Rugby League 26, the extremely popular, aggressive and highly touted title by Australian developer Big Ant Studios, released last Thursday. It quickly came under fire for including hundreds of bugs and mistakes. Players took to social media to express their displeasure with the lackluster product on the field. Included among them was Parramatta and NSW State of Origin star Kennedy Cherrington. Cherrington’s complaints drew attention to problems with player positions and gameplay mechanics and the detrimental effects these blunders have on user experience.
Rugby League 26’s simultaneous server launch was a crash and burn. It made it impossible for many of the fans to access the game they had originally paid as much as $125 to see. In fact, the demand for the game proved even greater than anticipated, creating significant distribution challenges for the Melbourne-based studio.
Criticism from Players
Cherrington’s social media statements spotlighted a lot of oddities and hypocrisy within the game. More recently, she has lamented that she was unable to play her preferred position of lock. At leading player Mitchell Moses’ position, we incorrectly listed him as a halfback. To add insult to injury, Tyla Amiatu, a Prop, got an 89-rating as a fullback showcasing some real serious inconsistencies with player representation.
She expressed her dismay over the game’s low quality. Fans and players were incensed by the broken facial scans and terrible catch-up mechanics.
“This might seem petty, but as a player that features in the new RL26 game, I’m not happy.”
Her comments point to a deeper frustration from players and fans alike about the realism and fidelity of sports video games.
“Maybe we should just be grateful that we’re in the game but overall I know the fans aren’t happy too. From the facial scans to the player ratings & even the gameplay nahhh,” Cherrington added.
Ross Symons, the founder and CEO of Big Ant Studios, admits execution was problematic on launch. He expressed regret to customers who encountered problems. He noted that the studio had sold six times more copies of Rugby League 26 compared to another game released this year, indicating a strong initial interest in the title.
Big Ant Studios Responds
Even with all that commercial success in hand, Symons saw the failings. He apologized for the state in which the game released, especially considering what the customers have come to expect. With all the hype and for the premium price, fans were expecting a really smooth, nay, grand experience.
As for Big Ant Studios, they’ll face a huge amount of pressure to deliver an incredibly polished gaming experience. This new standard will inform their future development decisions.
“When I buy a $100 game, I am expecting — maybe not FIFA levels, I know I’m not expecting top quality — but I’m expecting something new,” said Ryan Flaxman, a disappointed gamer.
As the community continues to voice its concerns, Cherrington called for improved collaboration between developers and players. She highlighted the need for true-to-life player depiction and game play authenticity.
Looking Ahead
Cherrington was equally scathing on the absence of player representatives during the development process and the creation of the gameplay.
“I reckon in the future we make sure we work together to make sure a half-finished game like this never gets released again lol,” she remarked.
These statements underline the necessity for developers to engage with athletes to ensure authenticity and satisfaction in sports video games.
“Imagine using player IP but not including players and the representatives (RLPA) in the process from start to finish. DAMN.”
These statements underline the necessity for developers to engage with athletes to ensure authenticity and satisfaction in sports video games.
