Why would all game modes be bad? I’m sure other older gamers remember sports games that allowed you to modify all of the teams and players…kits, logos, etc. Those could all be used in a career mode or other game modes. Sure it would mean no pro teams, but that game mode divides opinions.
Another perk is that if users could update the rosters, kits and logos themselves, we shouldn’t have people asking about those updates over and over again. 
Yeah, we aren’t talking about the same thing. I’m not referring to this game not having licenses. In the older sports games I’m referring to it wasn’t a community where you download one team or player individually. You could get an entire mod with everything done and use that for all game modes. I think anyone on the “gameplay first” side would want something similar. Something like that for rugby with much better game play and all of the teams modded by a separate group of modders could be really nice.
Anyway, I am hopeful like you that the next installment of this game makes massive improvements like it sounds like other BA games have. That is probably more likely than the hypothetical scenario of a game with great gameplay and modding capabilities to make it look like licensed teams.
In Rugby 25 the lcenses make every game mode poor when you can’t change squads etc.
the end.
Why would i play rugby challenge ?
Another terrible rugby game.
Kelvin > Cyberleek, but quand leaks from Kelvin?
Yep, that’s the biggest issue with licensing these days. It wasn’t much of a problem in the past.
I don’t think either of you will agree with each other’s opinions here. Both have different needs for a game.
For me, I am more into gameplay than licences. But why can’t we not have both! R25 is already dead for me, teams are all outdated so licences haven’t worked (as OG said - if we had full freedom to move players, I may still pick it up time-to-time). But with both licences and gameplay being an issue, it proves little incentive to play at the moment.
I hope BA still have a crack at next title as we have 0 other options. Hope they have learnt a lot and able to have an updated engine (which sounded like part of the original issue) to be able to do what they want to do in the game.
Unfortunately, “hope” is the key word here. Been hoping a long time now, I played Jonah Lomu rugby back in the day and still waiting on a recent/decent game like most.
Grip socks coming.
Like the French second division is unplayable every player has a fake face and you can’t transfer any of them out even if you tried to put created players in to resemble them you’d not only have double ups but not enough roster space for all of them.
Not even worth playing.
Really true. What’s the point of the licence when players are not realistics and stadiums are generic ( and you cant change It). Sure there was a time when database was up to date ( for elite championships), unfortunately that was back then when the game was barely playable.
BigAnt should have licensed and unlicensed modes into the ultimate hybrid game. The smart move for BigAnt is creating a single game that captures the best of both worlds.
I just dont think the market is strong enough for an annual release. I cant imagine rugby 25 has turned a profit for nacon.
I think we might see a game tied in to the 2027 RWC, if its another disappointment i think nacon will shelve the series.
Personally, I think that for a first rugby union title, the game isn’t half bad. Sure, it’s not quite finished yet, though you can tell the final stages of development are wrapping up. Still, there are good elements in the gameplay worth keeping for a future installment. They really need to tweak the set pieces (scrums, mauls, rucks, lineouts) and, above all, introduce a strategic layer to the game. I find the gameplay itself pretty solid; in any case, I think the game has potential if Big Ant keeps heading in this direction.
All rework done is being made for Rugby 27. Nacon released new titles and money needs to come in. Hopefully announcement soon
I have a Big (no pun intended) question for Big Ant. How is it that Rugby 25 has a far greater game engine than RL26, yet you do more, or have more for RL26 than R25? I would’ve thought with the engine you have for R25, the skies the limit, you can make the game more realistic, already have added set plays and set pieces both for Attacking and Defending. The player models for R25 are realistic and superb. Yet, lack the facial reaction when tackled or trying to break a tackle, there is no expression at all. The Rugby Challenge game, you could see the players expression when a tackle was made on them, I’m not comparing you to Rugby Challenge, I’m just trying to understand how with the gaming engine you have for R25 that you haven’t gone to the moon with game modes. More options and realism with weather conditions, jersey wear and tear or at least if playing in the rain. I’m just saying, the disappointment for me is what you haven’t done with the engine you have for R25 and so the question becomes why RL26 get more focus with added game modes, etc, but we’re still waiting for improvements for R25 on an engine that has a greater ceiling of creativity than RL26. If you’re bigger fans of RL,I have no issue, but please, with the engine you have for R25, how about give us the level of gaming we deserve from an engine that should be able to deliver it for us.
I don’t know how you guys just assume there will be a new game while this one is not even finished 18 months after Its release. 
I’ve accepted R25 is at the end, and they will not update further. If they wanted to make money, they would ride the RWC momentum and release a new game but can’t see anything happening, hope they are being sneaky, but I am optimistic in nature…
I want a full gameplay breakdown before buying these games again.
I’ve always waited for Mad Dragon to review rugby game prior (on YT), he does great content.
