Videogame Feedback: March 2025

Monday, March 31, 2025

Who Has the Bigger Player Base for a Boxing Video Game: Online or Offline?

Who Has the Bigger Player Base for a Boxing Video Game: Online or Offline?

When developers, fans, and publishers discuss the future of boxing video games, one critical question arises: Who makes up the majority of the player base—online or offline players? It's a pivotal inquiry that can shape the direction of gameplay features, content updates, and even marketing strategies. Understanding who the boxing video game community primarily consists of—those who engage in online multiplayer bouts or those who prefer solo experiences—requires a deeper look at player behavior, industry trends, and the unique culture of sports gaming.

1. The Offline Majority: A Tradition Rooted in Simulation and Immersion

Offline players often represent the silent majority of the boxing game community. These individuals gravitate toward modes like career, tournament, legacy, and exhibition, focusing on long-term progression, storytelling, and boxer customization. Here's why offline boxing gamers dominate the numbers in many cases:

A. Realism Over Competition

Boxing, at its core, is a one-on-one sport with deep tactical nuances. Many offline players seek to replicate this experience by diving into deep career modes, customizing fighters, and simulating real boxing dynamics without the unpredictability of online matchmaking.

B. Content Longevity and Control

Offline players often invest heavily in world-building—creating fighters, developing rivalries, and crafting a realistic boxing universe. These modes provide far more replayability than short online bursts, especially when supported by a robust Creation Suite or CPU vs. CPU options.

C. Poor Online Stability in Past Titles

Historically, many boxing games have struggled with online performance—lag, input delay, matchmaking issues, and exploits that deter even competitive-minded players. As a result, many fans migrated to offline modes for a more consistent and controlled experience.

D. Boxing Culture and Solo Progression

Unlike team-based sports games where co-op or online play is more natural (like FIFA or NBA 2K), boxing leans more into personal journey and individual skill development. That aligns with what many offline gamers seek: immersion and authenticity, not just competition.

2. The Online Community: Vocal, Visible, and Competitive

Despite being smaller in numbers, online players often serve as the public face of a boxing game. They’re more active on social media, YouTube, and Twitch, leading to the illusion that they represent the majority.

A. Streaming and Visibility

Online play is more streamable and entertaining to watch. Influencers and competitive players help spread the game’s visibility, even if they’re only a slice of the overall community.

B. Leaderboards, Esports, and Competitive Depth

Games with ranked matchmaking, live events, or esports aspirations rely on their online community to thrive. These players test balance, find meta strategies, and generate hype.

C. Modding and Custom Lobbies

Some online communities also utilize private lobbies to roleplay real fights, recreate events, or organize community tournaments. These activities bridge online interaction with offline-style immersion.

3. Statistical Indicators: The Broader Sports Gaming Pattern

In broader sports gaming studies—including those done for titles like Madden, NBA 2K, and FIFA—offline modes often see more sustained engagement over time. Career modes, franchise builds, and sandbox features account for the majority of total playtime, even when online player counts surge at launch.

In boxing games, the gap may be even larger due to:

The solo nature of the sport.
The strong appeal of sim elements like rankings, legacy, and training camps.
A player base that includes older fans who favor realism over online competitiveness.

4. Development Implications: Building for Both, But Prioritizing Depth

For developers, the takeaway is clear: the heart of a boxing video game lies in its offline experience. That doesn’t mean online isn’t important—but it’s the offline players who build universes, stay invested for years, and crave authenticity.

To support both sides of the community:

Offline Modes should be rich, detailed, and flexible (career, CPU vs. CPU, customizable tournaments, gyms, promoter mode).
Online Play should be smooth, balanced, and feature optional realism sliders and matchmaking filters (i.e., ranked/sim/arcade).
Hybrid Features like online career integration, community uploads, and shared creations help unify both camps.

Conclusion: Offline Reigns, Online Amplifies

While online players make more noise, stream more content, and help a boxing game look popular, it's the offline player base that provides the backbone for long-term success. A boxing title with deep offline features, customization, realism, and AI behavior will always outlast a game built only for quick online matchups.

In the fight for player attention, offline wins the long game—round after round. Online may win some flashy exchanges, but the true champion wears the belt of depth, immersion, and lasting playability.

Who Has the Bigger Player Base for a Boxing Video Game: Online or Offline?

Who Has the Bigger Player Base for a Boxing Video Game: Online or Offline?

