Hi there.
The Choppy Frame rate on PS4 is the biggest issue from my experience so far.
Improvements:
Gameplay:
Timing bar: For scrums, line outs and place kicking, the "3d" effect on the kicking meter is quite distracting. Would suggest making this solid or have an outline of some sort as it is off-putting, especially when trying to time the line out or place kick
Set Plays: The Set plays are a great addition. The only suggestion I would make would be to get the play moving faster? Another possible edit to these (granted it would be more complicated to do) would be to allow the player to choose/change their option after the scrum half has passed the ball to the 10. This would allow for players to make a more informed decision of the best pass to make.
Career Mode: I realise improvements here are already coming, however I would like to suggest some kind of player improvement/decline system ergo Fifa. It would make the career mode much more engaging if there was player improvement and decline throughout their career.
For example, if a player has a good game, his form improves. If his for has been good enough for long enough then his rating improves (these could be more stats centred eg with passing or speed etc). With player decline If they have an injury or are consistently bad then they could decline in the same way the improvements work, and decline could also come with age (over 30). I realise that this would be quite a big undertaking as it would probably need a rating system for players in each game, but it would make a huge difference to the final experience. The other bonus of doing this would be that it would allow for a man of the match award at the end of each game as the ratings would be present anyway.
The ratings could also be used as a 'Form' system potentially. aka an indicator of how each player has been playing
Fatigue from game to game would be a good addition also as in real professional rugby clubs players are often given a break after 3/4 games in a row. This would encourage rotation in the career mode and would be engaging for players as they would need to manage their squad rather than not bother changing their team for a full season and just clicking play now after each game. with no real management aspect.
General improvements:
A team management option priorate beginning a 'Play now' match. Allows people to make any changes they want
The sounds coming from the referee and the scrums are very echoey, to the point of distraction while playing. It sounds like the are shouting over a tanoid.
A logo Creator potentially?
enhance the kit creator, eg. have base strips and allow players to add aspects such as stripes or a trim that shows along all the seams. Maybe split it into top, shorts and socks. and add more areas to colour. so each time an aspect is added add a separate colour for it.
In my opinion these improvements and fixes above are the most important, in a future update potentially more set plays could be added?
I genuinely love this game series and have played if from the first iteration, this game is a clear improvement from challenge 3 and considering its only in early access shows very encouraging signs. I reckon that if you can nail these improvements then it will eb like a domino effect, people will hear good things, buy the game and spread the word. It could also lead two new licences, I've already seen people talk about sending petitions to some of the large rugby unions around the world. If they think the product is the best (which even with rugby 20 having been fully released, this is the better product) then they will jump at the chance to be associated with it. This game has the potential to be head and shoulders above any and all competition in the rugby games field.
Great work, hope this is helpful stuff.
