If you’ve spent any time on the Big Ant community forums lately, you know the vibe is... tense. Honestly, that might be an understatement. We waited eight long years for a proper console release. Eight years of staring at Rugby League Live 4 and hoping for something that actually felt like the modern, high-speed game we see every weekend at Suncorp or Headingley. Then Rugby League 26 dropped in July 2025, and well, the rugby league video game news since then has been a rollercoaster of apologies, patches, and a whole lot of "I'm going back to the old games."
It’s January 2026 now. The Perth Bears are officially revealing logos for their 2027 entry into the NRL, and the RLWC26 hype is starting to build. But in the virtual world? We’re still trying to figure out why our hookers are running behind the defensive line and why the "Pro Team" mode feels more like a chore than a challenge.
The State of Play: What Happened to Rugby League 26?
Let's be real: the launch was rough. When Ross Symons and the team at Big Ant Studios announced the game would skip the "Live" branding and just go by Rugby League 26, there was a genuine spark of hope. We were promised high-definition photogrammetry for the Women’s Super League players—a massive first for the sport—and a "Pro Team" mode that was supposed to rival the depth of Ultimate Team or Super League Dream Team.
Instead, the launch on July 17, 2025, was met with "Mostly Negative" reviews on Steam.
Basically, the game arrived with bugs that made the 2017 glitches look like polish. Players reported login failures, golden point simply not working, and a commentary track featuring Andrew Voss and Cameron Smith that, quite frankly, felt a bit disjointed. Even the pros weren't happy. NRLW star Kennedy Cherrington was vocal about the lack of consultation with the RLPA regarding player likenesses. It’s one thing for a fan to complain on Reddit; it’s another when the actual players in the game are saying, "Hey, this doesn't look like me, and it doesn't play like the sport I know."
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The $60 Million Question: Why No EA Sports?
There was a massive rumor floating around mid-2025 that the NRL was fed up. Word was that Peter V’landys and the board were looking at a $50 million to $60 million partnership with Electronic Arts (EA). Imagine a game with the Madden or FC engine but for league.
It didn't happen.
The reality is that rugby league is a "niche" global market compared to soccer or American football. Developing a sports sim from the ground up to the standard of a triple-A title is a financial mountain. The NRL ultimately stuck with Big Ant, but that decision has left a bit of a sour taste for those who feel the engine being used is just an iteration of a decade-old system.
The current rugby league video game news is less about "new titles" and more about "salvaging what we have." Big Ant has been pumping out patches—we're currently seeing a lot of focus on "Pro Team" rebalancing and fixing the "one-on-one strip" mechanics that were absolutely broken at launch.
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Mobile vs. Console: The Great Divide
Interestingly, the mobile space is actually doing okay. Rugby League 24 (and the subsequent 2025/2026 updates) from Distinctive Games has been a consistent performer. It’s not a full sim, obviously. You have to deal with "energy bottles" and microtransactions for gold, which is annoying.
But for a quick fix? It’s arguably more stable than the console version.
They recently added "War of the Roses" and expanded Origin modes. It’s funny—while the console crowd is arguing about whether the "right stick waggle" from Rugby League Live 2 was the peak of gameplay, mobile users are just happy to have a working season mode they can play on the bus.
Real Talk on Recent Patches
If you haven't touched the game since the October 2025 update, here's the deal:
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- National Teams: They are "kinda" here. Customization tools have allowed the community to fill the gaps Big Ant missed, but it's a lot of manual work.
- The "Goatee" Scandal: Yes, players actually complained so much about the lack of facial hair options in Create-a-Player that it became a meme. It's fixed now, mostly.
- Gameplay Sliders: This is the big one. If you want the game to feel "real," you cannot play on default settings. The community has found that turning down game speed and increasing fatigue rates is the only way to stop every match from becoming a 60-50 shootout.
What’s Coming in 2026?
Looking ahead, the focus is shifting toward the 2026 World Cup. The RLWC26 is going to be a 10-nation format, and there’s heavy speculation that Rugby League 26 will receive a massive "World Cup Edition" update or DLC. We’re talking about the inclusion of the French and South African qualifiers, and hopefully, more licensed stadiums.
There’s also a smaller project called Rugby League Raw rumored for a Nintendo Switch release. Information is thin, but it seems to be an arcade-style throwback. Sometimes, a bit of arcade fun is better than a broken simulation.
Actionable Insights for the Virtual Footy Fan
If you're frustrated with the current state of league gaming, don't just delete the game yet. Here is how to actually enjoy it:
- Check the Fan Hub: Don't settle for the base rosters. Creators like Lachy and Mick (you know the ones on the Big Ant forums) have already rebuilt the 2026 Super League kits and the Perth Bears rosters.
- Adjust Your Sliders: Go into the settings and search for "Realistic Community Sliders." It changes the logic of the AI defensive line, making them actually slide instead of just rushing like headless chickens.
- Support the Modders: On PC, the modding community is the only reason this game stays alive. They are the ones fixing the lighting issues and adding the authentic TV broadcast overlays.
The truth is, we aren't getting a "Madden-killer" anytime soon. But with the right community tweaks, Rugby League 26 is slowly becoming playable. It’s not perfect, it’s often frustrating, but it’s the only game we’ve got.
Stay updated on the latest roster files and slider tweaks. The community is where the real development is happening right now.