Improved Mauls
Mauls have been reworked in this update, improving animation fluidity as well as the gameplay experience.
Improved General Gameplay
Several general gameplay improvements have been made in addition to the ones added during the EA4 Interim Updates, these include improving the passing out of rucks, quick passes, catches, touch line avoidance and more.
Added URC Competition mode
The United Rugby Championship, including the 16 teams and 2024-25 fixtures, is now available in Competition mode. A number of these teams will feature photogrammetry visuals, with additional photogrammetry coming in future updates.
Added Stadiums
Several additional stadiums have been added in this update, including the officially licensed Cardiff Arms Park, Scotstoun, Kingspan Stadium, Swansea.com Stadium and Dexcom Stadium. Further MLR stadiums have also been added.
Added HUD Elements
A meter showing control over the ruck has been added, as well as HUD to identify those offside – both with an offside line shown during rucks and indicators on individual players.
Improved Graphics
Various tweaks have been made to the graphical appearance of the game, including work adjusting the grass, and various aspects of lighting and player detail.
Improved Stability
Several improvements to resolve non-progression issues during gameplay have been implemented in this update.
We continue to appreciate reports to our support team to help us identify the remaining ones, via early.bigant.com.
So far only had one crash hard to try and recreate due to quick throws being impossible. Did quick throw guy passed the ball than ran back in touch and crashed the game.
Also @MattW is there a possibility that we can experiment with different type of rucks during interm updates as I think most of us would love to see something different rather than the 3 man scrum
It’s great that there is a ruck meter but after a couple of games that meter doesn’t mean anything it’s just there to be useless as there been times I will have the advantage on the meter while defending but no turnover nothing. So don’t understand why it’s been put in the game if has no effect on what’s happening.
Feel it actually shows more how broken the rucks are or that it is actually not working. With most of the other stuff that been added in the patch it actually feels better enjoying the game more and more. Had players running some sort of line set moves every few games where I feel I could run some nice set plays.
New issue that came up. It happens often is when I offload in a tackle I don’t control my own players just the AI running for me
Ok after about 6 games this game really gets boring as you start winning most of your games by 60+ on hardest difficulty would love to see improvement on that because it’s more fun when it’s close games but seems games are more close when some games where frames like to drop for some reason. Game need more penalties and scrums games now have no scrums got only one penalty for high tackle and that was pretty much it
Morning everyone would just like to ask if there is a possibilty that we maybe can get a steal option with hands in the ruck have not seen it and for contesting the ball when you tackled and no olayers joined the ruck yet and if the oposing team doesnt release penalty… … Also maybe a quick tap and go option as well when recieving a penalty then in scrums cant we get something where you can half wheel the scrum or so I mean SA teams get lots of penalties by overpowering scrums . also maybe having the option to collapse a scrum or maul if you want to rather maybe give a penalty away before giving the oposing team to much momentum and red and yellow cards maybe get more involved and just some work on the hand off side step and dummy pass animations but further game improved. A lot super excited to see what is yet to come still
Been waiting for a good rugby game for 18 years now and I feel like maybe big ant has something special here it just needa tweeking and tuning
Big thanks to big ant also for putting in so much work
Updates looking good!
The game still feels quite rigid though, I have confidence it will get there however
Again going to ask if we could possibly get the player names moved to under the player selected and not in the corner? It’s hard to tell who you’re controlling in my opinion
Well Done Big Ant looks great step by step is going towards the right direction.
POSITIVES
*Graphics looks Amazing on the field
-just wish to have an upgrade on the crowds.
-Some players in they respective teams are not
scan yet but hopefully that still in progress
*Cutscenes Animations.
-Would like to have the players walking from
inside the tunnel in every game we play not just
in a final.
-Like how to ref talk to players but that only
happends when waisting time on throwing in a
Line-out,want to see that more often with
penalties infringements.
*HUD Ruck Animations
i think its to complex and too much.Like the
idea, but its not effective is a thought.
Maybe if they could just use a yellow line and
make the rucks more realistic for example
Rugby 2022 players falling over the ruck and
when press heavy bind could make players
falling of they feet can utilize a penalty when
miss time the ruck or lose the mini game at
rucks or player joining the ruck from an offside
offside position making the offside line more
effective or defensive player make a tackle and
not rolling away when your press Quick bind a
player stuck in a ruck it depends press
Heavy bind make it more slower
for team mates to secure the ball.
-still need realistic turnovers/jackals the
counter rucks not realistic
-when player gets tackled and no support
nearby option contest for ball or when
support Is nearby press quick bind to secure
and Defensive player gets penalized for hands
in the ruck and it all depends of players stats
and abilities.
*The Maul Improvements
not there yet the pass and maul its not
effective.
-maybe we can control our line-outs by use
variations and options like front/middle/back
and by choosing the option then we can
choose Maul/throw and contest option whilst
oppostion throwing the ball.
