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.

 

[jdoggdrool]

Is this referring to stock on the shelf for non pre-order buyers?

I would assume all pre-orders will be stocked, but the ambiguity of that statement makes me slightly worried haha

I was chatting to a bloke in games at JB last week and he said they had "one or two" copies of it on Xbox. Still another week and a bit for more to come in, but it seems to me like he might have been referring to all copies, even pre-orders. I'm just guessing, though.

 

[certifiedWayneCarey]

Not sure if delays with stock / retailers had an impact on this - but i thought with the introduction of microtransactions and Pro-Team into the game it would have been a great opportunity to have pre-order entitlements and varying editions available for purchase. FIFA and 2K do this (ie. legends edition, ultimate edition etc.) Generates more revenue as generally their pricepoint is higher and the consumer can get a perceived headstart on those purchasing the standard addition. Though perhaps there was a reason for this?

 

[footyfreak_]

So digital pre order?

 

[pattymalone00]

So digital pre order?

Will the digital be cross-gen? I assume it will but should ask

 

[Mistilis]

Apologies if this is the wrong place to ask - I'm new to this forum.

Was wondering with upcoming game what are the depths and limitations of customisation within the game? For example, to enhance realism within the game (i am assuming state league and u18 players are not licensed) I am wishing to create custom state league and u18 players in the game for their respective clubs. Firstly, within a coach/manager career mode context, say for example, if I create a custom Harley Reid in the Bendigo Pioneers Talent League side, will custom players like him be draftable within career mode, or are the future draft classes not taken from the pool of state and Talent League players and are instead randomly generated? Same goes for state league players, will I be able to draft and scout mature state league players I wish to create etc.

Thanks

 

[JD Hawk]

I was chatting to a bloke in games at JB last week and he said they had "one or two" copies of it on Xbox. Still another week and a bit for more to come in, but it seems to me like he might have been referring to all copies, even pre-orders. I'm just guessing, though.

Yeah I would assume they need to wait until all pre-orders arrive until releasing the game. But the statement amount being unsure if there would be enough made me wonder if they would release the game even if there were not 100% of the Xbox pre-orders in stock.

I pre-ordered on Xbox so if that was the case and I couldn't get my copy on release day then I'd obviously cancel and then buy it on the digital store.

 

[StoneyHawk]

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.

So do we read that as a PlayStation guarantee but not an Xbox guarantee?

 

[NimFromSudan]

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.

I'm going to annoy the shit outta Ross by parsing this for everyone, but this is carefully written to leave open the possibility of an early release.

Stock at retailers will be available for sale on 4 May, which is a true statement as long as it has been released any time before or on 4 May.

You can also read "whether it is enough" ambiguously as the initial disc order being insufficient, that the shipment was only partially delivered, OR... that stock may have been sold out before 4 May... due to an early release.

I'm keeping early release hope alive.

EDIT: Dream dead within 60 minutes. Ross confirms no release before 4 May.

 

[DaveM303]

I'm going to annoy the s**t outta Ross by parsing this for everyone, but this is carefully written to leave open the possibility of an early release.

Stock at retailers will be available for sale on 4 May, which is a true statement as long as it has been released any time before or on 4 May.

You can also read "whether it is enough" ambiguously as the initial disc order being insufficient, that the shipment was only partially delivered, OR... that stock may have been sold out before 4 May... due to an early release.

I'm keeping early release hope alive.

Since the game supposedly has to release on a Thursday, no way it's coming out in 2 days.

 

[ESSENDON INSIDER]

so if i pre ordered a copy at jb for ps5 i don’t have to worry abt if there will be enuff stock or??

 

[maskmcgee]

So digital pre order?

Who cares? It's got unlimited stock, the only reason to pre order anything.

 

[BRAB]

Not looking good for my switch copy

 

[Xtreme]

I was chatting to a bloke in games at JB last week and he said they had "one or two" copies of it on Xbox. Still another week and a bit for more to come in, but it seems to me like he might have been referring to all copies, even pre-orders. I'm just guessing, though.

