Multiplat AFL 26 - Releasing May 8th

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

A reminder before this game's alleged release.

PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING
​

Hello. Perhaps you've been here before. Perhaps you haven't. If you haven't, here's what you need to know: these threads have a long history of being dumpster fires. For that reason, we take a much stricter approach to moderation than we otherwise do.


What is okay:

• Heated debate / disagreement​
• Criticising the game / developers​
• Praising the game / developers​
• General shit talk​

What is not okay:

• Personal attacks / name calling / abuse / criticising the person rather than the argument / game
• Repeating the same thing over and over and over and over (and over) to push an agenda or attempt to dominate the thread

We will not hesitate to permanently thread ban you if you are taking too much of our time.

In the wise, wise words of Jasper Beardsley:

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Bumping with a suspension risk would be a cool addition. Some level of risk-reward.

Praying management mode is playable. I've said it before but it really isn't that hard to make trades and drafting etc realistic, single man part time dev teams have done it for management AFL games for decades. Put one decent person on it for a few months and it should be good.

Good stats tracking and awards etc add so much immersion. But feel like I'm thinking too big again.

I don’t think it’s too big, take out player career, and focus on this.

 

[carn tigez]

I don’t think it’s too big, take out player career, and focus on this.

Just replied in other thread but I reckon Player Career was already largely built, so could add it in with minimal extra work. Ross wouldn't have made it up for AFL 23, they pulled it when they game was broken and kept it up their sleeves for a low-dev selling point for this year.

I'm interested to see how good it is. Could be amazing if they've nailed it, but very very big 'if' there.

 

[Flagmantle Pod]

What are we actually expecting from AFL 26 at this point?

All I can imagine is some updated textures, a bit more nuance to the gameplay and new/updated modes

 

[GetAroundHim99]

Ok, So this is a thing...

Ok...

Last time I was massively hyped, This time I have no hype at all and I'm even hesitant to even bother pre-ordering this time.

I'll be honest, I really struggled to get enjoyment out of AFL 23 and that's something I've managed to get out of even some of the really bad AFL games of the past. That's how broken at launch it was and how that sour taste lingered any time I tried to give it another go after the updates.

Who knows, maybe my rock-bottom expectations mean this game might be alright. That or all copies of AFL 26 end up lost at sea, Nacon goes into Chapter 7 Bankruptcy, and someone decides to do a runner to Majorca Christopher Skase style to avoid the mess. Knowing my luck with predicting stuff, It's probably the latter. XD

 

[Del80659]

another piece of shiny spinning shit

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Quivorir old chap, keen to head down to the EB demonstration for a sneaky 1v1 match before launch?

 

[Treehill23]

Quivorir old chap, keen to head down to the EB demonstration for a sneaky 1v1 match before launch?

The long awaited return

 

[Murraj1966]

I want to believe

Even if they add a little bit to the career mode to make it more fun over a long period of time

 

[KAYNE]

The career in Cricket 24 is still so bare bones and they have been building on that since 2014. I don't expect to much other than just being a single player on the field which would be a bit boring. Will definitely be waiting for reviews for this. Last time I bought the PS5 digital version and played for about 5 hours. Couldn't then trade the game or get a refund!

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

They're saying the right things in the dot points on the JB page (actually having a career mode, management mode improvements) and saying things like improved marking and tackling/bumping, but its impossible to get excited because we're still waiting for them to implement the dot points for AFL 23 (missing minigames, commentators, and the most in-depth management mode EVAR!!!)

In addition to improving marking (I'm assuming that means no more strict 1v1 contests? Who knows) and tackling/bumping (how many times do you tackle someone in AFL 23 and three players just stand around watching? Are they fixing this? Who knows?) I want them to improve the feeling of being in control (too many times the player you're supposed to be controlling runs off in the opposite direction to the direction you're pushing the stick. This bug dates back to AFL Live. If it's not a bug it's a deliberate feature designed to make the game harder, to allow the shitty AI an easy pass over the top cos your player is charging the bloke with the ball when you know he's going to pop it over the top, and the game refuses to acknowledge your controller input!) and the running patterns of the AI controlled players is absolutely atrocious. Take possession, go for a run and your teammates stream towards the opposition goal wtf gtfo no real coach helped with this AI despite claims to the contrary...