-defensive players still moving away from the
maul which causing a big hole in the backline
Would look have not straight throw in an
collapsing maul or coming from the side it
depends if you winning the maul mini game
moment .
hookers/forwards score a try from rolling
maul.
Goal Kicking/General Kicking
Goal kick its to easy and not challenging needs
more Mechanics
General kick not enough space and time,need
the pocket setup and set your kicker more deep
*LIKE TO SEE IN THE FUTURE
If we could contorol any player by changing to
different players
Set up formations
Set-move plays
Players injury
Yellow cards/red cards
10 min sin bin for yellow card
20 min bin for red it depends tmo involvment of
Infringement
Penalties needs to implimented
Tmo making realistic decisions
Knock-on/Knock on in tackle or scoring a try
Sideline/around the field looks empty side
boards by adding more features with
ads/sponsorships.
More cameraman,staff working at stadium
Subs and respective teams management on the
Side Lines.
Teams singing they anthem.
But hats off to Big Ants,surely seeing great
rugby game after Rugby 2008
Hi
Overall passing mechanisms and back plays seem good to go, as well as kicking (not attempts to goal)
Now the hard work begins : rucks, line outs, mauls and penalty kick to goal. It’s vital if you want to sell copies guys!
Some modest ideas :
Rucks : push stick RS straight, to bind a player. One push, One player. Have to jauge power bar (Orange to yellow to green to red). Quick bind(s) secure ball from stealing, but easier to be crushed by counterruck. Binding with jauging power create more solid bind but slower to complete. When attempt to steam by opponent, you NEED to power bind. If you finish on the red zone of the bar you bind not on your feet and are penalized. If you dont push stick straight enough the binding player joins the ruck by the side and is penalized.
Scrums : each stick is a prop. Push straight and simultaneeously, jauging the power. Weak or too strong pushing may cause you to go down and be penalized. Push a stick not straight and your prop do the same and is penalized.
Line outs : implement playbook choice to trigger lineouts combos (mouvements and dummies from jumpers). When the actual targeted player jumps you have to throw ball at him by using RS stick, push straight to throw straight and with good timing.
Attempt to goal : Just withdraw the line trajectory. FIFA style. A bit harder and more suspenseful.
box for fantasist wishes :
Offers possibility to « maul receive » kick offs. Often you see pods with two lifters and a jumper who catch the kicked ball. Not only a single player receiving and go to hit the line.
after securing a ruck, offer possibility to create a « tunnel » with binding 2-3 more players in the ruck for your 9 to have more comfort to box kick. Very often see that in any pro game actually. Making counter to kick easier would justify this adding.
Quick transformations when running after the score.
new offside line relatively pointless as there’s no rules implemented
ruck indicator relatively pointless atm because rucks are totally basic
nice to have new teams added but unfortunately doesn’t really add anything to the game as the gameplay is subpar
can’t comment on improved mauls because I can’t form one, line out jumper gets tackled as soon as they secure the ball.
haven’t noticed much in the way of gameplay improvements. Rucking still rubbish, no semblance of shape when attacking, ai defensive ai still awful
can’t contest line outs when the opposition have the throw.
not had a crash yet, but they seem to be pretty constant
Majorly disappointed by the patch, it’s not a step back, but it’s such a minor improvement it doesn’t really address any of the major issues, can only hope that the lack of video update, and roadmap means the online release patch due Wednesday will be a huge step forward and make major inroads into improvements across all phases of gameplay, and not just bolt online game mode onto the side of the current subpar build
Hi there, I appreciate the new update and the addition of the URC too. Keep it up!
I noticed that the Sharks kit and logo (in the menus and UI) was wrong (the Sharks rebranded 3 years ago), so this is one for the art department. I would assume that they would eventually update the kit and logos correctly, but thought I’d share the information now anyway in case it was missed and to perhaps serve as reference. I do understand that you might ultimately be using old kits etc., due to the huge number of teams you are processing, but have included images to the new kits.
Okay guys not sure if this has been stated yet but want to talk about my issues with a few crashes.
I’ve experienced a few over a couple games and they are all seemingly due to one or two factors:
all my crashes happen when I simulate all the games through the 18 weeks of the premiership tournament to skip and play just the final (this does not happen on any other of the competitions e.g MLS and URC)
It occurs when I press start game on the final after changing difficulty etc. the game music cuts off, screen goes black and game closes
Hopefully this is a fix big ant can fix as most of my experience in the other tournament modes are seemingly fine.
Hope this helps and curious to see if anyone else is experiencing, Have video evidence if needed
Only a couple other complaints:
the running animation is very choppy when increasing in speed and also in my opinion the running looks very unnatural and robotic!
Kick offs are very lethargic and feel slow, just something feels off about the whole sequence, mainly the receiving part
I thought grizzlyboy ruck idea would be class personally and would love that!