1. The Offline Majority: A Tradition Rooted in Simulation and Immersion

A. Realism Over Competition

B. Content Longevity and Control

C. Poor Online Stability in Past Titles

D. Boxing Culture and Solo Progression

2. The Online Community: Vocal, Visible, and Competitive

A. Streaming and Visibility

Online play is more streamable and entertaining to watch. Influencers and competitive players help spread the game’s visibility, even if they’re only a slice of the overall community.

B. Leaderboards, Esports, and Competitive Depth

Games with ranked matchmaking, live events, or esports aspirations rely on their online community to thrive. These players test balance, find meta strategies, and generate hype.

C. Modding and Custom Lobbies

3. Statistical Indicators: The Broader Sports Gaming Pattern

In boxing games, the gap may be even larger due to:

The solo nature of the sport.
The strong appeal of sim elements like rankings, legacy, and training camps.
A player base that includes older fans who favor realism over online competitiveness.

4. Development Implications: Building for Both, But Prioritizing Depth

To support both sides of the community:

Offline Modes should be rich, detailed, and flexible (career, CPU vs. CPU, customizable tournaments, gyms, promoter mode).
Online Play should be smooth, balanced, and feature optional realism sliders and matchmaking filters (i.e., ranked/sim/arcade).
Hybrid Features like online career integration, community uploads, and shared creations help unify both camps.

Conclusion: Offline Reigns, Online Amplifies

Who Has the Bigger Player Base for a Boxing Video Game: Online or Offline?

Who Has the Bigger Player Base for a Boxing Video Game: Online or Offline?

1. The Offline Majority: A Tradition Rooted in Simulation and Immersion

A. Realism Over Competition

B. Content Longevity and Control

C. Poor Online Stability in Past Titles

D. Boxing Culture and Solo Progression

2. The Online Community: Vocal, Visible, and Competitive

A. Streaming and Visibility

Online play is more streamable and entertaining to watch. Influencers and competitive players help spread the game’s visibility, even if they’re only a slice of the overall community.

B. Leaderboards, Esports, and Competitive Depth

Games with ranked matchmaking, live events, or esports aspirations rely on their online community to thrive. These players test balance, find meta strategies, and generate hype.

C. Modding and Custom Lobbies

3. Statistical Indicators: The Broader Sports Gaming Pattern

In boxing games, the gap may be even larger due to:

The solo nature of the sport.
The strong appeal of sim elements like rankings, legacy, and training camps.
A player base that includes older fans who favor realism over online competitiveness.

4. Development Implications: Building for Both, But Prioritizing Depth

To support both sides of the community:

Offline Modes should be rich, detailed, and flexible (career, CPU vs. CPU, customizable tournaments, gyms, promoter mode).
Online Play should be smooth, balanced, and feature optional realism sliders and matchmaking filters (i.e., ranked/sim/arcade).
Hybrid Features like online career integration, community uploads, and shared creations help unify both camps.

Conclusion: Offline Reigns, Online Amplifies

Stop Using “Balance” to Justify Removing Realism

Using “balance” as an excuse to strip out realistic mechanics undermines the depth and strategy of boxing. Balance doesn’t mean sameness. It doesn’t mean dumbing down unique traits just because some players can’t figure out how to counter them.

Defense Is a Real Boxing Strategy — Not a Glitch

In real boxing:

Some fighters are defensive geniuses.
Others struggle to land clean shots on them.
Opponents don’t get an “equalizer” patch — they have to figure it out in the ring.

If a player is using a boxer with strong defense — whether it's reflexes, head movement, footwork, or guard — that’s not broken. That’s realistic.

Strategic Depth Matters

A great boxing game should reward you for:

Breaking down a slick defensive fighter
Investing in body shots to slow them down
Cutting off the ring
Setting traps and feints
Timing your punches, not just spamming them

That’s where the challenge — and satisfaction — comes from. It’s not about making every fight 50/50. It's about adjustments, styles, and execution.

Changing Definitions for Convenience Is Weak Design

Don’t move the goalposts by redefining “realism” to mean “whatever helps the game be more arcade-friendly.”
If a mechanic mirrors what happens in real boxing — like elusive defense, difficult matchups, or certain boxers being hard to hit — then it belongs in the game. Period.

The Real Solution? Encourage Strategy, Not Nerfs

If players struggle:

Educate through tutorials or fight breakdowns.
Let them see how pros or AI solve the puzzle.
Encourage adaptation, not hand-holding.

