After taking a year off, Axis Football is officially back with Axis Football 26. In the latest episode of the Insider Gaming Developer Spotlight, senior editor Mike Straw sits down with Axis Games founder Danny Jugan for an in-depth conversation about the return of the long-running football simulation franchise.
The sit-down covers everything from the decision to skip Axis Football 25 to how the team kept fans engaged during the break, and even the challenges of operating as a small, part-time development team. Jugan also shares insight into the new gameplay features, AI improvements, and animation upgrades coming in this year’s game.
Other interview topics include:
- Axis Football 26’s Release Date
- How console certification works
- Where various development efforts went
With a focus on authenticity, community-driven improvements, and realistic gameplay, Axis Football 26 is hoping to be a strong entry in the football sim market. Whether you’re a returning fan or a newcomer curious about alternatives to games like EA Sports’ Madden NFL, this interview offers an honest look at the grind, and passion, behind indie sports development.
You can watch the full interview below and over on the Insider Gaming YouTube channel. Clickable timestamps can be found on YouTube, but are also listed under the video.
And don’t forget to head to the Insider Gaming forums to discuss the interview and all of the latest gaming news!
Axis Football 26 – Interview Timestamps:
0:00 – Intro
0:28 – Why skip Axis Football 25?
2:18 – Keeping fans in the loop during the year
3:45 – Was there any doubt about returning?
5:10 – How did the mini documentary come about?
6:29 – How big is the Axis Football 26 team?
7:06 – Difficulty of being a small, part-time team?
9:16 – What new feature are you most proud of? Took longest?
11:38 – Changes to animations and movement
13:18 – Breaking down where development effort went
15:41 – Updates to Axis Football 26’s AI
18:23 – More football competition
20:43 – When is Axis Football 26 launching?
21:36 – How does console certification work?
24:11 – Where can fans get more information?
24:55 – There’s another game fans want
26:15 – Outro
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Mike has been covering the gaming industry since 2012, and has reported on some of the largest events in the industry while also working as an investigative reporter. Outside of…
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