“Undisputed” Is Becoming Everything We Didn’t Ask For – A Breakdown of Why Fans Feel Let Down

 “Undisputed” Is Becoming Everything We Didn’t Ask For – A Breakdown of Why Fans Feel Let Down

Intro

It’s becoming clearer every update, every patch, and every vague roadmap: Undisputed is no longer the game it set out to be. What started as a movement—an ambitious, community-backed project promising a true-to-life boxing sim—has slowly turned into a product that ignores the very foundation that built its hype.

This isn’t just frustration. It’s the collective disappointment of fans who actually want to see this game win.

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1. The Sim Realism That Hooked Us Has Been Abandoned

When ESBC first hit the scene, it promised something boxing fans have been starved for: realism. Not flashy arcade knockouts, not button-mashing speed wars, but the science of boxing:

• Footwork with weight shifting.

• Punch reactions that varied in severity and realism.

• Defensive nuance and tactical pacing.

• AI that mimicked real fighters.

Now? We get wide looping punches with no balance loss, canned animations, and AI that often walks into shots with no awareness of who they’re supposed to represent.

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2. Ignoring the Sim Community’s Wishlist

There are hundreds of well-thought-out suggestions across Reddit, Discord, YouTube, and blogs like The Boxing Videogame Wishlist Site and The Boxing Blueprint. But instead of leaning into the simboxing vision, SCI keeps leaning away from it.

What fans wanted:

• Realistic stamina and punch mechanics.

• Full weight classes for men and women.

• AI vs AI with full presentation.

• Customizable tendencies and Creation Suite depth.

What we got:

• Twitchy animations.

• Mirror matches.

• Shallow customization.

• Updates that keep moving away from realism.

It’s like they’re chasing a casual e-sports-friendly version of boxing when the core fan base is crying out for authenticity.

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3. Developers Are Quiet Where It Matters Most

We’re not asking for weekly updates. But if you're going to change the vision of the game so drastically, communicate why. Fans want to believe there's a plan. Instead:

• Patch notes are vague or misleading.

• Realism-focused feedback gets dismissed or watered down.

• Fundamental issues go unaddressed.

When you stop speaking directly to the people who backed your project from the start, you’re showing them that they’re no longer your priority.

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4. It's Not Too Late—But Time Is Running Out

This game still has potential. The skeleton of a great sim boxing experience is here—but only if SCI recommits to the vision that built their audience in the first place. That means:

• Stop chasing flashy fixes and start building a foundation.

• Bring in real boxing minds before the design stage—not after.

• Start treating AI logic, punch variety, footwork, presentation, and customization as core features—not wishlist items.

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Closing Thoughts

Fans aren’t being negative for the sake of it. We’re passionate because we care. We wanted this game to succeed. But if SCI keeps moving away from what made ESBC special, they'll lose the very fanbase that gave them a fighting chance.

Sim fans are still here. Still waiting. Still hoping. But we’re not blind.

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Part 2

Perfect. Here's the next version of the post—solution-focused, meant to complement the frustrations in the first one. After that, I’ll give you an open letter version that invites collaboration and signatures for community use.

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Title: “How to Save Undisputed Before It’s Too Late – A Realistic Path Forward”

Intro

The community has spoken—repeatedly. Hardcore boxing fans didn’t ask for a flashy, fast-paced slugfest. We asked for a boxing simulation that respects the sport’s depth, strategy, and history.

This isn’t a hit piece. This is a roadmap, from the people who care most, on how SCI can salvage Undisputed and reclaim the trust of its core audience.

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1. Recommit to Simulation First – Let Realism Be the Foundation

Problem: The gameplay feels caught between sim and arcade, pleasing no one.

Solution:

• Rebuild the punch system around realism—trajectory, rhythm, recovery, balance, stamina, and physical reaction.

• Stop allowing all fighters to move the same. Create class-based or individual animations based on real movement styles.

• Bring back the heavy, intentional feel from early ESBC footage.

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2. Make AI Matter – It’s a Core Experience, Not a Side Feature

Problem: CPU opponents are lifeless. AI vs AI is an afterthought.

Solution:

• Let boxers fight like themselves: AI tendencies, habits, styles, and adjustments should reflect real-life data or personality types.

• AI vs AI fights should have full commentary, broadcast overlays, camera control, and realistic pacing.

• Allow custom AI profiles for created boxers and legends.

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3. Treat the Creation Suite as a Central Pillar

Problem: Shallow customization limits immersion and replay value.

Solution:

• Introduce a full Creation & Customization Suite inspired by WWE 2K and Saint’s Row—nicknames, ring gear, walkouts, styles, animations, AI tendencies, entrances, promoters, gyms, etc.

• Add an offline Career Mode + Promoter Mode with full editing tools, belt creation, ranking systems, and era selection.

• Expand boxer slots and allow fans to build out entire universes.

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4. Stop Patching the Soul Out of the Game

Problem: Every update feels like it moves away from boxing.

Solution:

• Stop balancing for short-term online satisfaction. Build mechanics around boxing logic first, then balance.

• Don’t flatten boxers into generic models. Keep unique traits.

• Provide a Sim Gameplay Default setting for offline and online—let fans opt into realism.

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5. Talk to the Right People and Communicate More Transparently

Problem: Lack of transparency and poor prioritization erode trust.

Solution:

• Involve real trainers, boxers, and respected sim minds in design—not just QA testers.

• Do devlogs or deep dives where you explain your vision and decisions.

• Show roadmap transparency: What’s short-term? What’s long-term? What’s being scrapped?

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Closing

This isn’t just a wishlist. It’s what Undisputed promised from the start. We aren’t asking for miracles. We’re asking for direction. There’s still time—but not if you keep ignoring the people who believed in you from day one.

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Now here’s the collaborative open letter version you can share in forums or Discords to collect feedback or signatures:

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Open Letter to Steel City Interactive – From the Boxing Sim Community

To the developers of Undisputed:

We, the undersigned boxing and gaming fans, supported Undisputed because we believed in your original vision—a true-to-life boxing simulation.

But with each passing update, we feel the game drifting further from the foundation that built your community. We understand development is hard. We respect your ambition. But when feedback is ignored and realism is compromised, trust is lost.

What We’re Asking For:

• A clear recommitment to simulation gameplay.

• AI that behaves and fights like real boxers, including in AI vs AI matches.

• A deep, meaningful Creation Suite.

• Realistic punch mechanics, footwork, and boxer individuality.

• Transparent communication and community-involved planning.

We are not here to tear the game down—we are here to help build it up.

Sincerely,

[POE]

[SIGN IF YOU ARE FRUSTRATED AND TIRED OF SCI]

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