You don’t need to nerf realism to create fairness. Let players grow, not just get pacified.

Real Boxing Is About Solving Puzzles — Not Forcing Symmetry

Every fighter brings a different set of problems:

Pernell Whitaker was damn near untouchable.
Floyd Mayweather didn’t get nerfed — people had to figure him out.
Tyson Fury uses head movement, reach, and ring IQ — you don’t just “balance” him into a brawler for the sake of symmetry.

When you take away what makes a defensive or awkward fighter difficult, you’re not balancing — you’re stripping identity and turning boxing into a homogenized slugfest.

Realism Doesn’t Equal “Unfair” — It Means Varied Experiences

What makes boxing special is this:

You might face a power puncher you can’t trade with.
You might face a slickster you can’t hit clean.
You might face a high-volume fighter that drains your stamina.

That’s beautifully balanced by design — because it forces you to think, adapt, and play to your strengths while exploiting theirs.

“Balance” isn’t making every matchup feel the same — it’s making sure every style has tools to win — not shortcuts.

Fighters in Real Life Don’t Get Patched — They Make Adjustments

In a sim boxing game:

If you can’t cut off the ring, you should suffer for it.
If your stamina management is trash, you should gas out.
If you throw sloppy punches, you should get countered or off-balanced.
If you eat jabs all night because your reflexes suck, learn to parry, slip, or bait.

That’s strategy. That’s growth. That’s what makes a realistic boxing game immersive and rewarding.

Taking Out Realistic Mechanics ≠ Fixing Gameplay

When you remove:

Defensive advantages
Footwork variability
Reach being a real weapon
Fighters being hard to hit or track
Styles having actual impact

…you’re not making the game “fairer.” You’re making it flatter, shallower, and less authentic.

You're trying to force entertainment through uniformity — when boxing thrives on contrast.

Let Boxers Be Great at What They Do

Not every boxer should feel the same. If someone picks a master defensive boxer, you shouldn't nerf their core identity because another player can’t figure them out.

Instead, the answer is in giving players realistic tools:

Ring generalship
Feints and set-ups
Punch variety and timing
Real stamina and tempo control
Training and game-planning features

Let players lose — and learn. That’s boxing.

The Message to Devs and Publishers: Stop Fearing Realism

Players want challenge. Players want depth. Players want variety.

If the feedback is “this style is hard to deal with,” the response shouldn’t be to nerf the style — it should be:

“Here’s how the best adapt. Here are real tools. Go back in there and figure it out.”

That’s how you build a legendary sim. Not by patching out greatness.

Stop Using “Balance” to Justify Removing Realism

Defense Is a Real Boxing Strategy — Not a Glitch

In real boxing:

Some fighters are defensive geniuses.
Others struggle to land clean shots on them.
Opponents don’t get an “equalizer” patch — they have to figure it out in the ring.

If a player is using a boxer with strong defense — whether it's reflexes, head movement, footwork, or guard — that’s not broken. That’s realistic.

Strategic Depth Matters

A great boxing game should reward you for:

Breaking down a slick defensive fighter
Investing in body shots to slow them down
Cutting off the ring
Setting traps and feints
Timing your punches, not just spamming them

That’s where the challenge — and satisfaction — comes from. It’s not about making every fight 50/50. It's about adjustments, styles, and execution.

Changing Definitions for Convenience Is Weak Design

The Real Solution? Encourage Strategy, Not Nerfs

If players struggle:

Educate through tutorials or fight breakdowns.
Let them see how pros or AI solve the puzzle.
Encourage adaptation, not hand-holding.

You don’t need to nerf realism to create fairness. Let players grow, not just get pacified.

Real Boxing Is About Solving Puzzles — Not Forcing Symmetry

Every fighter brings a different set of problems:

Pernell Whitaker was damn near untouchable.
Floyd Mayweather didn’t get nerfed — people had to figure him out.
Tyson Fury uses head movement, reach, and ring IQ — you don’t just “balance” him into a brawler for the sake of symmetry.

When you take away what makes a defensive or awkward fighter difficult, you’re not balancing — you’re stripping identity and turning boxing into a homogenized slugfest.

Realism Doesn’t Equal “Unfair” — It Means Varied Experiences

What makes boxing special is this:

You might face a power puncher you can’t trade with.
You might face a slickster you can’t hit clean.
You might face a high-volume fighter that drains your stamina.

