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.

 

[stkilda7894]

BigAntStudios JNT BA can we have some clarrification on what PS/PC users can expect on Thursday?

• Will state leagues be present in game, whether licensed or not?
• Will state leagues run simulataneously in management mode?
• Can you play management/competition modes in a state team?
• Will pro team be playable at launch?
• Will we be able to train our players in management mode?
• Will some of the grounds that are incorrect in terms of broadcast side, lighting and logo placement be fixed?

32 hours to release, I believe it's more than reasonable to have some basic yes/no questions answered that a lot of people are interested in.

 

[pattymalone00]

Isnt hard to see where the priorities lie, look where the CEO is while the s**t hits the fan.

Tbf most developers would probably prioritise ipl liscencing over the release of an afl game, also I assume he has to go to India while the ipl is still on

 

[avceh]

still holding out hope for xbox that they can get there stuff sorted and hopefully release in 2-3 weeks

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Just got a message from EB. Xbox pre-order delayed until June. No surprise but nail in the coffin

due to manufacturing delays from the developer Nacon, AFL 23 on Xbox has an updated release date of early June. Your preorder is still secure

Blaming Nacon will ruffle feathers

 

[ShaunWDT]

still holding out hope for xbox that they can get there stuff sorted and hopefully release in 2-3 weeks

Good luck with that Microsoft are ridiculously under staffed Post Covid

 

[netslave]

BigAntStudios JNT BA can we have some clarrification on what PS/PC users can expect on Thursday?

• Will state leagues be present in game, whether licensed or not?
• Will state leagues run simulataneously in management mode?
• Can you play management/competition modes in a state team?
• Will pro team be playable at launch?
• Will we be able to train our players in management mode?
• Will some of the grounds that are incorrect in terms of broadcast side, lighting and logo placement be fixed?

32 hours to release, I believe it's more than reasonable to have some basic questions answered that a lot of people are interested in.

I doubt you'll hear anything significant from BigAnt now until the actual game release, they'll be too busy trying to put out fires would be my guess.

 

[Nicho50]

I doubt you'll hear anything significant from BigAnt now until the actual game release, they'll be too busy trying to put out fires would be my guess.

Attend the play sessions tomorrow and you will find out.

 

[StoneyHawk]

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

JB going with mid-late June while EB say early June is commentarygate all over again.

 

[NewAgeSporting]

I’m actually really happy they are still going ahead with it. in this situation there is no good outcome either have everybody angry at you or have just the Xbox community angry (I’m apart of the Xbox community) I’d prefer them release it on other platforms so there is at least content on the game there is not much anyone can do about it is what it is

 

[Quivorir]

JB going with mid-late June while EB say early June is commentarygate all over again.

Keeping in line with any info about this game being as clear as mud.

 

[RU_]

Here come the EB text messages, just got mine.

 

[Cummdog3000]

The stated reason for the initial delay has not been replicated now despite it being the same scenario. It is inconsistent by definition. Weird comment.

They gave them an extension, expecting stock to be ready. Big ant has been burned again, Ross will now bite the bullet and release on other platforms anyway and is expecting to be hit in the pocket on this one. I think it makes sense he was amicable and willing to play ball the first time they got stuffed around, clearly his patience has ran out and he doesn’t want to delay all platforms again. I dare say this is partially a bit of a middle finger to Xbox/Microsoft as well.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

I dare say this is partially a bit of a middle finger to Xbox/Microsoft as well.

Ross getting fired up at Microsoft:

 

[RU_]

Still not sure why Microsoft wouldn’t want this to release on digital while disc is delayed.

 

[NOVA4]

I doubt you'll hear anything significant from BigAnt now until the actual game release, they'll be too busy trying to put out fires would be my guess.

You won’t need to hear anything from Big Ant when we have all the information we need being made up in this thread.

 

[mickelboy182]

They gave them an extension, expecting stock to be ready. Big ant has been burned again, Ross will now bite the bullet and release on other platforms anyway and is expecting to be hit in the pocket on this one. I think it makes sense he was amicable and willing to play ball the first time they got stuffed around, clearly his patience has ran out and he doesn’t want to delay all platforms again. I dare say this is partially a bit of a middle finger to Xbox/Microsoft as well.

Sure we can speculate that. There are so many holes to that story though (why has no other game had this, why not just be transparent at the first delay) that I'm not going to just conveniently choose someone to throw under the bus.

 

[adammonerz]

I reckon Pro Team was probably ready for launch it was going to be a few weeks after it if the game launched on April 13 and it's now the 1st of may which is like 3ish weeks. I don't think we will get it now that it's only launching on PS and PC Thursday. I expect us to get a build with a day one patch to iron out the kinks but without pro team and we will get a huge patch with it included when the xbox copy goes live. All the offical AFL communication has been about Pro Team so I reckon it was ready for launch this week

 

[T2B_]

Sure we can speculate that. There are so many holes to that story though (why has no other game had this, why not just be transparent at the first delay) that I'm not going to just conveniently choose someone to throw under the bus.

But mate, you're happy to throw BA (the little guy) under the bus.

 

[Nicho50]

They gave them an extension, expecting stock to be ready. Big ant has been burned again, Ross will now bite the bullet and release on other platforms anyway and is expecting to be hit in the pocket on this one. I think it makes sense he was amicable and willing to play ball the first time they got stuffed around, clearly his patience has ran out and he doesn’t want to delay all platforms again. I dare say this is partially a bit of a middle finger to Xbox/Microsoft as well.

First it was shipping now its manufacturing? There has not been one single bit of consistency with this the entire time, first time it is for fairness for all now its not, it was Daisy then it wasn't Daisy, it's delayed until mid June and also early June. There were play sessions happening and plenty of opportunity to see the game to make an informed decision on purchase which we haven't really seen that much of and completely mis jointed communication from all parts. You can understand why some are annoyed etc?

 

[andy_c91]

They gave them an extension, expecting stock to be ready. Big ant has been burned again, Ross will now bite the bullet and release on other platforms anyway and is expecting to be hit in the pocket on this one. I think it makes sense he was amicable and willing to play ball the first time they got stuffed around, clearly his patience has ran out and he doesn’t want to delay all platforms again. I dare say this is partially a bit of a middle finger to Xbox/Microsoft as well.

I wonder if this second delay would allow BA a option to claim some compo from Microsoft, seeing as Microsoft on their part would have broken their end of whatever contract/agreement they had with BA.

I would think the first delay would fall into some sort of buffer allowed for delays but the second time around would not.

 

[Cummdog3000]

Ross getting fired up at Microsoft:

I’m loving all the Simpsons reference in this thread though

 

[mickelboy182]

But mate, you're happy to throw BA (the little guy) under the bus.

Please kindly show me where I have done so.

 

[NimFromSudan]

Still not sure why Microsoft wouldn’t want this to release on digital while disc is delayed.

I assume it is the retailers holding them up, not Microsoft. I assume BA are restricted from going digital if they haven't delivered stock to retailers.

 

[adammonerz]

I wonder if this second delay would allow BA a option to claim some compo from Microsoft, seeing as Microsoft on their part would have broken their end of whatever contract/agreement they had with BA.

I would think the first delay would fall into some sort of buffer allowed for delays but the second time around would not.

Yeah surely you go for them over the amount of revenue lost due to hype/preorders cancelled etc it's ****ed