From memory the original AFL Live (and even Don Bradman Cricket ?) didn't have a lot of copies available at launch ?

I know (as Ross posted with the picture from JB Hifi after AFL Live came out) the game sold out fairly quickly after it launched. And it took a few weeks for more copies to get delivered to stores. Obviously it's unknown how well a local game will sell. You can have 5-10 copies or get stuck with 30-50-100 ? copies that may end up unsold (Gotham Knights anyone ? ) and thus get cleared out at some point.

 

[Freo16]

I'm going to annoy the s**t outta Ross by parsing this for everyone, but this is carefully written to leave open the possibility of an early release.

Stock at retailers will be available for sale on 4 May, which is a true statement as long as it has been released any time before or on 4 May.

You can also read "whether it is enough" ambiguously as the initial disc order being insufficient, that the shipment was only partially delivered, OR... that stock may have been sold out before 4 May... due to an early release.

I'm keeping early release hope alive.

This is the way I chose to read it

If it could only release on May 4th and no earlier, then you’d just say that.

I’ll find anyway I can to keep the early release hope alive

 

[hawk699]

L

This is the way I chose to read it

If it could only release on May 4th and no earlier, then you’d just say that.

I’ll find anyway I can to keep the early release hope alive

i hope an early release aswell but I doubt that it come out on the 4th!!

 

[AnAussieWancker]

This is the way I chose to read it

If it could only release on May 4th and no earlier, then you’d just say that.

I’ll find anyway I can to keep the early release hope alive

we keep the hope train rolling JNT BA would know that "rebellions are built on HOPE" hehe

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Thanks for clearing that up BigAntStudios

Look forward to the rest of the week! There’s bound to be some juicy content

 

[BRAB]

Thanks for clearing that up BigAntStudios

Look forward to the rest of the week! There’s bound to be some juicy content

You're blocked I don't think he can read your posts.

 

[JNT BA]

we keep the hope train rolling JNT BA would know that "rebellions are built on HOPE" hehe

Tell that to Alderaan. What hope did they have? Think of the "millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced"

You're blocked I don't think he can read your posts.

Even if they are, it's not like there is anyone else here who speaks to Ross basically every day of the week about things and can relay messages... right?

On a side note, I completed my new playthrough of Fallen Order, I know you were all hanging for that update, but now just waiting for preload of Survivor. Not that I will have much time ATM with AFL, getting very excited!

 

[BigAntStudios]

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).

 

[pOleK]

BigAntStudios Just a question about the generation upgrade. If I purchased it digitally on the Microsoft Store for my Xbox One and in 5 months time I make the jump to the Series X/S, is there a free upgrade when you purchase it digitally or will I need to buy it again? Or better yet is the upgrade restricted to only physical copies for the game?

 

[NimFromSudan]

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).

Well there goes that dream. 4 May it is.

 

[BigAntStudios]

BigAntStudios Just a question about the generation upgrade. If I purchased it digitally on the Microsoft Store for my Xbox One and in 5 months time I make the jump to the Series X/S, is there a free upgrade when you purchase it digitally or will I need to buy it again? Or better yet is the upgrade restricted to only physical copies for the game?

My request of both platform holders is that a disk is a free upgrade (not downgrade), and digital will work on both generations based on the box you have logged into your account with. This is the same for both platforms and I believe it has worked this way for Cricket 22.

 

[JD Hawk]

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).

Understandable. If say only 60% of the other platform's pre-orders arrive on time for the 4th of May, is this enough for the game to be released or do 100% of both platform's pre-orders need to arrive?

Edit: I understand if you can't answer this because it might fuel further speculation of a delay. My concern is the game being released and being unable to collect my pre-order on release day.

 

[footyfreak_]

So when will we be able to pre order digitally?