Rugby League 26

Did You Know?

• Australian commentary is provided by Andrew Voss, joined by Cameron Smith.
• British commentary is done by Dave Woods and Brian Carney.

Release

The National Rugby League announced on 14 June 2025 that the game would launch on 17 July, promising updated visuals and better realism. Released eight years after Rugby League Live 4, the game received mostly negative reactions from fans and professional NRL players. Users reported significant issues at launch, including login problems and gameplay bugs, leading to widespread frustration on social media. The studio issued a public apology in response.

Reaction

NRL Women's Premiership player Kennedy Cherrington expressed frustration, stating the company could have done more and should have consulted with the Rugby League Players Association. Some issues with player likenesses were attributed to availability when developers visited clubs, with further scans scheduled. The RLPA issued a statement calling for greater involvement and inclusion. The NRL faced criticism over the role of chairman Peter V'landys and his son in pre-release testing. Reports indicated the NRL explored partnering with Electronic Arts but decided against it due to estimated development costs of $50–60 million. Big Ant Studios CEO Ross Symons responded by noting demand was six times higher than expected, suggesting the game outsold other franchises during its launch window.