When receiving kick offs, if you chose to pass quickly after catching the ball, it will almost allways lead to an interception
I know it’s been brought up a lot but I would like more variety in tackle animations and also the removal of many of the rugby league tackles, I feel no impact in the majority off tackles in the game.
Finally I would like to see an improvement of catching the ball… the players catch the ball slightly behind them which temporarily slows them down, and makes the play further feel more choppy
EDIT!
Discovered a new crash but havnt been able to replicate it, happened when it went out for a line out, doesn’t cut to cutscene and just stays at angle, players repeat animation for getting ready for line out and they all stand around. Picture bellow: been waiting for 2 minutes to see if itll revert and tried all buttons but doesn’t seem to have solution. After 2 minutes I can now change player and run around with multiple players however opposition and hooker don’t change or move. Can now access menu so can leave game but cannot find solution to continue game.
Hello,
Great update. Visually its looking very good. Feels nice to play. Starting put players into gaps getting nice line breaks and pass to supporting players for tries.
Tactical kicking is a huge part of modern rugby, id like to see some tactical options to drop a kicker into the pocket so we can start working on this part of the game.
Just a something minor id like to add, it most deffinately is not a priority, however it does bug me a little. This could also just be me.
But some of the animations are unnatural looking. Id love to see some additional movement in the players when they run, they look robotic, some head movement as they look for support would help i think. Also, players are taught to hold the ball in two hands unless intentionally carrying to allow passing and to keep defences guessing, id love to see this a bit more, i liked how you did it on rll4 with the holding of pass selection animationg the player to draw back and looking for the pass. This not only looked great, but worked great for fakes and dummys when playing online.
One more that is most likely a personal thing, is the goal kicking animation. As a goal kicker myself it kinda bugs me. The best i have seen in a game is the RC4 animation. The rodeo arm, the shifting of body weight over the ball and the correct follow through just looks nice and accurate.
Thanks for the work so far, i think you are on track for the best rugby game yet
For contestable catches the circle is sporadic, players don’t lock to it (which tbf, is pretty cool, being able to choose approach angle etc is nice see ideas for my take on it) and the timing Icon doesn’t move.
Successful drop goals crash the game (again)
Opponent’s lineouts are non contestable
on drop outs the ref or commentators say “offside”
the commentators loudly inform you that you’ve been stupid in kicking it out on the full… when it was a penalty kick to touch
random crashes, might have something to do with passing just after going over the touchline
offside lines appear to early. They should probably only appear once the window for an offload has past.
In defensive rucks players often all join at once after the ball is played
The game seems to frequently decide if you can challenge for the ball in the ruck based on who has been added instead of who is actually visibly there.
For contestable catches, the player shouldn’t lock onto the ball fully till very late (maybe when the timer triangle thing starts to move) forcing you to find your own way there, allowing you to change player you want to contest with etc. the better you time the jump at the end is literally how high you jump, the approach angle should give you an opportunity to gain an advantage. Also, for the contestable catches perhaps add a green bit on the HUD to actually tell people where they’re meant to be aiming for when timing it.
Passing:
When passing it always attempts to be in stride of the receiver forcing them to run. This is great for running the ball but if you want to kick off of a pass you’d prefer the player take the ball stationary. perhaps RB/LB + LT (not currently used in attack) could be used as a direct pass that goes straight to a stationary player not forcing them to run. I feel players running onto the ball and thus being closer to the opponents (and of course running towards them while powering up) is why it’s so hard to get time to kick.
As someone who loved the Rugby 22 pass target selection, I would love more consistency on pass selection if buttons will be the way forward (this is for passing right, invert B and X for going left):
RB - Pass to next player along within a certain threshold in terms of angle behind the carrier)
X - Single skip pass
A - someone directly behind the carrier on the side the button was pressed in
Y - Double skip
B - Triple skip
Long passes need to have more height as they look a bit weird currently.
Kicking at Goal:
Perhaps make the line fade out over distance. A better kicker will have more line before it fades out. (though it still shouldn’t reach the goal except at extremely short ranges).
Slightly increase the current wobble too be dependent on kicker ability and wind.
In Play Kicking
I think up and unders need more range. and using LS up and down should move a kick back or closer at a cost or gain of height.
IMO punts should be less accurate. only the best kickers should have a small circle (perhaps 2x the current size), a prop should have one maybe 4-5 times the current size. The ball should more noticeably land anywhere randomly within that circle
Also, sensitivity should perhaps slightly drop in the last couple ticks of the kicks powering/aiming for slight adjustments.
You also have to bear in mind that for some countries the presence of the Hollywoodbets logo is illegal. Some territories don’t allow gambling companies to sponsor sports teams. The video for EA4 did say that 24/25 kits will be added later down the road though.
+1, and it seems pretty simple since it’s just readjusting speed ratings for forwards but in play will make a Big difference.
It makes me think also of a charge button with a power bar to increase chances of breaking a tackle when you hit the line - not just a fend off.
