasn't involvi g enough (end up not doing much). AFL games are harder to make controlling 1 player exciting compared to Fifa/NBA 2K/Madden where the playing environment is smaller.

You ever played footy in real life? That's the point of that mode. Replicating real life so it is expected you won't be involved in all the play. It doesn't have to be exciting, just an accurate representation.

I reckon it would be awesome to be a forward and have to work out a leading pattern to get off your opponent, lead at the right time, train to increase shot accuracy.

Every one has their own likes etc for modes but I sincerely hope a solo career mode is in the next one.

 

[Fizzler]

I have a feeling if they're gone to the extent of having the mid season draft in the game the state leagues would almost certainly be integrated with the seniors. I have a feeling the streamers and creators who've shown the game off so far are probably under some sort of directive of what they can and can't show, and from what I was able to skim of Michaels' vid while at work I didn't see him delve into the management mode a whole heap (could be very wrong there though, didn't get a proper look). We know it's obviously not the final build so again, very likely that it's not the final version of management mode either.

 

[imwinningagreatwall]

Nothing so far in those menus suggest lower league levels, happy if it’s in but if not no big deal.

Could potentially just be free agents / recently delisted players and fake name/ created players in those drafts with generic overall stats perhaps.

Ohwell- managing and watching a team as the coach is still awesome and as good as simulation gets.
If they Nail Pro team mode i couldnt care less about the rest of the game!
I just hope when they mentioned you could “earn” players. Its not too easy to earn them. I want them to be very very rare and not too easy.

I hope its more pack related then Earnt.

Unless ofcourse they are just reffering to currency earnt when you play/win that can be used to purchase players on an online market for sale? Not sure why we havnt been told about this yet

 

[FearTheBeard13]

Mainly wishful thinking here but I’d assume for just the submission build they didnt include stat overlays, quarter by quarter stats and also the interchanges. Didnt see any in Michaels or Twistie’s videos.

 

[Freo16]

BigAntStudios JNT BA

Forgive me if this question is redundant butttttt….

Are we definitely putting a pin in player career till the next iteration? I only ask because I know you guys added comps etc into the cricket games later on into the game cycle. Assuming a different mode is an entirely different kettle of fish than adding a 100 ball game format, just trying to see if there’s a glimmer of hope for us player career tragics. If a dedicated mode is out of the realm of possibility this time round, the ability to lock to a player could be a trade off in the meantime?

The launch event was about 3 weeks before the original release date and player career was going to be in the game so the mode must be pretty much finished, seems weird that it’s going to sit on the shelf for 2 years now.

pro team was originally going to be added weeks after the game released so why can’t player career be added in the same way ?

 

[RU_]

The launch event was about 3 weeks before the original release date and player career was going to be in the game so the mode must be pretty much finished, seems weird that it’s going to sit on the shelf for 2 years now.

pro team was originally going to be added weeks after the game released so why can’t player career be added in the same way ?

Yeah, in hindsight I’m also wondering if this is an option?

 

[BRAB]

The launch event was about 3 weeks before the original release date and player career was going to be in the game so the mode must be pretty much finished, seems weird that it’s going to sit on the shelf for 2 years now.

pro team was originally going to be added weeks after the game released so why can’t player career be added in the same way ?

The timeline of events is really confusing for sure.

 

[WAbulldog]

Here are the videos I just posted.

7 Tidbits of info

Management Career deep dive

Season Mode

enjoy!

Thanks for the videos Michaels, love that every stadium will have different ground sizes and also like the addition of the mid season draft in management mode.

 

[Selim]

What is everyone's favourite AFL video game song?

Mine is:

no wonder there wasnt a game after that probs spent there budget trying to get that song lmao,

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

You ever played footy in real life? That's the point of that mode. Replicating real life so it is expected you won't be involved in all the play. It doesn't have to be exciting, just an accurate representation.

I reckon it would be awesome to be a forward and have to work out a leading pattern to get off your opponent, lead at the right time, train to increase shot accuracy.

Every one has their own likes etc for modes but I sincerely hope a solo career mode is in the next one.

Would be cool if tutorials were built into it too. Say you pick full forward and as part of moving up the ranks you're taught leading patterns and all the rest of it.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

On his original stream that column showed AFL and AFLW so probably just that although might be used for more in the career mode

Not going to watch AFLW players in your AFL career though are you. There are different mens leagues to watch in the watch list section of management mode.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Can anyone answer why Bigant have not given content creators the up to date version of the game to showcase? It’s driving me crazy

 

[imwinningagreatwall]

Would be cool if tutorials were built into it too. Say you pick full forward and as part of moving up the ranks you're taught leading patterns and all the rest of it.

When you see a midfielder with the ball- run towards him
End of tutorial.

 

[Freo16]

When you see a midfielder with the ball- run towards him
End of tutorial.

The Fremantle tutorial must be different

 

[game_chromosome]

Would be cool if tutorials were built into it too. Say you pick full forward and as part of moving up the ranks you're taught leading patterns and all the rest of it.

Yes 100% this. Same with positioning, zoning for mids.

 

[game_chromosome]

When you see a midfielder with the ball- run towards him
End of tutorial.

Extremely simplified but that's one way.

I would expect the defensive AI to make that more difficult

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

When you see a midfielder with the ball- run towards him
End of tutorial.

Yeah and all 6 forwards all run to the same spot and collide

 

[imwinningagreatwall]

Yeah and all 6 forwards all run to the same spot and collide

Abit like carlton (not including last night)

 

[Treehill23]

Can anyone answer why Bigant have not given content creators the up to date version of the game to showcase? It’s driving me crazy

If you look at the rest of the build up for this game, it makes complete sense

 

[magpienato]

Can anyone answer why Bigant have not given content creators the up to date version of the game to showcase? It’s driving me crazy

Probably for the reason everyone is too scared to say but know is probably true; that the current build of the game is not up to scratch.

It's already de facto been confirmed that the game wasn't finished by the original release date. The delay was more or less about buying some extra time than it was about the delivery issue, that much is clear. I cancelled my preorder last week so we'll see how it goes from here, I'm running out of cautious optimism. If the console builds are having issues, I shudder at the thought of how the PC version of the game is going to be

 

[bdawwg1021]

Can anyone answer why Bigant have not given content creators the up to date version of the game to showcase? It’s driving me crazy

It's just a video game.

 

[bdawwg1021]

Probably for the reason everyone is too scared to say but know is probably true; that the current build of the game is not up to scratch.

It's already de facto been confirmed that the game wasn't finished by the original release date. The delay was more or less about buying some extra time than it was about the delivery issue, that much is clear. I cancelled my preorder last week so we'll see how it goes from here, I'm running out of cautious optimism. If the console builds are having issues, I shudder at the thought of how the PC version of the game is going to be

lol.