Steel City Interactive Needs to Bulk Up and Expand Its Team

Boxing fans have waited over a decade for a new, realistic boxing video game, and Undisputed by Steel City Interactive (SCI) has been the most promising attempt to fill that void. However, despite the initial excitement surrounding the game’s development, progress has been slow, inconsistent, and at times, frustratingly misdirected.

The reality is simple: SCI is too small of a team to handle the ambitions of a true boxing simulation. If they genuinely want Undisputed to succeed in both the short and long term, they need to scale up their workforce, bring in key talent, and restructure their development process. Otherwise, the game risks stagnation or, worse, becoming another cautionary tale of wasted potential.

The Problem with a Small Team on a Big Project

SCI is an independent studio with limited resources. While that’s commendable in the sense that they’ve come this far, they are dealing with a project that requires a AAA-level development approach. Realistic boxing isn’t easy to simulate, and the expectations from boxing fans aren’t the same as they were a decade ago. Players today demand:

• Ultra-realistic physics with precise punch animations, footwork, and defensive movements.
• Highly detailed AI behavior that mimics real-life boxers.
• A deep career mode that reflects the realities of the sport, from amateur to pro ranks.
• A well-balanced online mode that feels competitive and fair.

Each of these elements requires specialized teams to develop them properly. SCI cannot expect to create a masterpiece with the same skeleton crew that built the early versions of Undisputed. They are trying to do what larger studios like EA did with Fight Night—but with significantly fewer resources. That is a recipe for disaster.

What’s Currently Lacking in Undisputed

The current state of Undisputed highlights the gaps in SCI’s development capabilities:

1. Animations & Motion Capture Issues – The punch mechanics are inconsistent, footwork lacks weight, and many animations feel stiff or robotic.
2. Lack of Defensive Variety – The defensive mechanics are overly simplified, missing essential boxing elements like realistic clinching, nuanced blocking styles, and fluid head movement.
3. Unpolished AI – CPU-controlled fighters do not fight in a way that truly reflects their real-life counterparts, making single-player experiences feel unrealistic.
4. Online Play & Infrastructure – Lag issues and balance concerns plague online fights, making it hard to take ranked play seriously.
5. Career Mode Needs an Overhaul – Career mode lacks the depth, immersion, and strategic elements that should define a true boxing simulation.
6. Ineffective Punch Impact & Reactions – Punches lack proper variation in reactions (glancing blows, knockdowns, stumbles, etc.), making fights feel static rather than dynamic.

These aren’t minor adjustments that can be fixed with quick patches. They require dedicated departments and experts working full-time to improve them.

Key Areas Where SCI Must Expand

1. Animation Specialists

SCI needs more seasoned animators who specialize in combat sports. One of the biggest issues with Undisputed is that punching mechanics, movement, and defensive reactions feel unnatural. Every boxer should have distinct styles—punch delivery, footwork habits, defensive tendencies—all of which require extensive animation work.

Additionally, a dedicated physics team is necessary to refine how punches land, how bodies react to impact, and how fatigue affects movement. Without these specialists, Undisputed will continue to feel “off” in terms of realism.

2. AI Engineers & Gameplay Designers

The AI in Undisputed is severely lacking. Boxers don’t fight strategically, counterpunching is inconsistent, and AI-controlled fighters often spam unrealistic combinations. A larger team of AI engineers and gameplay designers is needed to:

• Develop adaptive AI behavior that adjusts to different playstyles.
• Ensure real boxers fight like their real-life counterparts, emphasizing their strengths and weaknesses.
• Improve ring IQ for the AI, making it react to real fight situations properly.

Without a dedicated AI team, Undisputed will continue to struggle in single-player depth, hurting long-term engagement.

3. Defensive Mechanics Team

Blocking, clinching, and countering need serious reworking. In real boxing, defense is just as important as offense, but Undisputed currently lacks proper defensive tools. SCI should hire designers who specialize in:

• Block variations – Peek-a-boo, Philly Shell, Cross-armed, High Guard, etc.
• Realistic clinching mechanics – Holding should be strategic, not just a spam tool.
• Better counterpunching responsiveness – Slip-and-counters should feel natural, not clunky.

Without these elements, the game will always favor reckless aggression over true ring generalship.

4. UI/UX Designers & Presentation Experts

Boxing is a sport of spectacle, and Undisputed needs to reflect that in its presentation. Hiring experienced UI/UX designers can help with:

• Better menus & career mode interfaces – Rankings, fight schedules, and training should be more immersive.
• Enhanced fight atmosphere – Dynamic commentary, fight promotions, and cinematic moments should be improved.
• Improved belt-winning celebrations & presentation – Winning titles should feel like a monumental achievement.

5. Network Engineers for Online Stability

Online play is a mess right now. Lag, balance issues, and a lack of proper matchmaking hurt the game’s competitive potential. SCI must hire more network engineers to improve online stability and ensure a fair ranking system for competitive players.

SCI Must Invest in Its Own Future

Right now, SCI seems to be operating with a “small studio mentality”, but they are making a game that requires AAA-level execution. If they don’t expand their team, Undisputed will never reach its full potential.

Expanding the team would allow them to:

✅ Speed up development – More hands on deck means features and fixes come faster.
✅ Enhance realism – Specialized teams can refine AI, animations, and physics to a higher standard.
✅ Compete with future boxing games – If EA or another major developer jumps back into boxing, SCI will need to be prepared.
✅ Win back players’ trust – The current player base is growing impatient, and a larger team can address concerns more efficiently.

Final Thoughts: The Clock is Ticking

SCI has already secured a passionate fanbase, but that support won’t last forever if they continue to underdeliver. If they fail to expand, they risk losing their position as the only serious boxing simulation on the market.

The choice is simple:
💪 Expand, improve, and build a game worthy of boxing’s legacy.
❌ Stay small, delay progress, and risk irrelevance.

Steel City Interactive has the vision, but do they have the will to truly make Undisputed the definitive boxing game?

Only time will tell.