Undisputed, the first boxing game to be a smash hit in more than a decade, has just passed one million sales. It entered early access last year but was released in full on October 11, being scooped up and praised by boxing fans worldwide. In a recent interview, one of the founders of the developer, Steel City Interactive, spoke about this milestone and what’s coming next.
Esports has always been on the table for Undisputed, and it’s about time to realise that vision.;
New Opportunities
The esports industry is dominated by shooters, MOBA games, and the FGC. Typically, sports-based titles aren’t all that popular where esports are concerned, and that’s mostly because the real-world examples of these sports are there and readily available. It’s not possible to watch real-world shootouts unfold on a competitive level now, is it?
Despite that, Steel City Interactive is ready and willing to make Undisputed one of the next best esports games.
In a recent interview with GamesIndustry.biz, Ash Habib, one of Steel City’s founders, spoke about the competitive future of Undisputed:
Esports was part of the original vision for the game.
I didn’t want the esport element to feel like a bolt-on or something that needed doing separately. With that in mind, we partnered with the WBC, where there will be an esport element where you can actually win a physical WBC belt, given by Mauricio Sulaimán, who is the president himself. So esports is in our plans, and will form a big part of Undisputed.
Recently, we sat down with Ash Habib to learn about the ins and outs of this marvellous new boxing game that has been turning heads for years.
One million sales are just the start for Undisputed. If the game can generate a popular enough esports ecosystem, it’ll be in a league of its own, as there’s nothing else to compete with it at present.
For more Insider Gaming esports, check out the news that GIANTX won the VCT Spotlight series
What happened to the rumored Fight Night game EA was making? If this did this well is there even a point to making one? Instead of Fight Night they should bring back Def Jam then again maybe someone else should do it since they never seem to get anything done there. SSX as well we could use a new one.
Steel City should bring back Def Jam too make a spiritual successor since EA won’t just improve on FFNY. That or get Josh Holmes and Octopus Panic to do one. SuperNatural Studios should do a SSX successor we already have a NBA Street spiritual successor on the way. EA is the only one not doing anything like this with these ideas.
That’s great. Now could someone make a successor to Def Jam also Thrill Kill. Does EA own the rights to Thrill Kill or can anyone get that now? Would love a remake. Also would love if someone gave EA a run for their money in the MMA space like a Yuke’s MMA game again use One, PFL, and Rizin promotions also a BKFC and Top Dog mode maybe do that in this.
If they want to do e-sports they should partner with Kick to stream. You guys gotta report on the boost Kick got apparently sign ups have gone up 40% for Kick. But with this success it makes me wish we get other games this was like Fight Night, I know a NBA Street type game is getting made by the ex-devs all we need now is a Def Jam FFNY like and SSX like. I could see a Def Jam league on Kick and a partnership leading to a new game like that since Kick is so close with all the rappers and celebs.
Kick just signed a partnership with UFC could that open the door for e-sports there since this is a similar field.
Kick should help make a new Def Jam type game they have the connections to rappers like co-sponsor or something and make it happen maybe with Microsoft since they have the money and having a game like that would be a big W. Maybe call it something other than Def Jam the Lyrical Lemonade name is up for grabs and Verzuz the rap battle show both are good choices Verzuz might be better it fits the fighting game style. Streamers could be a good fit too like Adin, Kai, and Speed as characters with rappers like Carti, Ice Spice, Kodak, Travis, Ye, MGK, Trippie, Sexyy Red, Tee Grizzley, Lil Baby, DaBaby, Sosa, YoungBoy, Durk, and probably Drake because he owns some of Kick it would help him with his comeback too helping make that game a reality and he could help with clothing deals for the game like with Nike. Honestly I say make it happen and it would help a e-sports league by essentially creating it.
Josh Holmes new studio Octopus Panic needs to make a spiritual successor to Def Jam now and yeah Kick’s team would get everything negotiated. Honestly I don’t see the point now in EA bringing back Fight Night like rumors suggested.
Tom Henderson reported years ago that a new Fight Night was in development does this kill that and what happened to that game this seems like a long time ago now?
Yes! Fans wanted a new Fight Night and they made this. Fans also want a new Def Jam we need that next I’m curious what they’d add to it like open world? The modern rappers would be better since they’re real unlike the punks of the past the drill rappers today are real 😬 ❄️
That game would do really well especially since there’s nothing else like it with those mechanics no fighting game like that.