PAX East 2023: Boxing Sim Undisputed Lays A Blow
Undisputed is the first major boxing game in nearly a decade. The project started from a small indie studio based in the UK under the guidance of the European mega-publisher, the Embracer Group. Over the past three years the boxing community, fighters, and even the World Boxing Council have rallied around the game. What is just starting to come together is quite amazing, the team has a real hit on its hands.
Undisputed entered early access this January, you can play it today on Steam. Over the next year or two the team plans on continuing to evolve every aspect of the game. This includes adding new fighters to the roster regularly. As well as improving the mechanics and systems. Eventually leading up to a console release of the game.
What Is Undisputed?
Today there are 60 fighters across boxing’s history in the game including Roy Jones Jr who did his own motion capture (yes the game has motion capture by real boxers). There are nearly 100 fighters in agreement to be included in the total. A roster that includes fighters like Muhammad Ali, Tyson Furry, and Joe Louis. When it comes to the other elements and gameplay systems, developer Steel City Interactive has worked with all sorts of boxing experts including popular “cut-men.”
From a gameplay perspective, there will be more than just a jab and an uppercut. There is a deep combat mechanic that includes a number of different jabs. This is paired with an endurance system that is not just meeters and bars. Your fighter will deteriorate right in front of you. This will impact both your footwork and handwork. I truly feel like Undisputed is being made by people who love boxing and are incredibly detail oriented.
Understandably, the game is in early access but one thing we did notice is that the hits did not feel as real as something like Fight Night. Although visually they have done something here with Unity that is quite impressive. Undisputed is one of the best-looking Unity games that I have ever seen. There is a high level of detail in smaller things like body hair, fabrics, and ropes.
Final Thoughts
Undisputed is a true boxing sim that is trying everything it can to be authentic. Also, I have all of the faith in the world that the game is going to continue to get better every day up to its 1.0 release. Currently, there is no release date, nor is there a timeframe for consoles, but the game is targeting current-gen consoles only as well as Steam Deck. Right now Undisputed is a plane being built in the air while in early access but, when it is finished this is going to be something special.
