Get ready, virtual fight fans! Electronic Arts (EA) has recently announced EA Sports UFC 5, the latest entry in the best-selling Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) game franchise. Although EA has maintained a relative silence about the upcoming release, it has confirmed that a full reveal will arrive in September.
This unveiling promises to bring fans back into the world of competitive MMA, a domain that EA has successfully cornered, offering the only modern UFC game on the market. In an era of annual releases for many sports games, EA has chosen a different route with the UFC series, allowing for a slow simmer of anticipation between editions. In fact, the last installment, EA Sports UFC 4, was launched nearly three years ago, back in August 2020.
Rumors surrounding EA Sports UFC 5 have been circulating since last year, with supposed leaked emails from EA Canada suggesting a 2022 release date. However, the recent announcement confirmed that fans would need to wait a little longer. Reports from last year also suggested a reboot of the Fight Night boxing video game franchise was in progress, only to be put on hold to give UFC 5 the attention it requires. This choice highlights EA’s commitment to delivering a high-quality MMA gaming experience.
The UFC series’ journey started in 2014 after EA partnered with the UFC following its initial refusal in 2008. The UFC turned to THQ, which produced three successful titles before collapsing, leaving EA to take up the mantle. Despite the ups and downs, EA’s UFC series has remained a mainstay, with the fourth installment standing as the 16th most-downloaded game of 2021 on PSN in North America and staying in the top 10 of PS4 download charts in the US and Europe as of April 2023.
The anticipation of a new release raises inevitable questions: What platforms will UFC 5 support? Is it going to be a cross-gen release? Might we finally see a PC release? These questions hang in the air, particularly since the announcement was rather scant on details, with no reveal or teaser trailer. In the absence of concrete answers, a plausible expectation is that the game will prioritize next-gen consoles like the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.
EA Sports UFC 4 was widely hailed as one of the best MMA games to date, raising the bar for its successor. But, it wasn’t without controversy. The insertion of in-game advertisements two weeks after the game’s launch provoked hefty criticism. Not to mention, Conor McGregor, one of the most polarizing figures MMA has ever seen, famously trashed the game last year. Whether EA has learned from these incidents are points of interest leading up to and during the game’s launch.
While the series has consistently delivered high-quality gameplay, each release also brings a new layer of anticipation: Who will be the cover athlete? As a sport with continually emerging rising stars, the choice could be anyone. In the meantime, UFC fans have been directed to a newsletter sign-up for updates, exclusive offers, behind-the-scenes content, and more.
The journey to EA Sports UFC 5, however, is not merely about the wait for a new release; it’s also a testament to EA’s ability to keep the excitement alive in an ever-evolving industry.
Regardless of what the forthcoming details reveal, one thing is certain: UFC 5 is poised to be a hot topic among MMA fans, making the upcoming September reveal a must-see event.
In the meantime, WWE 2K23 and AEW: Fight Forever are both available for those who want to see some in-ring action.