Even their pride and joy gambling mode breaks every time new objectives are added. Pleased to see it's rated M this time for the gambling features though.

And at least without Ross and his crazy sycophants and/or employees shitting things up, we might have a decent thread this time

 

[dwwaino]

, we might have a decent thread this time

Lol

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Lol

I am the eternal optimist.

 

[Exambolor]

Unless they prove it otherwise, I’m gonna assume this is gonna be a garbage fire like the last one

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Considering it’s M rated. No excuse to leave out injuries and suspensions. And tummy punches. I want to see the blood rule imposed, HIAs and pickle juice.

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

Considering it’s M rated. No excuse to leave out injuries and suspensions. And tummy punches. I want to see the blood rule imposed, HIAs and pickle juice.

I do agree injuries and suspensions are a must, one of the many ridiculous omissions from AFL 23, but it's rated M for gambling.

 

[lmaohelp]

If the current AFL release that big ant developed is still borderline unplayable, that apparently the engine was built from the ground up, how are we expected to drop $90 on AFL26 ?

Theres been no communication about this release, what work has been put into it, is it just a new patch and essentially AFL23?

Like seriously, what a failure this will be.

I’m very disgruntled as you can tell, I was conned with the previous release and what was essentially a mass wide beta test round.

 

[Dannnnnnnnnn]

but it's rated M for gambling.

I don't know about you, but I think loot boxes and microtransactions are exactly what was missing from AFL 23.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

but it's rated M for gambling

At least give me pickle juice

 

[CraigMc24]

The game should hopefully be better at launch (having now AFL 23 as base game) this time around. Fingers crossed though lol

Question though:
How do you all find AFL 23 in its current state? Reason I ask is because I don’t think we will see too many tweeks to the gameplay outside of the fingers crossed “improved marking, tackling and bumping”

I think we will get the same base game from AFL 23 with updated rosters, player scans, the career mode added and management mode updates and a AFL 26 Lick of paint and that’s it. Will that be worth it for you guys?

 

[Ignacious Constantino]

I managed to get a sneak peak screenshot of the game. Looks sick.

 

[Quivorir]

Ross is looking good these days.

 

[Treehill23]

Improvements I’d like to see

Fixes to gameplay -
Tackling (Including gang tackles!)
Marking
Contested footy
AI running patterns
Kick out tactics working

Management mode needs cleaning up in every aspect possible

Crowd noise during different periods of the game

Overall immersion. Felt like AFL23 was very dull and unrewarding

 

[Ambrose Burnside]

At the bare minimum I want what was promised in AFL 23 but I fear I have set the bar far too high.

 

[GOTHELIONS16]

Imagine this, players cramping during games. Pickle juice packs in proteam. You have to manage your pickle juice rations throughout a game/season. Fatigue bars on players, if energy is low more chance of cramps. If you run out of pickle juice, you gotta sub them out.

 

[Treehill23]

The game should hopefully be better at launch (having now AFL 23 as base game) this time around. Fingers crossed though lol

Question though:
How do you all find AFL 23 in its current state? Reason I ask is because I don’t think we will see too many tweeks to the gameplay outside of the fingers crossed “improved marking, tackling and bumping”

I think we will get the same base game from AFL 23 with updated rosters, player scans, the career mode added and management mode updates and a AFL 26 Lick of paint and that’s it. Will that be worth it for you guys?

For me, the contested part of the game is the thing I want to see worked on the most. We haven’t really had an AFL game with good contested play as of yet. Evo 2 has probably been the best of the lost but that’s not saying much.
In AFL 23, if there’s a ball up inside forward 50 it’s either tackle after tackle or random quick kick to the other side of the 50 cause the clearance kick is completely random. Doesn’t ever feel rewarding to kick a goal out of these situations and the tackle after tackle is quite boring as it’s 1v1 with the rest of the players standing around just watching
A quick chain of handballs in congestion with players running into space for the outlet pass would be nice to see too