EA Sports’ newly revealed UFC 5 is already setting up to be one of the crown jewels of the year in terms of sports sims. With its groundbreaking visuals and gameplay courtesy of the Frostbite gaming engine, UFC 5 is geared up to provide an unparalleled console experience for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X players. However, much to the dismay of the massive PC gaming community, the game won’t be available on PC at launch.
But why the holdup? Why are sports gaming giants like EA Sports keeping titles like UFC 5 away from the thriving PC gaming realm?
During an exclusive interview with MMANews, EA Sports developer Nate McDonald shed some light on the matter. He shared that the company’s current strategy is to perfect the UFC 5 experience on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series S/X, leveraging the potential of the Frostbite engine. McDonald acknowledged the PC gamer’s perspective, stating, “PC is something that we always talk about, so we’ll continue to have those conversations moving forward.” Yet, for now, the development focus remains strictly on the console experience.
The decision to prioritize consoles might seem strange, given that a section of the community believes porting games from console to PC has become much simpler.
With modern consoles essentially resembling PCs, some argue that even mobile game developers can seamlessly port AAA games to PC today. This ease in porting would also imply a high return on investment, even if the port isn’t top-notch.
Further illuminating this sentiment, a discussion suggested that the real challenge isn’t the complexity of porting UFC 5 to the PC. Modern gaming technologies such as Intel, Nvidia, AMD technologies, and high refresh rates, which were exclusive to PCs, are now also prevalent in consoles. This has only brought the two platforms closer, eliminating many previous porting hurdles.
Another perspective emerged from an interview with the game’s developers, suggesting they want to “focus” primarily on the console experience. This could indicate a reluctance to undertake PC optimization, though they did mention that a PC version isn’t entirely off the table.
If true, it’s not like EA Sports is the only developer to take a similar stance. Keep in mind, Larian Studios initally launched Baldur’s Gate 3 exclusively on the PC first in Early Access before its public launch, only arriving on the PlayStation 5 a month later with an Xbox Series S/X port coming later this year.
The puzzling lack of UFC 5’s PC version is part of a larger trend. Major sports games still approach the PC platform like it’s the early 2000s. Titles such as NBA 2K, NHL, UFC, and MLB The Show either deliver last-gen versions or are entirely absent from the PC platform. Although FIFA and Madden are slowly transitioning to the current gen on PC, they can’t be given a free pass for their earlier absence.
In contrast, it’s worth noting that EA’s UFC series garners consistent support from players. Many loyal fans purchase UFC titles regularly and have since their teenage years. UFC games typically offer all fighters, excluding pre-orders, for free and continue to add to the roster without additional charges throughout the year.
It remains unclear why UFC 5 isn’t coming to the PC but it’s believed that it stems down to contractual complications initially signed between EA and UFC, dating all the way back to their initial partnership. It’s suggested that PC gaming wasn’t as prevalent during the inception of their collaboration, hence, a PC port wasn’t part of the deal. The intricacies of profit-sharing and fighter licensing agreements in the absence of a PC version have been posited as potential barriers to a port.
To see UFC 5 or future installments on the PC, fans might need to capture the attention of UFC president Dana White and EA, urging them to renegotiate their contract to accommodate the flourishing PC market.