That’s beautifully balanced by design — because it forces you to think, adapt, and play to your strengths while exploiting theirs.

“Balance” isn’t making every matchup feel the same — it’s making sure every style has tools to win — not shortcuts.

Fighters in Real Life Don’t Get Patched — They Make Adjustments

In a sim boxing game:

If you can’t cut off the ring, you should suffer for it.
If your stamina management is trash, you should gas out.
If you throw sloppy punches, you should get countered or off-balanced.
If you eat jabs all night because your reflexes suck, learn to parry, slip, or bait.

That’s strategy. That’s growth. That’s what makes a realistic boxing game immersive and rewarding.

Taking Out Realistic Mechanics ≠ Fixing Gameplay

When you remove:

Defensive advantages
Footwork variability
Reach being a real weapon
Fighters being hard to hit or track
Styles having actual impact

…you’re not making the game “fairer.” You’re making it flatter, shallower, and less authentic.

You're trying to force entertainment through uniformity — when boxing thrives on contrast.

Let Boxers Be Great at What They Do

Not every boxer should feel the same. If someone picks a master defensive boxer, you shouldn't nerf their core identity because another player can’t figure them out.

Instead, the answer is in giving players realistic tools:

Ring generalship
Feints and set-ups
Punch variety and timing
Real stamina and tempo control
Training and game-planning features

Let players lose — and learn. That’s boxing.

The Message to Devs and Publishers: Stop Fearing Realism

Players want challenge. Players want depth. Players want variety.

If the feedback is “this style is hard to deal with,” the response shouldn’t be to nerf the style — it should be:

“Here’s how the best adapt. Here are real tools. Go back in there and figure it out.”

That’s how you build a legendary sim. Not by patching out greatness.

Stop Using “Balance” to Justify Removing Realism

Defense Is a Real Boxing Strategy — Not a Glitch

In real boxing:

Some fighters are defensive geniuses.
Others struggle to land clean shots on them.
Opponents don’t get an “equalizer” patch — they have to figure it out in the ring.

If a player is using a boxer with strong defense — whether it's reflexes, head movement, footwork, or guard — that’s not broken. That’s realistic.

Strategic Depth Matters

A great boxing game should reward you for:

Breaking down a slick defensive fighter
Investing in body shots to slow them down
Cutting off the ring
Setting traps and feints
Timing your punches, not just spamming them

That’s where the challenge — and satisfaction — comes from. It’s not about making every fight 50/50. It's about adjustments, styles, and execution.

Changing Definitions for Convenience Is Weak Design

The Real Solution? Encourage Strategy, Not Nerfs

If players struggle:

Educate through tutorials or fight breakdowns.
Let them see how pros or AI solve the puzzle.
Encourage adaptation, not hand-holding.

You don’t need to nerf realism to create fairness. Let players grow, not just get pacified.

Real Boxing Is About Solving Puzzles — Not Forcing Symmetry

Every fighter brings a different set of problems:

Pernell Whitaker was damn near untouchable.
Floyd Mayweather didn’t get nerfed — people had to figure him out.
Tyson Fury uses head movement, reach, and ring IQ — you don’t just “balance” him into a brawler for the sake of symmetry.

When you take away what makes a defensive or awkward fighter difficult, you’re not balancing — you’re stripping identity and turning boxing into a homogenized slugfest.

Realism Doesn’t Equal “Unfair” — It Means Varied Experiences

What makes boxing special is this:

You might face a power puncher you can’t trade with.
You might face a slickster you can’t hit clean.
You might face a high-volume fighter that drains your stamina.

That’s beautifully balanced by design — because it forces you to think, adapt, and play to your strengths while exploiting theirs.

“Balance” isn’t making every matchup feel the same — it’s making sure every style has tools to win — not shortcuts.

Fighters in Real Life Don’t Get Patched — They Make Adjustments

In a sim boxing game:

If you can’t cut off the ring, you should suffer for it.
If your stamina management is trash, you should gas out.
If you throw sloppy punches, you should get countered or off-balanced.
If you eat jabs all night because your reflexes suck, learn to parry, slip, or bait.

That’s strategy. That’s growth. That’s what makes a realistic boxing game immersive and rewarding.

Taking Out Realistic Mechanics ≠ Fixing Gameplay

When you remove:

Defensive advantages
Footwork variability
Reach being a real weapon
Fighters being hard to hit or track
Styles having actual impact

…you’re not making the game “fairer.” You’re making it flatter, shallower, and less authentic.

