Undisputed Boxing Game Review: A Promising Return to the Ring

The release of Undisputed, the first licensed boxing game in over a decade, has created significant buzz in the gaming and boxing communities. Available on PC (via Steam), with plans for release on PlayStation and Xbox Series X/S, Undisputed marks the long-awaited return of the boxing genre to consoles, a space largely left untouched since EA's Fight Night Champion in 2011. Developed by Steel City Interactive, a small, relatively new game studio based in Sheffield, UK, Undisputed has taken on a formidable task: to revive a genre that fans have been eagerly waiting for.

The last major boxing game, Fight Night Champion, set a high bar for licensed sports games. So, when Steel City Interactive announced Undisputed, there was considerable anticipation, as well as skepticism. The game represents the first officially licensed title since 'Fight Night', and that fact alone stirred excitement among fans craving more realistic boxing simulation. Undisputed features a roster of licensed fighters including current stars like Canelo Álvarez, Terence Crawford, and legends such as Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

For many, just the return of a licensed boxing game was enough to get them onboard, but others have approached it with a more critical eye.

Fan reactions to Undisputed have been mixed, with many praising the game’s authenticity while others express frustration over its rough edges. The Good, The game’s focus on realistic boxing mechanics, fighter-specific traits, and visually impressive arenas has drawn widespread praise. Steel City Interactive clearly invested time into making the game feel as close to real boxing as possible, with fluid punches, tactical movement, and an emphasis on stamina management.

However, 'The Bad', Some players have reported gameplay issues such as bugs, inconsistent animations, and occasional lag during online matches. Critics also point out that the controls can feel overly complicated, especially for casual players who may be used to faster-paced action titles.

Moreover, the limited budget behind Undisputed shows in certain aspects, like the lack of a fully fleshed-out career mode at launch, and the absence of a more immersive storytelling element that was a hallmark of Fight Night Champion. Given the smaller size of Steel City Interactive compared to juggernauts like EA Sports, some fans have been more understanding of these limitations, while others feel that after a decade of waiting, expectations were not fully met. It seems these days, sometimes people will share an opinion without any real thought of obvious facts. For us, if EA Sports had released this, the critisum would be fair. However the developers of Steel City Interactive always stated what to expect but also how they are going to improve. If more fans took a moment to remember who new Steel City Interactive are and that they are not response for the over decade gap between boxing games, they may be a little more patient for what is to come in the future.

Despite the criticisms, it's important to recognise the magnitude of Steel City Interactive’s achievement. The studio, which is still growing, managed to secure licensing deals with multiple boxing organizations and legendary fighters, something even seasoned developers struggle with. The game’s graphics and sound design, while not groundbreaking, are impressive considering the company’s modest budget compared to industry giants like EA.

The fact that Undisputed has laid the groundwork for future boxing games is perhaps its greatest success. Steel City Interactive has already promised ongoing updates, additional fighters, and improvements to gameplay based on community feedback. For a small studio, this is a huge step in the right direction and shows their commitment to making Undisputed the best boxing simulation available.

In the earlier stages of developmet, some of our team had the pleasure of visting the Steel City Interactive studios and it was very clear from the start they had serious intentions to pull something off something epic, regardless of any doubts people may have had. When you spoke to every memebr of the team, you could feel the high passion, not only for creating the game, but ensuring the game feels as authentic as possible. You can feel the energy from this time that everyone has a genuine love of the sport, have grown up playing previous boxing games and wanted to add every detail they wish was available in previous titles. In same ways, I guess our opinion is slightly biased as we know people who work for Steel City Interactive but we are looking from the angle of, we know how meticulous they are, passionate about anything they get involved with and will have a personal desire to keep getting better. If there is biased from us, it is our faith in the indivduals involved bringing to life ideas discussed over many years. Additionally, I guess we know the odd bits of information the general public don't know but we are not at liberty to share, however, we do think fans that have their doubts will have them removed in due time. Anyone who already loves the game, is going to love it more.

Undisputed is a welcome return for boxing fans who have felt underserved by the gaming industry for years. It's a game filled with potential and one that is sure to grow over time with the right support and updates. Steel City Interactive, though small, has shown that they have a clear understanding of what boxing fans want in a game, even if the execution isn’t perfect yet.

For those looking for the next Fight Night, Undisputed may not be a complete replacement at launch. But for fans of boxing and sports simulations, it’s a promising title that will likely only get better with time. Steel City Interactive’s dedication and passion for the sport are evident, and with the continued growth of the studio, there’s hope that they can elevate Undisputed into something truly great. The boxing genre is back and with Steel City Interactive’s vision, its future looks bright.

Verdict: 7.5/10

While not without its flaws, Undisputed offers a much-needed revival for boxing games. Its focus on realism, solid mechanics, and authentic licensed fighters provides an exciting base. With a smaller budget, it lacks the polish of big-budget titles, but its potential is undeniable. Boxing fans should keep an eye on future updates, as Undisputed has all the makings of a knockout with time.

We have heard the whispers about EA bringing back the legendary Fight Night game but it does not look like this would be released until 2027. While some may think this will be the end of Undisputed, we still feel a lot of update improvements can happen between now and then which will surly make unhappy fans happy. Other game genres in the past such as Fifa and PES have shown that people will always have their preference of game. For this and other reasons listed above, we only see Undisputed getting better and not going anywhere anytime soon.