Image: Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts calls EA Sports UFC 5 ‘the definitive MMA experience’, and it’s launching next month.
UFC and Electronic Arts are partnering up for another MMA sports game: EA Sports UFC 5. For the first time in series history, UFC 5 is being developed on the Frostbite Engine, a game engine usually used by game studio DICE for the Battlefield franchise. The MMA game is launching next month on October 27, 2023 for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles.
EA calls UFC 5, “the definitive MMA experience with authentic gameplay and graphics maximized for modern consoles,” with an all-new Real Impact System intended to make its MMA gameplay feel more realistic. The jump to the Frostbite Engine and next-gen consoles has clearly brought with it several visual upgrades, including, “enhanced lighting, detailed characters, strand-based hair and face animation system,” according to the developer.
You can watch the game’s reveal trailer below:
This acts as a follow-up to UFC 4, which launched in 2020 to criticism aimed at its dated visuals. This entry looks like a step up with more additions to its fighting gameplay to make matches flow more realistically. For example, fighters can now suffer injuries that will cause referees to pause matches for ringside doctor’s inspections. If they continue to compete and the injuries get worse, a doctor’s stoppage will be induced.
Fighting animations are getting a revamp with new strike animations and new hit reaction animations, so moves like spinning attacks and calf kicks look and feel more immersive. Cinematic K.O.s end matches with a slow-motion bang and seamless submissions improve the series’ grappling system while removing minigames. This being a live-service game, expect future content updates to tie into real-world UFC events as well.
EA Sports UFC 5 launches on October 27, 2023, but there is currently no release date for a PC version of the game. The game is also rated M for Mature, because as MMA fans very well know, the last thing these fighters do is pull their punches.