You're trying to force entertainment through uniformity — when boxing thrives on contrast.

Let Boxers Be Great at What They Do

Not every boxer should feel the same. If someone picks a master defensive boxer, you shouldn't nerf their core identity because another player can’t figure them out.

Instead, the answer is in giving players realistic tools:

Ring generalship
Feints and set-ups
Punch variety and timing
Real stamina and tempo control
Training and game-planning features

Let players lose — and learn. That’s boxing.

The Message to Devs and Publishers: Stop Fearing Realism

Players want challenge. Players want depth. Players want variety.

If the feedback is “this style is hard to deal with,” the response shouldn’t be to nerf the style — it should be:

“Here’s how the best adapt. Here are real tools. Go back in there and figure it out.”

That’s how you build a legendary sim. Not by patching out greatness.

To Steel City Interactive: A Word of Caution

Headline: Attaching the Word "Realistic" Doesn’t Make It So

Steel City Interactive, it's time for a serious reality check. Just because you attach the word "realistic" to your boxing game or branding doesn’t automatically make the gameplay or presentation align with realism. You're dangerously close to falling into the same trap that EA Sports has mastered—misleading marketing.

The Core Issue

Misrepresentation of Realism:
You advertise Undisputed as the most authentic boxing experience, yet many features scream arcade. Realistic boxing isn't about flashy buzzwords—it's about physics, movement, punch reactions, footwork, stamina systems, style authenticity, strategy depth, and accurate boxer behavior (especially CPU vs. CPU).
EA's Footsteps?
EA has long been criticized for prioritizing marketable claims over grounded gameplay mechanics. The fear here is that Steel City Interactive is mimicking that behavior by slapping “realistic” on the box without the substance to back it up.

Realism Should Be Proven, Not Claimed

What realism actually means in a boxing sim:

Stamina systems that punish spamming and reward strategy
Accurate punch trajectories and angles, not generic templates
Physics-driven movement and positioning
Style matchups that matter: boxer-puncher, swarmer, out-boxer, counter-puncher
Realistic reactions to shots: staggered footwork, rope interactions, balance issues
Natural clinching, inside fighting mechanics, and strategic movement

What Needs to Change

If you want to wear the crown of realism:

Let the Gameplay Speak — No more marketing gloss; the in-ring product should prove the claim.
Listen to the Hardcore Fans — The ones campaigning for realism aren't nitpicking. They're holding you accountable.
Avoid EA’s Trap — EA’s sports titles have been called “simcade” for a reason. You still have a chance to be different.
Stop Rebranding Limits as “Balance” — Don’t sacrifice realism for accessibility or “competitive fairness.” Let players earn success by learning boxing.

Final Thought

Realism isn’t a label—it’s a commitment. And right now, many players feel that commitment is being faked. You still have time to turn it around, but only if you stop pretending and start proving.

To Steel City Interactive: A Word of Caution

Headline: Attaching the Word "Realistic" Doesn’t Make It So

The Core Issue

Misrepresentation of Realism:
You advertise Undisputed as the most authentic boxing experience, yet many features scream arcade. Realistic boxing isn't about flashy buzzwords—it's about physics, movement, punch reactions, footwork, stamina systems, style authenticity, strategy depth, and accurate boxer behavior (especially CPU vs. CPU).
EA's Footsteps?
EA has long been criticized for prioritizing marketable claims over grounded gameplay mechanics. The fear here is that Steel City Interactive is mimicking that behavior by slapping “realistic” on the box without the substance to back it up.

Realism Should Be Proven, Not Claimed

What realism actually means in a boxing sim:

Stamina systems that punish spamming and reward strategy
Accurate punch trajectories and angles, not generic templates
Physics-driven movement and positioning
Style matchups that matter: boxer-puncher, swarmer, out-boxer, counter-puncher
Realistic reactions to shots: staggered footwork, rope interactions, balance issues
Natural clinching, inside fighting mechanics, and strategic movement

What Needs to Change

If you want to wear the crown of realism:

Let the Gameplay Speak — No more marketing gloss; the in-ring product should prove the claim.
Listen to the Hardcore Fans — The ones campaigning for realism aren't nitpicking. They're holding you accountable.
Avoid EA’s Trap — EA’s sports titles have been called “simcade” for a reason. You still have a chance to be different.
Stop Rebranding Limits as “Balance” — Don’t sacrifice realism for accessibility or “competitive fairness.” Let players earn success by learning boxing.

