An Open Letter and Call To Action to Investors and Publishers of Boxing Video Games

An Open Letter and Call To Action to Investors and Publishers of Boxing Video Games

To the decision-makers shaping the future of sports gaming,

We write this as both fans and advocates for the sport of boxing in video games. For too long, investors and publishers have tried to push boxing titles into an arcade or hybrid mold, leaning heavily toward flashy, simplified gameplay. This direction is not only misguided—it’s a proven failure in today’s sports gaming era.

The Reality: Arcade Boxing Games Don’t Sell in 2025

Sports gaming has evolved. Players demand realism, authenticity, and depth. NBA 2K, FIFA/EA Sports FC, MLB The Show, and even Madden thrive not because they’re “arcadey,” but because they simulate the sport faithfully while offering customization, modes, and options that appeal to both hardcore and casual fans.

Arcade-style boxing games of the past haven’t survived because they strip the sport of its strategy, pacing, and authenticity—the very elements that make boxing one of the greatest competitions in the world. In this era, gamers want depth. They want to feel the chess match, the psychology, the drama of boxing—not button-mashing arcade gimmicks.

The Evidence: Steel City Interactive’s Undisputed

Steel City Interactive (SCI) proved something important. Their early reveal—ESBC Official Alpha Gameplay Features (First Look)—garnered over a million views and generated massive hype. Why? Because it sold the promise of realism: detailed mechanics, footwork, movement, stamina, clinching, and authentic boxing presentation.

The game sold well on release not because of its final product, but because of this promise of a simulation-based boxing experience. What players got later was not the same game—the vision shifted, features were removed, realism was stripped back, and what remained leaned into arcade compromises. The result? Frustration, disappointment, and declining trust.

The Message to Investors and Publishers

Stop forcing developers to water down boxing into something it’s not. Stop dictating that realism will “scare away” players. This is a myth. If you want commercial success, the blueprint is clear:

• Invest in Realism: Authentic boxing mechanics, strategies, and tendencies create the same long-term engagement other sports titles thrive on.

• Provide Options, Not Compromises: Casual-friendly modes can exist, but never at the expense of the simulation core.

• Respect the Sport: Boxing is rich in history, personalities, and strategy. Represent it with depth, and both fans and casual gamers will follow.

• Trust the Market: SCI’s early success wasn’t in spite of realism—it was because of it. The views, pre-orders, and community hype all prove this.

A Call to Action

To every publisher, investor, and studio executive:
If you want boxing video games to thrive, stop repeating the mistakes of the past. Support studios in building true boxing simulations. Give them the resources, freedom, and long-term vision to deliver.

Arcade may feel like the “safe” option, but history and sales tell the opposite story. The future belongs to realism. The fans are ready, the demand is there, and the sport of boxing deserves nothing less.

Respect boxing. Respect the players. Build for the future.

Signed,
Fans of Boxing and Authentic Sports Gaming