EA Sports has revealed the release date for the UFC video game franchise. The latter has announced that UFC 5 is now in production, three years after the previous game’s release. Although there is still no official release date, the studio has posted on social media that a “full reveal” will take place in September. It ought to target next-gen systems like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
One of the best fighting games is on the way
After the brief suspension of the Fight Night revival revealed by Insider Gaming last year, UFC 5 has finally been announced. An internal email revealed that the development of Fight Night has been put on hold to ensure the timely delivery and high quality that UFC fans have come to expect from UFC 5. A sign-up form is available on EA’s website for those interested in receiving more information about the game.
Coming soon #UFC5
Full reveal September 2023 ποΈ
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β‘οΈ https://t.co/vLBNhbt3QN pic.twitter.com/qIFoAmLbWN— EA SPORTS UFC (@EASPORTSUFC) July 8, 2023
EA Sports UFC 4, the first installment in the series, debuted to generally favorable reviews. The addition of in-game commercials, which came two weeks after the game’s initial release, drew harsh criticism from fans. Despite this criticism, the game was the 16th most downloaded game in North America in 2021 according to PSN. It kept holding a spot in the top 10 of the PS4 download rankings in both Europe and the United States as of April 2023.
In June, EA announced a corporate restructuring that will see the company split into two companies with separate management structures. This change is part of EA’s plan to unify its studios and create two separate companies in the form of EA Entertainment and EA SPORTS. In this sense, the EA Sports UFC series has always been popular for its visuals. So when the game is out in September, players can expect to see further improvements and upgrades.
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UFC 5 cover athlete
Who will appear on the cover of UFC 5 and capture the attention of fans around the world is the subject of much speculation. There are many athletes vying for this prominent position due to the significant improvements and adjustments made to the UFC 4 version.
Easy option https://t.co/cTWRA4JkI1 pic.twitter.com/RmXLMmo5SI
— MKπΏπ¦π²πΌ (@MK2796_SA) July 8, 2023
Fans mention Charles Oliveira as a strong contender in the race for the cover. The Brazilian has shown impressive improvement in the lightweight division since his loss to Makahchev. So there is every reason to think he is an excellent choice for the cover. But there are other top fighters competing for the prized position. A strong contender is Leon Edwards, who recently won and successfully defended the belt against former champion Kamaru Usman. Other potential cover stars include Islam Makhachev, Alexander Volkanovski, Khamzat Chimaev, and even the legendary Jon Jones. By the way, the latter appeared on the cover of the first UFC game.
Expected Improvements of UFC 5
One disappointing part of UFC 4 is the grappling. The ground game is poor, but the strikes, especially the knockouts, are exciting. EA has opted for a straightforward strategy that requires only a few inputs to perform activities. They include standing up, attempting submissions, or switching to ground and pound. Unfortunately, this approach lacks a natural feel and does not adequately convey the true nature of mat work. The complexity and expertise required are diminished. The whole experience would be greatly improved by the implementation of a more responsive and fluid system.
Fans were unhappy with UFC 4’s lack of creativity in providing players with new and exciting game modes. While some of the new modes, such as the fast-paced Kumite Arena and Blitz Battles, gave the game unique, they didn’t really matter and didn’t add much to the main experience.
The career mode in many EA Sports games has also come under fire for failing to build on the improvements made in UFC 3. While there are rewarding aspects to helping a novice fighter reach the top of the MMA world, UFC 5 should attempt to present a bigger and riskier mode given its track record of success.
What else
The Ultimate Fighting Championship, a prominent US-based organization known for its sponsorship of mixed martial arts (MMA) competitions, is responsible for developing UFC games. EA Vancouver and EA Canada are responsible, with Brian Hayes serving as the franchise’s art director.
UFC 5 won’t drastically change the series but will build on its core features with small improvements and adjustments. Players can expect competitive one-on-one matches with fighters from different MMA styles, with the main ways to score points being striking, grappling, and submissions.
The goal of UFC 5 is to combine accessibility and technical depth, just as UFC 4 did. The developers have worked hard to make the game easy for new players to pick up and enjoy while maintaining the realism and nuance of MMA for pro players.
The four MMA disciplines of wrestling, boxing, kickboxing, and jiu-jitsu are at the core of the EA UFC games. In recent editions, the game’s designers have continued to improve these aspects. Players can look forward to a more seamless and user-friendly experience in UFC 5 and more fluid gameplay. We also think that the studio will add a larger roster of fighters, giving players more options.