Final Thought

To Steel City Interactive: A Word of Caution

Headline: Attaching the Word "Realistic" Doesn’t Make It So

The Core Issue

Misrepresentation of Realism:
You advertise Undisputed as the most authentic boxing experience, yet many features scream arcade. Realistic boxing isn't about flashy buzzwords—it's about physics, movement, punch reactions, footwork, stamina systems, style authenticity, strategy depth, and accurate boxer behavior (especially CPU vs. CPU).
EA's Footsteps?
EA has long been criticized for prioritizing marketable claims over grounded gameplay mechanics. The fear here is that Steel City Interactive is mimicking that behavior by slapping “realistic” on the box without the substance to back it up.

Realism Should Be Proven, Not Claimed

What realism actually means in a boxing sim:

Stamina systems that punish spamming and reward strategy
Accurate punch trajectories and angles, not generic templates
Physics-driven movement and positioning
Style matchups that matter: boxer-puncher, swarmer, out-boxer, counter-puncher
Realistic reactions to shots: staggered footwork, rope interactions, balance issues
Natural clinching, inside fighting mechanics, and strategic movement

What Needs to Change

If you want to wear the crown of realism:

Let the Gameplay Speak — No more marketing gloss; the in-ring product should prove the claim.
Listen to the Hardcore Fans — The ones campaigning for realism aren't nitpicking. They're holding you accountable.
Avoid EA’s Trap — EA’s sports titles have been called “simcade” for a reason. You still have a chance to be different.
Stop Rebranding Limits as “Balance” — Don’t sacrifice realism for accessibility or “competitive fairness.” Let players earn success by learning boxing.

Final Thought

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Open Letter to the Other Two Habib Brothers at SCI

Reigniting the Vision – We Need Ash Back on Track

Dear Asad and Asif,

As passionate supporters of Undisputed and advocates for a truly realistic boxing simulation, we, the dedicated community, respectfully reach out to you not just as fans—but as allies of the vision that helped spark hope for a new standard in boxing games.

We understand how much dedication it takes to bring a game like this to life. However, it’s clear to many of us that Undisputed has drifted from the foundation laid by Ash Habib—a foundation rooted in realism, innovation, and authenticity.

Ash had a bold vision that didn’t play it safe. He spoke to boxing fans in a language we understood: realism over gimmicks, authenticity over arcade, substance over surface-level spectacle. That vision rallied hardcore fans and inspired an entire wave of belief that we could finally have a sim boxing game that respected the sport and its nuances.

But somewhere along the way, the game started drifting.

Focus began shifting toward more casual elements that diluted the sim spirit.
The mechanics started favoring flash over fundamentals.
The realism Ash once fought for began taking a back seat.

We’re asking you—as Ash’s brothers, as leaders within SCI, and as stewards of this project—to help him re-center this game around the very principles that got it here in the first place.

Help Ash bring Undisputed back to the roots he planted. Support his original blueprint. Empower him to put realism first again—even if that means making bold decisions others may shy away from. You have the influence, the leadership, and the family bond to make it happen.

This isn’t about complaints—it’s about potential.

Ash envisioned a boxing game that could define a generation. Let’s make sure that vision is not just remembered, but realized.

Sincerely,
A Community That Still Believes

Open Letter to the Other Two Habib Brothers at SCI

Reigniting the Vision – We Need Ash Back on Track

Dear Asad and Asif,

But somewhere along the way, the game started drifting.

Focus began shifting toward more casual elements that diluted the sim spirit.
The mechanics started favoring flash over fundamentals.
The realism Ash once fought for began taking a back seat.

We’re asking you—as Ash’s brothers, as leaders within SCI, and as stewards of this project—to help him re-center this game around the very principles that got it here in the first place.

This isn’t about complaints—it’s about potential.

Ash envisioned a boxing game that could define a generation. Let’s make sure that vision is not just remembered, but realized.

Sincerely,
A Community That Still Believes

Open Letter to the Other Two Habib Brothers at SCI

Reigniting the Vision – We Need Ash Back on Track

Dear Asad and Asif,

But somewhere along the way, the game started drifting.

Focus began shifting toward more casual elements that diluted the sim spirit.
The mechanics started favoring flash over fundamentals.
The realism Ash once fought for began taking a back seat.

