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.

 

[AnAussieWancker]

It’s a bit weird that Wicked Witch seemed to have a much greater variety of game modes in Evo 2. Will miss a few of the additions they made in this one

yeah cause they prioritised looks and multiple modes instead of the ting that matter gameplay which was dogshit EVO Doesn't even compare to this game and its not even out yet hehe

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

So you're saying one AFL player can't make a difference in a game? And I'm obviously wanting to play as a midfielder like I assume 99% of other people would if they played pro career mode.

You can literally play as the goal keeper in FIFA (a role where 90% of the game you sit around watching the ball). Not that I want to do that, but at least the option is there.

We are talking about priority, and based on the numbers playing, individual mode is less priority.

 

[DenieD]

Yeah but you know you get the ball way more often in basketball 1 of 10 players on court compared to 36.

Sure.

But wouldn't you want to experience playing as a single player in a grand final team that gets a mark 50 out in front of goals with 5 seconds to go and kicking the winning goal to win the game? I know I want to.

 

[MadMundy]

I've never seen the fun of single player career modes in the AFL, I'd much rather play as the team.

 

[DenieD]

We are talking about priority, and based on the numbers playing, individual mode is less priority.

If you want to talk about priority then why did Big Ant focus so much on the academy part of this game and pro team etc. if they could've put all of that into the gameplay?

The answer is because a game with zero modes/features with great gameplay would get very boring because there is nothing to do in the game. All I'm saying is that currently the only big mode in the game is management mode (pro team is still a wait and see). I would've liked another one (like be a pro career mode).

 

[AnAussieWancker]

It’s easy to miss the info but we do know that mode will have micro transactions.

Ross confirms it at around the 7 minute mark here.

but the thing is theres obviously a deal

Sure.

But wouldn't you want to experience playing as a single player in a grand final team that gets a mark 50 out in front of goals with 5 seconds to go and kicking the winning goal to win the game? I know I want to.

just think of it in this way right. not having a single player career in this game allows them to develop it more for the next game

 

[AnAussieWancker]

If you want to talk about priority then why did Big Ant focus so much on the academy part of this game and pro team etc. if they could've put all of that into the gameplay?

The answer is because a game with zero modes/features with great gameplay would get very boring because there is nothing to do in the game. All I'm saying is that currently the only big mode in the game is management mode (pro team is still a wait and see). I would've liked another one (like be a pro career mode).

tbh EVO had shit ton of modes and that got boring real quick because it was arguably the worst afl game ever created

 

[Michaels]

Pardon my lack of enthusiasm to filter through all the pages, but Michaels or even JNT BA / BigAntStudios , can you please explain the whole 'ball scanning' feature that was shown?
Is this something which we can do post release to add personal items into the game, or was it simply showing how the team at BA can add new things in very simply?

Just showing how they do it at BA!

 

[DenieD]

I've never seen the fun of single player career modes in the AFL, I'd much rather play as the team.

That's like saying I've never seen an AFL game with great graphics so don't bother trying to make it look good Big Ant.

 

[DenieD]

tbh EVO had s**t ton of modes and that got boring real quick because it was arguably the worst afl game ever created

Yeah, but most of the modes were very surface level that had barely any content other than (we have it, here you go). I assume Big Ant has put in much more thought into their modes of this game.

 

[Nicho50]

Single player career modes are a waste of time.

All for the greater team management modes and legends whether that be for the pro team mode or ability to use them as free agents in management mode is way better than a single career mode.

 

[FearTheBeard13]

Sure.

But wouldn't you want to experience playing as a single player in a grand final team that gets a mark 50 out in front of goals with 5 seconds to go and kicking the winning goal to win the game? I know I want to.

Then go play Evo 2

 

[MadMundy]

That's like saying I've never seen an AFL game with great graphics so don't bother trying to make it look good Big Ant.

I mean at the end of the day, I was never going to play a solo career mode, so realistically why do I care if it's in or not?

 

[FearTheBeard13]

NBA has a much smaller area of space to move, so I'm pretty sure basketball is way more congested as a sport than AFL is.

I just want to make a Nick Daicos type-player that runs everywhere on the field and calls for the ball every time I don't have it.

In the context of space vs players there’s obviously a larger scale for players to move on an oval vs a basketball court, absolutely. That being said for a game, I don’t think it translates to being as fun playing as 1 of 36 players in AFL vs 1 of 10 in NBA.

 

[tastiger]

It’s a bit weird that Wicked Witch seemed to have a much greater variety of game modes in Evo 2. Will miss a few of the additions they made in this one

You can't compare the 2, one is full of options with no substance and the other is polishing what they put out. More dose not always mean better.

On VOG-L09 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Browny977]

Is coach career in game I love being the coach wasn’t keen on single player career mode. But coach career wow love that

 

[Freo16]

But remember they have gone overboard with all the VFL stadiums they’ve included. It would make more sense to devote time to including VFL then going overboard with stadiums.

Have they ?
Aren’t most of those grounds there for AFLW ?

I’ll call it right now and will be happy to be proven wrong, WAFL, SANFL and VFL etc. won’t be in the final game

 

[Nicho50]

It’s easy to miss the info but we do know that mode will have micro transactions.

Ross confirms it at around the 7 minute mark here.

Does he confirm micro transactions because I understood that as past players will get looked after for being in the game not that you have to buy them to get them?

 

[UAWM]

Hopefully it plays well on the steam deck

 

[OhDustinMartin]

Appreciate BigAntStudios making a comment on the lack of a single-player career.

Love the investment into Pro Team and legends, however, I do hope that management mode is worked on and consistently improved. Do not want to see AFL fall the way of micro-transactions without there being some support for the offline, single-player experience.

Interesting note. Spoke to one of the legends, and he wasn't scanned or mo-capped. Basically got a yes/no email. I imagine if that's the case, there will be heaps of legends.

 

[FearTheBeard13]

Does he confirm micro transactions because I understood that as past players will get looked after for being in the game not that you have to buy them to get them?

I believe its on the rating on the game cover. I think under G rating it says in game purchases.

 

[BigAntStudios]

Appreciate BigAntStudios making a comment on the lack of a single-player career.

Love the investment into Pro Team and legends, however, I do hope that management mode is worked on and consistently improved. Do not want to see AFL fall the way of micro-transactions without there being some support for the offline, single-player experience.

Interesting note. Spoke to one of the legends, and he wasn't scanned or mo-capped. Basically got a yes/no email. I imagine if that's the case, there will be heaps of legends.

It takes three times as long to get legends into the game as it does a current player, we haven’t scanned them all yet.

You do not have to make purchases, things can be earned.

 

[OhDustinMartin]

It takes three times as long to get legends into the game as it does a current player, we haven’t scanned them all yet.

You do not have to make purchases, things can be earned.

Great news re the earning.

I thought as much re scanning - appreciate the reply.

 

[BigAntStudios]

Pardon my lack of enthusiasm to filter through all the pages, but Michaels or even JNT BA / BigAntStudios , can you please explain the whole 'ball scanning' feature that was shown?
Is this something which we can do post release to add personal items into the game, or was it simply showing how the team at BA can add new things in very simply?

It’s to show you what we do to get things into the game.

We use a geological scanner to get minute detail, we also scan jumpers on manikins to get the creases etc right.

 

[AnAussieWancker]

It takes three times as long to get legends into the game as it does a current player, we haven’t scanned them all yet.

You do not have to make purchases, things can

so packs and rewards are in the game? hehe