After reports emerged earlier in the day of AFL 26‘s existence due to an Australian Classification Board listing, JB Hi-Fi has confirmed that the game is real and is set to launch on May 8 on PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One.
Featuring Carlton’s dual Brownlow medalist Patrick Cripps and 2024 AFLW Best and Fairest winner Ebony Marinoff on the cover, AFL 26 is the latest video game adaptation since AFL 23.
The game is listed on JB Hi-Fi’s website for pre-order at $89. A teaser trailer showing an Isaac Heeney speccy was posted by the retailer but has since been removed. The following description can be found on the game’s product page.
FOOTY REDEFINED
Get ready for the future of footy with AFL 26. Feel every hit, hear every roar, and live every moment with unmatched authenticity and intensity. From the first bounce to the final siren, the action is fast, fierce, and true to the game. With lifelike gameplay, roaring crowds, expert commentary, and all the drama of real AFL, you’re not just watching the game — you’re in it. This is footy, redefined.
Key Features
PRO TEAM
Build your PRO TEAM and take on all-new challenges as you rise through the ranks. Compete through the seasons to unlock exclusive rewards, upgrade your squad, and showcase your skills. Then, take on your rivals and prove why your PRO TEAM stands above the rest.
PLAYER CAREER
Step into the boots of a future star in the all-new Player Career mode. Live the full journey — from draft day dreams to game-day glory. Train hard, rise through the ranks, overcome setbacks, and celebrate every milestone you achieve in the AFL or AFLW. This is your story. Your career. Your moment.
COACH MODE
With updated gameplay mechanics, the challenge is now even greater, and the moments even more unforgettable as you take the reins as coach, shaping your team’s destiny. Manage your list with precision, nurture young talent, and guide them through the ranks. On game day, every decision counts. The pressure is on — make the right moves, adjust your tactics, and push your team to premiership glory.
EXCEPTIONAL FIDELITY
Every AFL and AFLW player has been recreated with an incredible level of detail, from their signature skills powered by Champion Data, to their physical features carefully scanned with the latest photogrammetry technology, players are brought to life like never before.
MAKE YOUR MARK
Design and personalize your own club, players, and stadiums with the cutting-edge Academy Tools. Experience AFL 26 from your own unique perspective and showcase your creations to the world.
While we’re excited for a new AFL game, we hope that Big Ant has learnt from AFL 23, which I scored a 5 in my review, writing “When AFL 23 delivers on its on-field vision it’s the best Aussie Rules video game out there, but the lack of execution and content means that it’s not quite the contender it could have been.”
Are you excited for AFL 26? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Despite a childhood playing survival horrors, point and clicks and beat ’em ups, these days Zach tries to convince people that Homefront: The Revolution is a good game while pining for a sequel to The Order: 1886 and a live-action Treasure Planet film. Carlton, Burnley FC & SJ Sharks fan. Get around him on Twitter @tightinthejorts
