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.

 

[BigHonker]

Serious question do we think Robin Nahas will be put into the game as a legend? Asking for a friend…

 

[FearTheBeard13]

The gameplay looks fantastic!! I’ve never seen an AFL game look/play as smoothly as this so props to Big Ant for all their hard work!! Thursday cant come soon enough!

2 of the elements that really stood out to me was the kicking during play and the liveliness of the footy itself! Players actually intercepted the ball and appeared to kick it into each other by accident and smothered it and it looked real! The in game kicking looks amazing, the wheel-around the body kicks and stab passes look spot on! Glad its not all the generic 1 type of drop punt anymore!

 

[jdoggdrool]

The only gripes I'm seeing (some of which I also agree with) are things that could be very easily tinkered. Signs of a very good game to build a franchise off. So keen for next week.

 

[stkilda7894]

BigAntStudios JNT BA
Regarding management mode:

1. How long will the mode span? 10 years? 15 years? 20 years?
2. Will state leagues be integrated and actually mean something? Or will we be drafting from a random list of names that appear?
3. Is there a way to train and develop players? From what we've been able to see so far, there is nothing aluding to training.
4. Assuming they are in the game, if you edit a state team list in the academy, will those players flow through to a career and the draft?
5. Can management or competition mode be played online?

 

[T2B_]

The only gripes I'm seeing (some of which I also agree with) are things that could be very easily tinkered. Signs of a very good game to build a franchise off. So keen for next week.

Yep that's the thing. There's some little things to improve but it's clear the core aspects of the game and getting it close visually and in terms of feel/atmosphere to the real game has been an intense labor of love from BA.

It's looking very impressive. Roll on the 4th!

 

[Michaels]

Another small bit of info, the goal umpires were also motion captured!

 

[T2B_]

Granted I'm a pauper still on PS4 so I know it will probably look potato compared to what we've seen but still looking forward to the gameplay.

 

[FearTheBeard13]

Another small bit of info, the goal umpires were also motion captured!

Love the detail!! Is there an option also to see the game stats at the end of each quarter? Or any overlays after goals that you saw playing it mate?

 

[MooreTreloar]

Just pre ordered it and I have Thursday off work. Looking forward to it!

 

[jc12]

Why do players not move during ball ups and centre to bounces ?

This and the ratings are the negatives of this game

Otherwise everything else looks solid

Presentation is good. The song after the game is extremely good

Also notice in twsities videos there is career stats. This is good

 

[Michaels]

Love the detail!! Is there an option also to see the game stats at the end of each quarter? Or any overlays after goals that you saw playing it mate?

There wasn't on the submission build but I think its there for final.

Fingers crossed I can see some of that during the re shoot!

 

[Michaels]

Another small bit of info, the goal umpires were also motion captured!

You can also hear the sound of a train going past the ground when playing at Punt Road.

 

[jc12]

The movement of the AI and the way the opposition AI looked bloody seamless.

And how good was actually the recording of the Richmond boys singing the song.

Can't wait to play!

On SM-S901E using BigFooty.com mobile app

I'm curious if they have different versions of the song. Because when teams win a big game they sing it with more enthusiasm

 

[T2B_]

You can also hear the sound of a train going past the ground when playing at Punt Road.

I wonder if playing at Subiaco will have lots more booing sounds

EDIT: Sorry, Perth stadium

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

Isn’t it strange how we finally see gameplay and all the stupid questions and silly arguments are gone?

 

[Mootsy]

Looks really mint! I can see it being as good as Fifa and Madden in a few more iterations..
A few questions I have for those who played it.

• Is there a closer zoomed in side-view in menu, I find the default side-view makes the players seem really small. It's almost birds-eye and side-view mixed.
• Does the style of gameplay, as in, 1-on-1, zone, crowded midfield etc change depending on a menu choice or is it based on the way the teams play, set to default?
• How did you find snap goals near the boundary, check-side, dribble kick etc??
• Is there variations of pack marks, contested marks and high grabs or is that dependent on the buttons you press and the timing??
• Are you pleased with the animations and fluidity of the players and moves in the game, such as, variety of plays around the contest, selling the Chocolate to run past players etc. crumbing etc??

 

[Cattas_21]

Hopefully it's just because the difficulty was on medium, but the one thing I didn't like was the AI constantly kicking sideways to contests across half forward instead of going inside 50. Otherwise it all looks great! Can't wait to get stuck into it!

