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.

 

[mikeyyy35]

What an absolute shit show, this is honestly so confusing about what’s happening with everything right now, hopefully Ross and or JNT can shed some light on things before this forum goes nuts again ahaha


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Etto]

Big Ant * us again, pathetic company.

Not BigAnts fault to a degree, id be more blaming the logistics companies who are in charge of this.

Would be good to have some clarity on this by JNT or Ross, considering how many PlayStation users are thinking its going to get delayed aswell.

 

[mickelboy182]

Not BigAnts fault to a degree, id be more blaming the logistics companies who are in charge of this.

Would be good to have some clarity on this by JNT or Ross, considering how many PlayStation users are thinking its going to get delayed aswell.

Has this happened to other releases recently w/ Xbox?

Not the game developer's fault, but the publishing arm would seemingly be at some degree of fault.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

Mate absolutely nothing coming from Big Ant has been clear. They are deliberately vague and in some cases even flat out lying.

I don't think that that's the case for the supply issues. We had the heads up weeks ago that copies for one console were extremely limited to the point where there was unlikely to be sufficient stock at launch. We also know that BA can't speak for the amount of stock held by individual retailers. I suspect that JB have either gone through their stock entirely, or they've opted not to sell the game until they have more stock. Neither of those are BA decisions.

I am honestly a little confused at the confusion here. I feel like the quotes in the stickied post told us that this was going to happen. It's certainly how I read them.

 

[thedavemiester]

To be fair, JNT and Ross have been deliberately avoiding the Xbox stock levels question for weeks. There's clearly still contractural crap to be mindful of. However, I do think a definitive statement is overdue.

 

[Etto]

Has this happened to other releases recently w/ Xbox?

Yes i believe it has, im not an Xbox user but i've heard about some AAA titles pushed back due to issues on Xbox

 

[hawk699]

Everyone needs to chill out tbh we all know the Xbox’s copy’s were going to get delayed yes big ant should’ve told everyone that but you can’t really blame big ant when it’s Xbox fault it be out digitally most likely also jb website says now Xbox copy’s coming soon ps4/ps5 copy’s may 4th so still planned I know it’s not idea but not much what we can do

 

[thedavemiester]

AFL 23 Has Been Delayed Again On Xbox (Updated)

AFL 23 Has Been Delayed Again On Xbox (Updated)

press-start.com.au

 

[boncer34]

I don't think that that's the case for the supply issues. We had the heads up weeks ago that copies for one console were extremely limited to the point where there was unlikely to be sufficient stock at launch. We also know that BA can't speak for the amount of stock held by individual retailers. I suspect that JB have either gone through their stock entirely, or they've opted not to sell the game until they have more stock. Neither of those are BA decisions.

I am honestly a little confused at the confusion here. I feel like the quotes in the stickied post told us that this was going to happen. It's certainly how I read them.

But the game release date was pushed back because of the supply issues? We still have the issues so is it pushed back again or still being released?

Edit: Looks like it's still being released. Which does make me ask why was it delayed then?

 

[thedavemiester]

the assumption was that the first delay would resolve some of the supply issues. That clearly hasn't happened, in fact... it seems as though JB are in the same position they were 3 weeks ago.

Surely the xbox parity clause bullsh* is null and void if they can't deliver their side of the deal

 

[Nicho50]

The most confusing thing is this game was due to be released a month ago but was delayed due to the shipment issues but seems like certain modes weren't ready even for the original release date. I know the shipping issue isn't their fault but its been a shambles.

Surely the xbox versions can be ordered via digital store otherwise it would be a complete and utter cluster ****.

I called my local EB who rang me last week to say my order was in and he would hold for me, he apologised and said it was PS5 not Xbox so I have cancelled my order and will pick up digitally now assuming that goes ahead.

 

[palmomagpie]

But the game release date was pushed back because of the supply issues? We still have the issues so is it pushed back again or still being released?

Edit: Looks like it's still being released. Which does make me ask why was it delayed then?

Ross said there were be no further delays on their end due to stock issues. Basically saying Big Ant are releasing AFL23 on May 4 regardless. If the retailers don't have appropriate stock levels, then unfortunately it's their bad luck and that's a retailer issue

 

[pOleK]

Surely they still allow to go ahead on digital. Makes me regret going from PS3 to XB1 more and more as time goes on

 

[boncer34]

Ross said there were be no further delays on their end due to stock issues. Basically saying Big Ant are releasing AFL23 on May 4 regardless. If the retailers don't have appropriate stock levels, then unfortunately it's their bad luck and that's a retailer issue

But when the "release it regardless" was put to him last time he said this

If it was that easy then it would be done.

There are many interested parties, and clauses in contracts that must be adhered with.

Those contracts just vanished have they?

 

[footyfreak_]

I’m willing to buy a ps5 just to play if it’s not on Xbox digitally.

 

[DTLSchulzy16]

It’s more than an Xbox issue though. We’ve been lied to this entire time. This game was never being released in April if it was a PS only game. How can so much change between a delay due to stock issues? We’ve lost an entire game mode, potentially lost teams (nobody knows if VFL/SANFL/WAFL are in the game 2 days out!!! Oh but we’ve got these fancy new legends that you can get via $$$

 

[palmomagpie]

the assumption was that the first delay would resolve some of the supply issues. That clearly hasn't happened, in fact... it seems as though JB are in the same position they were 3 weeks ago.

Surely the xbox parity clause bullsh* is null and void if they can't deliver their side of the deal

I honestly just don't think they were quite prepared for the influx of preorders. Most preorders they've ever had, on a game struggling with stock as is, is a recipe for disaster at the retailers who want to make sure they have floor stock as well as pre-order stock available. Thus far, it's only a JB Hi Fi issue and until we hear from EB & The Gamesmen, we assume they'll at least honour their preorders

 

[Etto]

I’m willing to buy a ps5 just to play if it’s not on Xbox digitally.

It will be on Xbox Digitally

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

But the game release date was pushed back because of the supply issues? We still have the issues so is it pushed back again or still being released?

Edit: Looks like it's still being released. Which does make me ask why was it delayed then?

There has to be some stock available across both platforms for the game to be sold due to the parity clause. Initially that wasn't the case; now it is.

 

[mickelboy182]

But when the "release it regardless" was put to him last time he said this

Those contracts just vanished have they?

Reading between the lines I would say there is a clause that restricts the length of a delay to some kind of reasonable time.

 

[boncer34]

There has to be some stock available across both platforms for the game to be sold due to the parity clause. Initially that wasn't the case; now it is.

JB aren't party to that clause?

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Expected another delay, very little build up and no recent public demos. Gotta hope during this extra delay, they're going to add more mechanics in, ie 3v1 tackling. The contested play is really lacking.

 

[Rowdoss]

I am honestly a little confused at the confusion here. I feel like the quotes in the stickied post told us that this was going to happen. It's certainly how I read them.

Yeah, there’s not much confusion, just the regular suspects being willfully ignorant

 

[mickelboy182]

Expected another delay, very little build up and no recent public demos. Gotta hope during this extra delay, they're going to add more mechanics in, ie 3v1 tackling. The contested play is really lacking.

This is wishful thinking, by all reports they are a small dev with several major projects releasing in the coming months.

Expect some fine tuning but not entire reworking of the gameplay.

 

[Rowdoss]

Has this happened to other releases recently w/ Xbox?

Not the game developer's fault, but the publishing arm would seemingly be at some degree of fault.

Yes, it has recently, more than a couple of times.