The Sports Video Games Thread

[Dr. Zoidberg]

Undisputed launches in Early Access for PC on January 31

Launching with over 50 boxers, seven venues, and more.



Boxing game Undisputed will launch in Eaerly Access for PC via Steam on January 31, publisher PLAION and developer Steel City Interactive announced.

The Early Access version of the game will launch with both online and offline modes, a roster of over 50 boxers, and seven venues to choose from. New modes and features will be introduced over the course of Early Access, including Career Mode, Fighter Creation tools, and additional boxers and venues.

Here is an overview of the game, via PLAION:

About

Undisputed packs a punch with stunning visuals, a revolutionary footwork system, and deep strategy. With over 60 different punches, voiceovers from legendary referees and commentators, and support from the world of boxing, Undisputed intends to live up to its name and become the king of boxing titles.
The Early Access launch for Undisputed will feature a roster of over 50 playable characters including Tyson Fury, Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder, Katie Taylor, and a fully-fledged women’s division across six unique fight locations, including a large arena and Coldwell’s gym. Players can enjoy Undisputed offline against friends or AI opponents, or they can go online and compete for a place on the leaderboards.

To ensure that Undisputed is a truly authentic experience, Sheffield-based developer Steel City Interactive is partnering with all the heavy-weight brands in boxing, including the World Boxing Council, the British Boxing Board of Control, Empire, and many more.

Key Features

• Revolutionary footwork mechanics, including a Loose Movement modifier to help you move around the ring with ease.
• More than 60 individual punches. Punch from multiple angles and directions. Feint to set up a trap and counter.
• All the tools needed to create an unbreakable defense. Slip punches, weave, dodge, and block before finding your opening to strike.
• Physics-driven interactions—punches can sometimes go around or even through an opponent’s guard.
• Up close and personal fighting like never before.

Watch a new trailer below.



Source: Gematsu

[Dr. Zoidberg]

SSX "Spiritual Successor" Project Gravity Has Been Cancelled

'Project Gravity' was set to be published by 2K

Over the years, fans have been clamouring for a brand new entry in the SSX series, with countless op-eds, social media posts, and YouTube videos pleading with its developer/publisher EA to remake or remaster the iconic snowboarding series.

Despite the demand, however, EA has pretty much been content to sit on the IP since the 2012 reboot SSX, leading several former EA Canada employees including Steve Rechtschaffner and Larry LaPierre to announce that they had set up a brand new Vancouver-based company called SuperNatural Studios to work on a spiritual successor without the publisher's involvement.

We first heard about Project Gravity back in 2021, while speaking to several former SSX developers (such as LaPierre & Rechtschaffner) for a collection of features for Wireframe Magazine and Fanbyte. At the time, the pair couldn't tell us too much but expressed their excitement at getting the old crew back together to work on a brand-new project. According to a new IGN report, though, published just two days ago, it seems that the project has now come to an untimely end, with the article suggesting the game was canned after its publisher 2K dropped out (thanks Kotaku for the spot!).



The story comes courtesy of the IGN reporter Rebekah Valentine and is part of a larger report looking at the devastating layoffs that have swept the industry over the last couple of years.

As part of the story, Valentine spoke to a former SuperNatural employee who implied that the studio's decision to pay for a large downtown Vancouver office that was only used by a very small handful of its 100% remote workforce was likely a contributing factor to layoffs at the studio.

You can read Valentine's full report here.