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.

 

[Michaels]

Especially when the final build was going to be launching at release three weeks ago.

Because they have been able to add some small tidbits during that period.

Makes sense to make the most of it if the opportunity presents!

 

[Michaels]

I get that it one part but considering it’s like a couple of days out couldn’t they set up a game for you so you don’t see any of that stuff ? Again I don’t buy enough video games to understand why they use old builds to promote a product.

Nah doesn't work like that sadly.

All the code is intertwined and linked at some level.

If you just pickup a chunk and try move it to its own build the whole thing falls over.

The submission build, launch night build etc all have to be purpose built essentially.

 

[RU_]

So am I correct in thinking:
- the build that’s stored on the discs and console store download is a different build to what has been shown at the streamers visits to play the game, and the launch event build?

The build that’s on the discs could have had items still being signed off this week?

 

[Treehill23]

Nah doesn't work like that sadly.

All the code is intertwined and linked at some level.

If you just pickup a chunk and try move it to its own build the whole thing falls over.

The submission build, launch night build etc all have to be purpose built essentially.

Out of all the concerns raised tonight from the gameplay, is there any you noticed and questioned whilst you were there ?
Without being specific (if you can’t) is there things we don’t need to be as worried about ?

 

[Nicho50]

Especially when the final build was going to be launching at release three weeks ago.

This is why some have the conclusion that there was no shipping delays which is now manufacturing delays but rather that the game got knocked back in testing by Microsoft like Cricket 22 did and they have to patch and get approvals for it before it could be released hence the delay because they still haven’t got approval. There was almost zero footage of the game in that delay.

Like I said if Xbox ends up being mid to late June it’s around 8-10 weeks from original launch date and Ross did say they had an idea a week or two out they had problems. It may be legit but is 8-10 weeks a realistic delay of printing discs and getting them here.

Could be extremely bad luck again considering what happened with cricket.

Personally I feel like majority of everything that’s happened or been speculated could have been avoided with clearer communication , if the game wasn’t ready just come out and say it. As an Xbox user I would have preferred knowing in advance that it was going to be delayed I would have accepted it and thought no stress, but it just comes across as a complete cluster **** and that stuff is being withheld ( May well not be the case). If I’m spending money on any product i want to know what I’m buying and just the lack of info and communication just makes all this seem really shady and makes you doubt whether to spend the money on that product when you get notification a day or two out of release of that product.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

The AI vs AI footage was definitely more concerning than what we've seen otherwise; it just amplified the issues. Agree with most that too much of the game is played in the air and it all breaks down at ground level/contested ball. Still enough there to show advancement but there are some aspects that I really hope play better on day 1.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Maybe he who shall not be named is ex WW. He’s a huge fan of their AFL games for whatever reason

The wizard of them all

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Awaiting Ross to jump on and say the footage we saw was years old. Bound to happen after all the negative feedback

 

[Treehill23]

What did he say lollol1

You know those Facebook heroes that love to mention AFL games looking like Nintendo 64 games ?
Think something along the lines of that but with some extra arrogance

 

[Michaels]

So am I correct in thinking:
- the build that’s stored on the discs and console store download is a different build to what has been shown at the streamers visits to play the game, and the launch event build?

The build that’s on the discs could have had items still being signed off this week?

Yes

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

berisha you have review codes yet?

 

[Treehill23]

Awaiting Ross to jump on and say the footage we saw was years old. Bound to happen after all the negative feedback

You mean, that wasn’t AFL Live 2 footage ?

 

[mclovin99]

You know those Facebook heroes that love to mention AFL games looking like Nintendo 64 games ?
Think something along the lines of that but with some extra arrogance

He is very arrogant ive noticed

 

[Michaels]

Out of all the concerns raised tonight from the gameplay, is there any you noticed and questioned whilst you were there ?
Without being specific (if you can’t) is there things we don’t need to be as worried about ?

Last week when playing we raised a few bugs noticed and more often then not the dev team already knew and were all across it and in case advising its already fixed for live version.

I understand all the concerns, but that's probably why I'm less concerned.

 

[melbournemartin]

If we look at past BigAnt games there definitely has been significant improvement from the launch to a month or two later. I think that some aspects of the AI will be tightened up for sure. But I think that some aspects of the AI, particularly related to "packs" just seem to be a missing "feature".

And i know these types of arguments might annoy developers, but I personally would much rather see pack tackles and pack marks than some legends.

 

[mclovin99]

Yea nah get fd now im just getting trolled

 

[BRAB]

With people mentioning Ross’ posts in the AFL evolution thread I went back and had a read.

I think this quote from Ross in that thread should help set the scene for where the bar is for this game on Thursday. This is what BigAnt expect of themselves.

Firstly, we don't make AFL games and don't see WW as our competition, our bar is being set by 2K and EA, and has been for years.

Hopefully they can start to compete with the big developers. It’s been a long time coming. Looking forward to playing the final version of the game in about 24 hours.

 

[cjarnold]

Very frustrating to hear of the Xbox issues after upgrading from a PS4 to a series X last year. I didn’t think i would ever have to buy a PS4 game ever again….. Are there any big differences between the current and next gen versions of the game?

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Last week when playing we raised a few bugs noticed and more often then not the dev team already knew and were all across it and in case advising its already fixed for live version.

I understand all the concerns, but that's probably why I'm less concerned.

If the guy who has talked to BA devs and play tested the game for himself isn’t too concerned then no one should be overly concerned. Yes there were some sore spots but weren’t we expecting that? Last I recall, people were expecting a 6/10 game at best, why has expectation doubled in the past month?

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Last I recall, people were expecting a 6/10 game at best, why has expectation doubled in the past month?

People? I'm just one person.

But keen for a 12/10 game.

 

[BRAB]

People? I'm just one person.

But keen for a 12/10 game.

13/10 or the preorder is cancelled

 

[Treehill23]

People? I'm just one person.

But keen for a 12/10 game.

I love your posts

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

13/10 or the preorder is cancelled

Extra points for restarting console wars

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

If the guy who has talked to BA devs and play tested the game for himself isn’t too concerned then no one should be overly concerned. Yes there were some sore spots but weren’t we expecting that? Last I recall, people were expecting a 6/10 game at best, why has expectation doubled in the past month?

I was hoping for a 7/10 personally or a rating of 75- whatever floats your boat.

 

[Chad Needs An OF]

Swans... kicking 8 goals against Geelong... I like this game