The AFL and video game developer Big Ant Studios will launch the code's newest Australian rules football game, hitting the shelves on Thursday, May 8.
The cover will be graced by two-time Brownlow medallist and Carlton captain Patrick Cripps, who will be joined by AFLW legend and Adelaide star Ebony Marinoff.
Named AFL26, the game will follow on from the previous edition, AFL23, but delivering many enhancements including single player career mode, improved in match marking and goal kicking mechanisms, interchange management, Hall of Fame, general game play elevated and more, plus new greats of the game available in a refreshed Pro Team Mode.
Fans will have the chance to emulate their AFL and AFLW heroes at any of the AFL grounds with all-new bump and marking systems, Rookie Career mode and Pro Team available from day one.
Both Cripps and Marinoff were honoured to share the cover of the game.
"It's very cool to be on the cover of AFL26 - it's a special moment and acknowledgement to see it, and I can't wait to try the game for myself," Marinoff said.
"I loved playing the AFL video games with my brothers and friends when I was younger, I would never have imagined it as a little kid from a farm being on the cover; it's an honour," Cripps said.
More than 1,200 AFL and AFLW players will be available, with a management career mode allowing fans to take full control of their team from recruiting, drafting and player development, as well as the ability to employ gameplans designed with the help of AFL coaches.
AFL26 will feature commentary from Anthony Hudson, Gary Lyon, Daniel Harford, Kelli Underwood and Jason Bennett to accompany all the action.
Fans will also be able to put themselves in the game and create their own teams, guernseys and stadiums.
Player ratings have been released in a host of different categories, such as tackling, speed and marking.
Cripps leads the game as one of the best tacklers in the league, and is followed by Jack Viney, Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Green and Josh Dunkley.
Fremantle's Josh Treacy reigns supreme as the best set-shot goal kicker, taking the cake ahead of Jesse Hogan, Charlie Curnow, Ben King and Jeremy Cameron.
The Geelong spearhead is rated as the best mark, ahead of Harry McKay and Jeremy McGovern.
Hogan's physicality ranks the best, with Curnow and Harris Andrews following closely behind.
Dockers' small forward Sam Switkowski is deemed the quickest player, with Tyson Stengle and Brent Daniels rounding out the top three. Surprisingly, Cats runner Max Holmes isn't included in the top 10.
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Seven-time All-Australian Max Gawn claimed the No.1 spot in hit-outs.
AFL26 will be released for the PlayStation, Xbox, and PC platforms, available from EB Games, JB Hi-FI, Sony and Microsoft Stores from Thursday, 8 May. AFL26 will be available on Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date.
