After more than a year in early access, the boxing video game Undisputed is set to officially launch on October 11 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game’s official social media accounts recently announced the release date, platforms, cover athletes, and pre-order information through a trailer. Canelo Alvarez will be featured on the Standard Edition cover, while Tyson Fury will grace the Deluxe (WBC Edition) cover. Fans who pre-order the game will receive a playable character in the form of the 1993 version of Roy Jones Jr.
Developed by Steel City Interactive and published by Deep Silver, the game boasts more than 70 licensed boxers and recent gameplay improvements. Visually, the fighter renders in the trailer look impressive, hinting at a potentially successful release. Two key matchups are included in the gameplay tease – Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk and Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford. These matchups coincide with upcoming boxing events, with Undisputed potentially falling in line with the Fury-Usyk rematch.
The trailer for Undisputed also features prominent brand placements for Riyadh Season, suggesting financial support for the game’s development. Turki Alalshikh, the face of the Riyadh Season movement in combat sports, has expressed interest in a Canelo-Crawford fight in late 2024 or early 2025. This potential mega-fight could be a significant event in boxing, reminiscent of the excitement surrounding Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao in 2015. The game’s release could be seen as a precursor to such a high-profile matchup.
Boxing video game enthusiasts have eagerly awaited the release of a new simulation game since EA Sports’ Fight Night Champion in 2010. Undisputed’s success will be closely monitored by other publishers and developers in the video game industry, with EA and others likely to take note of the hype surrounding the game. With the appetite for video game boxing on the rise, the success of Undisputed could potentially lead to a resurgence of interest in the genre and prompt other developers to capitalize on the trend. The upcoming launch of Undisputed on consoles marks a return of boxing to the video game world, sparking excitement among fans and industry insiders alike.