We’re asking you—as Ash’s brothers, as leaders within SCI, and as stewards of this project—to help him re-center this game around the very principles that got it here in the first place.

This isn’t about complaints—it’s about potential.

Ash envisioned a boxing game that could define a generation. Let’s make sure that vision is not just remembered, but realized.

Sincerely,
A Community That Still Believes

Boxing and Boxers Are Too Quiet About Boxing Video Games

The Missed Opportunity That Could Help Revive and Elevate the Sweet Science

By Poe

Introduction: The Silent Corner of the Combat Sports World

In the world of sports, video games have become an unexpected but powerful marketing machine. From FIFA to NBA 2K, video games have helped expand the reach of these sports far beyond the arenas and into millions of living rooms worldwide. They’ve become gateways—introducing new fans to athletes, rule sets, historical moments, and deep cultures surrounding each sport. And yet, amid this gaming revolution, boxing—the sport of Ali, Tyson, and Mayweather—remains far too quiet. Especially its biggest stars.

Where are the voices of today’s champions when it comes to pushing for a proper, modern, realistic boxing video game? Why is the boxing community sleeping on one of the most accessible tools for global exposure and fan engagement?

The Forgotten Power of Gaming

Let’s not forget what titles like Fight Night did for boxing. EA Sports’ now-dormant franchise helped usher in a new generation of fans during the 2000s. A teenager who never saw a Lennox Lewis fight live may have learned his name and fighting style through Fight Night Champion. The game served as an interactive encyclopedia, helping fans understand stances, punch types, weight divisions, and rivalries.

Now imagine what an updated, next-gen boxing sim could do today—especially with streaming, online competition, and global gaming communities in full swing. Boxing needs that bridge to a younger audience. MMA figured that out long ago with the UFC games. Wrestling gets it too—WWE 2K has become a culture in itself. So why is boxing, the original combat sport, still watching from the sidelines?

The Boxers’ Silence: A Missing Piece

Prominent boxers are vocal when it comes to pay, promotion, and legacy—and rightfully so. But when it comes to video games, there’s an odd silence. Very few speak up about their likeness being used, about what kind of game they'd like to see, or about advocating for the sport in this digital space.

Boxers need to understand: a quality boxing game isn’t just for entertainment—it’s a platform. A platform to showcase their style, build brand awareness, inspire young athletes, and preserve legacy. Imagine a young fan mastering Devin Haney’s jab, mimicking Canelo’s counterpunching, or learning the fundamentals of distance and footwork through gameplay. That level of immersion creates connections more lasting than any 10-second highlight on Instagram.

A Tool for Growth, Not Just Nostalgia

Too often, boxing games are spoken of in nostalgic terms—Fight Night Round 3, Champion, or even the older Knockout Kings series. But the opportunity today is not just to relive the past—it’s to build the future. A well-crafted, realistic boxing video game can:

Educate fans on scoring, defense, ring generalship, and weight divisions.
Promote fighters—especially those outside of the mainstream spotlight.
Preserve the sport’s rich history while making room for its present and future.
Unify the fragmented boxing scene by allowing fans to simulate matchups promoters are too slow to make.

In other words, a game can serve boxing the way it’s served football, basketball, and MMA. It’s not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

The Role of Fighters, Promoters, and the Industry

Boxers have influence. They sway trends, rally fans, and carry national pride into every bout. If enough of them publicly called for a realistic, deep boxing sim—one that respects the sport’s intricacies and pays tribute to its past—developers, publishers, and investors would listen.

Promoters too should recognize the value here. If they’re willing to fight over streaming rights and promotional percentages, they should be just as invested in pushing their fighters into the gaming world—where they can be discovered, revered, and remembered.

Even retired legends can play a role. Whether it’s Tyson sharing gameplay footage, or Lennox Lewis consulting on mechanics, their voices carry weight that could make the difference in turning a stalled dream into a digital reality.

Conclusion: Step Into the Digital Ring

Boxing doesn’t need a video game just to catch up—it needs one to survive the shifting landscape of sports fandom. The next generation of fans might never sit through a 12-round chess match, but they will play for hours if the game mechanics are rich, rewarding, and true to the sport.

The technology is here. The fans are waiting. The boxing world just needs to step up, speak out, and get involved.

Boxers: your silence is costing the sport more than you realize. It’s time to make some noise—not just in the ring, but on the screen.

Want to keep boxing alive and evolving? Start by fighting for its digital future.