Just seen the gameplay for Rugby League 26 from ACC creations. Given I never played RLL4, I didnt quite realise the transition extent from that game to Rugby 25. Covering the launch of Rugby 25 on the channel I saw plenty of people post how for a union game it looks/plays like league, and thought it was understandable and visually apparent some animations would carry over to Rugby 25, given BigAnt leapfrogging from RLL4 to Rugby 25.
But the cross over for Rugby 25 compared to the Rugby League 26 looks in many ways identical, which makes me more sceptical about a lot. Player movement, general animations, hand/bump offs, target passing, conversions, the way the ball flies in a different direction to the leg swinging, sound effects, menus, gameplay UI on screen, even the fact that player names only appear on screen for your team. On first look it looks like RL26 and R25 are almost the same game, with some rule changes, and different colour schemes in menus and stinger transitions.
Im not experienced as many people on here to know what was directly carried from RLL4 over to the 2 newer games, so finding it interesting reading other peoples posts on here.
Was looking forward to picking up Rugby League 26 on launch as my first dive in to some League play as something new as somone who enjoys rugby league IRL, but never covered gameplay on the channel.
But the launch build up, and now seeing end product footage, seems to have followed an almost identical path to Rugby 25. And thats not a good thing.
Seen the comments about the âday 1â patch, and people pinning hopes on it may bring a big improvement. Take it from someone who had direct contact with NACON before release of rugby 25, about how much the âday 1 patchâ would improve the game dramatically, and feeling reasured a big step up was coming. Only for me to notice almost no difference in the gameplay itself. And im many ways took a backwards step from what we were playing in early access. Day 1 patches in my experience dont mean anything.
From the footage ive seen and watching instances like the AI run directly into contact blindly on the 5th carry rather than kicking (on veteran difficulty), and my experience over the last year with how the Rugby 25 AI plays. Worried a lot of league fans may be about to enter a similar world to what many unions fans have endured since launch.
Really hope im wrong, but might be one im gonna hold off on until i see other actual gameplay after launch. And see peoples thoughts on here.
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maybe an old build before those scans were added
After watching your R25 videos and how that game plays, I always felt that the simplicity of RL would work in our favour for a video game (no scrums, lineouts, rucks & mauls etc.)
But then seeing your comment here and knowing how much effort you put in to R25, this comment doesnât fill me with much hope for Thursday.
Hopefully the BA guy on twitter is right and itâs the day one patch to save the day. Guess weâll have to seeâŚ
Still feel like youâve got to support these games though!
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Why are all the player ratings way off? I seen ACC creations.
Hereâs some quick ones from memory but please someone tell me these will change.
Mitchell Moses: 82 
(blues & aus rep player)
Josh Curran: 92 (bench player for dogs)
Hazelton: 91 struggles to make sharks top 17
RCG: 91 (on the decline should be definitely lower 80s)
Thereâs a load more but seriously these better not be the official ratings!!!
Someone tell me they will be fixed and accurate
That why I play modded version of RLL3, the high and low tackles work as they should, they hitups work as they should, and the offloads are much better then RLL4 , along with better movement. Someone did a slider for the game , so you can modify many things in RLL3, I have RLL3 , for steam, and for xbox but the modification with sliders is for the steam version. You can fine tune to play the game how you like. Changes the gameplay tremendously. But looking forward to what RLL26 brings.
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RLL4 was a step backwards compared to RLL2 and 3. They should of used those games as a base.
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Looks like those editing skills you have wouldy might be needed to add Q-Cup /NSW Cup into this one⌠Inclined to agree, I particularly liked the feel of RLL2 , I found RLL3 in parts was well implemented but AI behaviour could be better plus felt a little hot potatoe âarcadeyâ for my liking. RLL4 I enjoyed the tighter defence but inability to pass at the line (tackle animation would trigger) was an annoyance. Hopeful RL26 is a blend of past experience and balanced right.
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Iâm getting more worried about the career modes. Ross is staying quiet about them on X which makes me think theyâll be a copy and paste of RLL4
All Ratings seen arenât specifically accurate, I believe Ross was quizzed on this last night via X (Twitter) and did say that the ratings will be different so no need to panic. Plus the Gameplay that was leaked is a build from âmonths agoâ so again although nothing major could change this build was pretty rough just to see how mechanics worked etc. The only way to see the REAL PRODUCT is to wait till Thursday then make your own informed decision.
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I assume Big Ant were only able to begin development on the game just after Tru Bluâs license expired in July 2024. That means theyâve only had a year to put the game together. Considering all of the new modes, player scanning, new rules and graphical upgrades, they likely didnât have enough time to focus on gameplay updates and made a call to re use a lot of RLL4. Explains why a lot of the animations are re used, and Iâm sure they chose instead to put in as many new and unique animations in as a priority (player specific try celebrations). Itâs unfortunate that we arenât getting a new game from the ground up based on the wait, but hopefully they surprise us with a reasonable amount of new gameplay changes!
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Mario was relatively pleasant compared to Ross 
I presume youâre just confused but RLL1, 2 3 & 4 were Big Ant games, not Sidhe games.
Another gripe of mine is that we still donât exactly what leagues are in the game and weâre two days from release.
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They absolutely were not Sidhe games. Rugby League Live 1 & 2 were Big Ant games.
Rugby League 1, 2 & 3 were Sidhe gamesâŚ
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Rugby league (PS2, XBox, PC), rugby league 2 (PS2, XBox, PC), Rugby League 3 ( Wii) and the first few Rugby Challenge games were Sidhe.
Rugby League Live, 2, 3, 4 & Rugby League 26 are Big Ant.
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Did anyone see if Talyn Da Silva was already on the Eels roster? It is possible that roster updates still come through online. Either way, There are very legitimate concerns about this game.
For me personally, i would love to see the game opened up to steam workshop. Let the community make fixes and adjustments to the game. Thats a completely different argument though!
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Itâs really unfortunate the leaks happened. But thatâs what happens when whoever is to blame doesnât release official up to date gameplay in a timely manner.
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He was on the roster and he looked great in the menuâs, facescan wise
Yep this is exactly the issue. If they had put out some gameplay vids of the finished product it wouldnât have been an issue.
Iâm surprised they havenât put anything out now
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Damage is done and all that can happen is thursday come. Ross even said that on twitter. âyouâll all see on thursday and make up your own midsâ
Doesnât fill me with confidence
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89 Rated Players have been revealed::
- Liam Martin, Zac Lomax, Reece Robson, Jerome Luai, DCE, Xavier Coates, Pap, Hudson Young, Hammer, Cam Murray, Elisa Katoa
Some interesting choices of 89, some justified. Interesting to see how many will 90+ rated beside Cleary and Munster
What is âPro Teamâ mode and how does it work?
I gather that it is something from BigAntâs AFL games, but I havenât played any of those.