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Looks really mint! I can see it being as good as Fifa and Madden in a few more iterations..
A few questions I have for those who played it.

• Is there a closer zoomed in side-view in menu, I find the default side-view makes the players seem really small. It's almost birds-eye and side-view mixed.
• Does the style of gameplay, as in, 1-on-1, zone, crowded midfield etc change depending on a menu choice or is it based on the way the teams play, set to default?
• Is there variations of pack marks, contested marks and high grabs or is that dependent on the buttons you press and the timing??
• Are you pleased with the animations and fluidity of the players and moves in the game, such as, variety of plays around the contest, selling the Chocolate to run past players etc. crumbing etc??

I personally would like to see it as good as NFL 2K5 and All-Pro Football 2K8 (Greatest NFL games ever) and eFootball (Greatest Soccer games ever).

 

[chenny420]

That's what I've been thinking too, the momentum just looks off at moments. It feels like the game runs almost too quickly in a way. I'm not sure if momentum is something that's been baked into the games code but it'd be nice to see it bumped up a little.

It almost feels like the players move too fast in comparison to the ball. Noticed a lot of players just waiting under high balls a lot and standing still.

 

[Bakesy]

Looks really mint! I can see it being as good as Fifa and Madden in a few more iterations..
A few questions I have for those who played it.

• Is there a closer zoomed in side-view in menu, I find the default side-view makes the players seem really small. It's almost birds-eye and side-view mixed.
• Does the style of gameplay, as in, 1-on-1, zone, crowded midfield etc change depending on a menu choice or is it based on the way the teams play, set to default?
• How did you find snap goals near the boundary, check-side, dribble kick etc??
• Is there variations of pack marks, contested marks and high grabs or is that dependent on the buttons you press and the timing??
• Are you pleased with the animations and fluidity of the players and moves in the game, such as, variety of plays around the contest, selling the Chocolate to run past players etc. crumbing etc??

Yeah it looks great. But going to be as good as fifa one day? Cmon

 

[GoldbergsGold]

The tackling mechanics and collisions do seem a bit lacking, Big Ant should take inspiration from 2K's NFL games from the 2000's, and even their own Rugby League Live series.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

Yeah it looks great. But going to be as good as fifa one day? Cmon

Agreed, FIFA isn't even the best Soccer game series going around, Big Ant should aim higher.

 

[Michaels]

Looks really mint! I can see it being as good as Fifa and Madden in a few more iterations..
A few questions I have for those who played it.

• Is there a closer zoomed in side-view in menu, I find the default side-view makes the players seem really small. It's almost birds-eye and side-view mixed.
• Does the style of gameplay, as in, 1-on-1, zone, crowded midfield etc change depending on a menu choice or is it based on the way the teams play, set to default?
• How did you find snap goals near the boundary, check-side, dribble kick etc??
• Is there variations of pack marks, contested marks and high grabs or is that dependent on the buttons you press and the timing??
• Are you pleased with the animations and fluidity of the players and moves in the game, such as, variety of plays around the contest, selling the Chocolate to run past players etc. crumbing etc??

Yep there is a side on dynamic camera which is closer that what has been seen so far.

Tactic options weren't in this version but I believe will be in final version.

Snaps, Bananas and dribble kicks were all great.

Kicked a goal with each method.

Marking is timing based.

I was fairly happy with how it played.

As mentioned last night, I had a moment where I was running with the flight of the ball. I spoiled it over the opposition players head, it bounced to by half back who wad closing in on the contest and I then had a 2 v 1 situation I could utilise down the wing and got it to dusty, then jack for a shot at goal.

Genuine slingshot play

 

[Bakesy]

Agreed, FIFA isn't even the best Soccer game series going around, Big Ant should aim higher.

Ea sports fc will crap all over efootball. Efootball is a mobile game at best. The fact it’s on consoles is a crime

 

[Mootsy]

Yeah it looks great. But going to be as good as fifa one day? Cmon

Well it takes patience to do it, it won't be instantaneous, but it's not that far fetched at all. Firstly, you don't have to re-invent the wheel with everything, but it can be done in small chunks. For instance the crowd in 2K and every person is unique and they get up and leave if it's a whitewash, but that could be achieved based on priorities what you want from each updated game and finding out if that can be streamlined in the design process. It's not impossible to fast-track stuff like that with an efficient engine and good software etc. It's just deciding on what is the priority for incremental updates and so on.