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.

 

[DTLSchulzy16]

I’d rather no more news. Player Career mode followed by delays

 

[Sewelly101]

I would love to know why we’re getting a delay longer than the initial one now. Seriously, did Microsoft not get anywhere in the last 3 weeks?

 

[T2B_]

first time it is for fairness for all now its not

Matey this has been done to death, the first time was understandable, no way Ross and co was going to piss off everyone a second time. It sounds like he's even taking a hit by breaking the equality thing just so the rest of the players still get the thing.

 

[Treehill23]

I’ve still got 12 pages left to read but my god, you lads have genuinely given me a good laugh this arvo

This whole build up to the game has been such a circus/shitshow. Amateur hour really
I would not be surprised if this is Big Ants last ever AFL game as much as I’m sure this would pain most of you in this thread

I’m actually kind of shocked at how badly this has been handled.
But I guess irrefutable industry data is saying it’s gonna be a great release so there’s nothing to worry about boys

 

[Sub7ekjr]

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?

JB has said it's due to manufacturing. I'm not really sure what the issue is here, JB also called Nacon the developer, they are not. They are the publisher. Instead of assuming it's JB's communication that's incorrect (though we're not sure why), why assume that it's a consistency issue on BA's part?

 

[adammonerz]

If Ross has to pay some kind of fine for MS/XBox stuffing up twice they can do one. It's clearly obvious now that this is what lead to the first delay and not gameplay issues or the game being finished like some speculated. They had to delay by almost a month and be as civil as they could due to the reason of the delay without trash talking MS or Xbox and now get shafted again. Proper BS

 

[Nicho50]

JB has said it's due to manufacturing. I'm not really sure what the issue is here, JB also called Nacon the developer, they are not. They are the publisher. Instead of assuming it's JB's communication that's incorrect (though we're not sure why), why assume that it's a consistency issue on BA's part?

I am not saying that is BA fault I am merely pointing out throughout this entire release there has been nothing consistent between anything whether it be BA, JB, EB. EB sent out the next saying Nacon and Manufacturing to, a few weeks ago it was shipping..

 

[Cummdog3000]

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?

I was just chiming in on the inconsistencies about the parity clause.
I would also like straight answers about what content is or isn’t in the game. I’d rather a no than a vague somewhat of a maybe only to find out it was actually a no later.

 

[Sub7ekjr]

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.

Given that Sony is in the country and available for the 4th, Steam is ready to go, and only Xbox is not ready; is the assumption not that Xbox is the party to blame here? I mean, to think anyone else is responsible, you'd need to entertain the idea that Nacon just... forgot to ask MS to print the discs or something? That seems exceedingly unlikely, and it's way more likely that they just couldn't deliver on time.

 

[PerfectFooty]

Down with my first bout of covid and bored as ****. Got plenty of time to sink into the game on thursday now at least, only wish it released on monday lol

 

[mickelboy182]

Given that Sony is in the country and available for the 4th, Steam is ready to go, and only Xbox is not ready; is the assumption not that Xbox is the party to blame here? I mean, to think anyone else is responsible, you'd need to entertain the idea that Nacon just... forgot to ask MS to print the discs or something? That seems exceedingly unlikely, and it's way more likely that they just couldn't deliver on time.

My counter to that is why hasn't this been an issue for other games?

I am sure there is a level of culpability to MS, that seems almost certain. I just don't think you can confidently say there isn't some fault to lay at the feet of the publisher for not having all their ducks in a row.

 

[Sub7ekjr]

I am not saying that is BA fault I am merely pointing out throughout this entire release there has been nothing consistent between anything whether it be BA, JB, EB. EB sent out the next saying Nacon and Manufacturing to, a few weeks ago it was shipping..

Yeah sorry I got that wrong, it was EB that sent that (too many B's). That aside, Nacon is the publisher, and Big Ant's parent company. It's unlikely that BA is directly handling comms with the retailers, so BA probably isn't to blame here anyway.

 

[mcha1]

I don’t understand how the estimated release date for Xbox is as far back as late June? 2 months? With no digital release? Really?

 

[T2B_]

I don’t understand how the estimated release date for Xbox is as far back as late June? 2 months? With no digital release? Really?

They're called Microshaft for a reason.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

I wonder if the next AFL game is a PS exclusive

 

[Rowdoss]

Given that Sony is in the country and available for the 4th, Steam is ready to go, and only Xbox is not ready; is the assumption not that Xbox is the party to blame here? I mean, to think anyone else is responsible, you'd need to entertain the idea that Nacon just... forgot to ask MS to print the discs or something? That seems exceedingly unlikely, and it's way more likely that they just couldn't deliver on time.

And given that microsoft outsource every link in the production chain. Its not hard to imagine who is MOST to blame for this.

 

[JD Hawk]

If the game is not going to be available on Xbox in any format until a later date I assume that Pro Team must be delayed.

Would be extremely unbalanced if part of the player base is able to play the game and build their team for an online mode, while another portion of the player base gets left behind.

 

[netslave]

I wonder if the next AFL game is a PS exclusive

I bet you Ross is feeling like this at the moment.

 

[A Tiger 4 lyf]

Will be fascinating to see what goes on with cricket 24


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[DTLSchulzy16]

Will be fascinating to see what goes on with cricket 24


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

Well if it takes 2+ months to get Xbox games to Australia and they are still working on it. I’d predict late July

 

[Cummdog3000]

My counter to that is why hasn't this been an issue for other games?

I am sure there is a level of culpability to MS, that seems almost certain. I just don't think you can confidently say there isn't some fault to lay at the feet of the publisher for not having all their ducks in a row.

Now this is a more reasonable response, you could’ve said this ages ago and shut all of us up!

 

[mickelboy182]

Now this is a more reasonable response, you could’ve said this ages ago and shut all of us up!

I think people just misconstrued what I said and filled in the blanks to serve their preconceived notions of me to be honest with you

 

[DenieD]

Will be fascinating to see what goes on with cricket 24


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

I assume everything is running smoothly there as it is Big Ants big money maker.

I wonder if the Xbox date of June has anything to do with the release date of Cricket 24 also being around that date? Shared packaging anyone? Companies do it all the time to reduce shipping costs.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

My counter to that is why hasn't this been an issue for other games?

I am sure there is a level of culpability to MS, that seems almost certain. I just don't think you can confidently say there isn't some fault to lay at the feet of the publisher for not having all their ducks in a row.

Especially when the last game that had similar issues at launch on Xbox was Big Ant's own Cricket 22.

 

[Cummdog3000]

I think people just misconstrued what I said and filled in the blanks to serve their preconceived notions of me to be honest with you

Honestly, it kinda came across like you were too attached to your ideas to meet somewhat in the middle and were being hyperbolic. But hey that’s the flaw of communicating with words on a screen I guess? Hard to pick up on the tone/intentions of what people say

Jeeze that first half sounds snarky re-reading it lmao