Is Steel City Interactive Listening?!?

 

Steel City Interactive (SCI), the developers behind Undisputed, have maintained public statements that they are listening to fans — especially through their Discord server, Twitter (X), YouTube devlogs, and Steam forums. However, there is a growing divide between what SCI claims to be listening to and what large segments of the community are actually asking for. Here's a structured breakdown of the situation:

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✅ Where SCI Appears to Be Listening

• Feedback Acknowledgment Channels:

  • The official Undisputed Discord has feedback-specific channels where developers sometimes interact.

  • Regularly published development updates and community polls show some willingness to involve players in balancing and roadmap choices.

• Specific Features Driven by Fan Input:

  • Adjustments to stamina and punch output following early access feedback.

  • Tweaks to the judging system and visual scorecards after strong community pushback.

  • Introduction of new camera angles and tweaks to footwork responsiveness based on early complaints.

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❌ Where SCI May Not Be Listening (or Listening Selectively)

• Direction of Core Gameplay Mechanics:

  • Many veteran boxing game fans (particularly those coming from Fight Night Champion and simulation enthusiasts) feel Undisputed leans too far into arcade-like visuals and lacks realistic ring IQ, rhythm control, and inside fighting mechanics.

  • Requests for deeper AI systems, career realism, damage models, and punch physics often receive vague or no direct responses.

• Perceived "Echo Chamber":

  • Some community members report that only a few favored voices or influencers get meaningful responses from the devs.

  • Fan testers or content creators with early access are sometimes seen as echoing the studio’s decisions rather than critically challenging them — leading to questions about impartiality.

• Unresolved Feedback Themes:

  • Concerns about online lag and matchmaking remain persistent despite frequent reports.

  • Requests for an offline legacy/career mode roadmap or overhaul are often sidelined in favor of cosmetic or roster updates.

  • Long-term players highlight regression in mechanics from early builds, suggesting a lack of cohesive design direction.

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🎯 Which Fans Are They Listening To?

• Most Influential Sources:

  • Prominent YouTubers or Twitch streamers in the combat sports niche often receive exclusive previews and early communication.

  • Discord members who are consistently active and positively reinforce developer messages may be more visible in feedback loops.

• Less-Represented Voices:

  • Simulation purists, offline career mode enthusiasts, and long-time boxing game modders often express feeling sidelined.

  • Regional fans (non-English speakers or those outside UK/US) sometimes struggle to have their feedback seen or understood.

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📌 Bottom Line

SCI is listening — but selectively. The dev team does respond to fan input, but often prioritizes feedback that aligns with their internal design philosophy or marketing strategy. This leads to frustration among long-term boxing game fans who feel that the deeper, more nuanced issues are being ignored in favor of surface-level features.

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🔄 Suggested Fixes the Community Wants:

1. Transparent development roadmap, especially for AI, Career Mode, and simulation fidelity.

2. More diverse community engagement, including feedback from serious sim players, retired modders, and niche forums.

3. Public voting or structured community testing that includes critical feedback rather than just promotional hype.

4. Quarterly Q&A with unscreened fan questions to directly address the "elephant in the room" concerns.