Undisputed It launches on October 11 on PS5 and has been in development for almost five years, starting with the humble Esports Boxing Club and then evolving into the first major boxing game in over a decade. With over 70 of the most prestigious fighters on the list, including Canelo Álvarez, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Roy Jones Jr. and Joe Frazier, our priority was to make sure they not only looked amazing, but also moved in their own unique, distinctive ways.
From scanning to sculpting
How do you make the world’s longest reigning super middleweight champion, Joe Calzaghe, look as legitimate and realistic as possible? It all starts with the scanning process. We work with various scanning studios around the world to create the most exact reference images we can work from. Steel City Interactive’s art team then uses this to sculpt the game’s models, recreating every muscle, vein, hair and bead of sweat.
In the case of our boxing legends, we also have a rejuvenation process. Players want to experience these players in their prime, so we try to recreate exactly what they looked like at the time.
“One of the most difficult steps in bringing characters from the past to life is the process of rejuvenation. Many things tend to change with age: eye shape, lip volume, cheekbones, body fat, even ear size, but my goal is to get them back into fighting shape, recreating the look of their best fights. Firstly, I collect lots of references from every possible angle to have an overview of what I want to achieve. I then check the model to understand what to keep and what to change according to the photos and videos. Then I work on tone and symmetry, removing fat, wrinkles and imperfections from the body and face. Then I sculpt the main muscles and improve facial features. I finally get to the point where the boxer is recognizable both from a distance and up close. Once I’m happy with the result, I start tweaking the textures.”
– Francesco Primiceri, 3D character artist at Steel City Interactive
Motion capture
We’re also trying to get as many players as possible to wear our motion capture suits so we can record their exceptional footwork, hits, slides, dodges – and even taunts! When you play as Oleksandr Usyk, we want you to feel like you are Oleksandr Usyk, which is why our art and animation teams spend days processing the results obtained from motion capture and then applying them to our detailed character models.
British and Commonwealth Super Lightweight Champion Dalton Smith was one of the fighters we worked closely with to capture his boxing style. He also helped emulate some of the fighters who are no longer around by studying their moves and then executing them so we could immortalize them in Undisputed.
“I’m used to boxing in the ring or in the gym, but throwing punches in a motion capture suit is a completely different ball game. I suited up and spent a few days working with the Steel City Interactive team to capture not only my own moves in the ring, but also some of the old school boxers. You don’t realize how intense and detailed the process is until you keep throwing the same punches and doing the same blocks over and over again until it’s captured from every angle. Seeing the results in the game is amazing – my avatar really looks like me.”
– Dalton Smith, British and Commonwealth Super Lightweight Champion
Styles (and stats) create fights
There is a saying in boxing that “style makes the fight” and we believe it is very significant that this style is backed up by real-life statistics. There’s no point in having undefeated boxing legend Rocky Marciano in the game if we don’t give him both the punching power and durability he was known for.
That’s why we work with CompuBox to determine each player’s ratings, stats and behaviors. When you play as a boxer with a fantastic knockout rate like Deontay Wilder, his ability to deliver knockouts in the game is enhanced. This works the same for their AI version; Each fighter has his or her own skills and abilities – drawn from real combat records – that will significantly change the outcome of the fight. Your job is to figure out how to counter it!
Rule the ring
Undisputed has the most broad and legitimate roster of licensed fighters of any boxing game ever, and we can’t wait for you to experience it.
You can purchase Undisputed Deluxe WBC Edition on October 8 on PS5 and play three days in advance. Undisputed Standard Edition will be released on October 11 on PS5.
