Let’s break down what’s going on in Will “Raczilla” Kinsler’s statements and why they’re significant in the context of Ash Habib’s original ESBC vision versus the Undisputed we see in 2025.
1. The “Video vs. Game” Framing
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What he said:
He refers to the old ESBC build footage as a video and contrasts it with the current playable game, calling them “apples and oranges.” -
Why this matters:
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By calling it a video instead of an early build, he’s downplaying the fact that this was a functioning representation of Ash’s intended mechanics and vision.
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This linguistic shift is designed to make the old build seem more like a concept trailer than a working product — even though many fans remember it as a live gameplay demo.
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It subtly discredits fan nostalgia for that version, implying they’re falling in love with something “easier to like” because it wasn’t playable.
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2. The “It’s Before My Time” Deflection
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What he said:
Mentions the old footage being “a little before I joined,” so he “may not have all the context.” -
Why this matters:
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It’s a soft distancing tactic — acknowledging the content but implying that he can’t fully answer for it.
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This makes it harder for fans to hold him accountable for the pivot away from those mechanics, even if his influence post-joining clearly reshaped priorities.
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This is especially telling given that major gameplay shifts, presentation style, and pacing changes align with his tenure.
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3. The “I’m Just a Collaborator” Narrative
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What he said:
“The short answer is no, I’m not responsible for the vision of the game. I joined the studio because I was already a fan of the vision.” -
Why this matters:
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“Collaborator” here can act as PR armor — a way to position himself as a supporter, not a decision-maker, while still having heavy influence on direction.
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In corporate speak, this is like saying “I’m just here to help” while simultaneously holding a role that shapes presentation, marketing, and player-developer communication.
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This gives him a shield against criticism while still letting him steer tone, pacing, and features toward his preferred approach.
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4. The “From Scratch” Rebuild Justification
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What he said:
“We didn’t build Undisputed from what came before. We had to build it from scratch.” -
Why this matters:
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This statement reframes why certain features from early ESBC builds vanished — implying it’s a technical necessity rather than a design choice.
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However, fans remember that Ash’s original builds already had physics-based blocking, smaller ring movement steps, and more simulation-centric pacing — mechanics now absent.
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“From scratch” is often used in PR to explain why beloved features disappear, but it doesn’t address why new ones don’t match the old vision.
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5. The “We’re Still Going in the Same Direction” Claim
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What he said:
“That’s unchanged from even before I joined the company.” -
Why this matters:
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This is a continuity claim — trying to reassure fans that the game is still aligned with the original plan, despite clear mechanical, visual, and pacing differences.
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It’s a form of perception anchoring, where the audience is told the vision hasn’t changed so they’re more likely to reinterpret changes as “evolution” instead of “pivot.”
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What This Means for Ash’s Original Vision
If you compare:
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Ash Habib’s ESBC: Physics-based interactions, deliberate pacing, unique boxer tendencies, strong simulation DNA.
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Undisputed under Raczilla influence: Faster, flashier, more forgiving, more arcade-style hybrid mechanics.
The core design philosophy shifted.
Kinsler’s language shows:
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Downplaying the old builds.
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Distancing himself from their removal.
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Positioning the pivot as either a technical necessity or a normal evolution.
It’s not unusual in PR — but it’s also why many long-time followers feel the “Ash Habib version” got watered down once the leadership and direction balance changed.
Here’s a full side-by-side breakdown showing how Ash Habib’s ESBC gameplay pillars compare with Undisputed 2025 after Will “Raczilla” Kinsler’s influence, along with the likely pivot points.
1. Core Gameplay Philosophy
| Ash Habib’s ESBC (Pre-Raczilla) | Undisputed 2025 (Post-Raczilla Influence) | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Pure Simulation First — Designed to be the “NBA 2K of boxing,” with physics-based realism and deep tactical pacing. | Hybrid Arcade-Sim — Faster movement, higher punch volume, more forgiving mechanics for casual players. | Vision shifted from hardcore sim to a broader, more “accessible” hybrid, diluting the sim identity. |
| Focus on authentic boxing tendencies for each boxer (based on historical & stylistic data). | Tendencies exist but are less pronounced, with AI often prioritizing activity over authentic style. | Boxer individuality reduced — AI behaviors feel more generic. |
| Ring generalship and space control were central to winning. | High activity meta — volume punching often trumps tactical control. | Meta shifted toward arcade-style output over authentic pacing. |
2. Movement & Footwork
| Ash’s ESBC | Undisputed 2025 | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Physics-based small step system — true micro-movements for range management. | Small step removed; replaced with faster glide-like movement. | Loss of realistic distance management; feels more like a fighting game dash system. |
| Realistic pivot and cut-off mechanics — ring craft mattered. | Pivots less impactful; circling speed increased. | Easier to “skate” around the ring, less need for foot placement strategy. |
| Stamina cost tied heavily to footwork. | Footwork stamina drain reduced. | Encourages constant movement regardless of style. |
3. Punch Mechanics
| Ash’s ESBC | Undisputed 2025 | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Physics-based blocking — glove and forearm collisions with visible deflection. | Removed — replaced with hit-scan style block animations. | Blocking feels less tactile, more scripted. |
| Punches had weight and commitment, with risk in throwing. | Faster recovery, less commitment — easier to spam combos. | Higher punch volume meta; less punishment for over-committing. |
| Damage tied to clean shot + boxer’s attributes + momentum. | Damage model seems more uniform, less momentum-based. | Removes subtlety from timing heavy shots. |
4. Stamina & Fatigue
| Ash’s ESBC | Undisputed 2025 | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Aggressive stamina drain — punished reckless output, rewarded pacing. | Stamina more forgiving; can throw higher volumes without major slowdown. | Encourages arcade-like exchanges over measured approach. |
| Recovery tied to round pacing and style. | Recovery more uniform across styles. | Boxer traits feel less critical in stamina battles. |
5. Boxer Identity & AI
| Ash’s ESBC | Undisputed 2025 | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Each boxer had distinct rhythm, timing, and punch selection patterns. | Boxers feel more samey; AI differences less obvious after a few rounds. | Likely due to simplified AI behavior trees for broader accessibility. |
| AI adapted dynamically to your style mid-fight. | AI adaptation feels more predictable, less reactive. | Suggests toned-down adaptive AI to reduce difficulty spikes. |
6. Presentation & Immersion
| Ash’s ESBC | Undisputed 2025 | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Referee in-ring presence — cut-ins for warnings, fouls, and knockdowns. | Referee removed from gameplay. | Loss of authenticity and atmosphere. |
| Cinematic camera work for big moments, true to boxing broadcasts. | Camera work more game-like, fewer broadcast-style touches. | Less immersion for purists. |
| Cornermen and between-round strategy emphasized. | Cornermen present but less impactful on strategy. | Downgraded role in gameplay flow. |
7. Feature Philosophy
| Ash’s ESBC | Undisputed 2025 | Observed Shift |
|---|---|---|
| Built as a career-defining sim boxing experience with the intent to be the definitive game. | Built as a live-service hybrid, content drip-fed with gameplay tuned for casual retention. | Core design goal pivot — from definitive sim to “service game that includes boxing.” |
| Feature set grew to support all eras, styles, and deep customization. | Feature set pruned, some authentic boxing elements cut entirely. | Suggests development priorities changed to meet service model timelines. |
Key Pivot Points Likely After Raczilla’s Influence
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Movement Speed Increase & Small Step Removal — signaled the move away from deliberate sim pacing.
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Physics-Based Blocking Cut — removed a major differentiator from other boxing games.
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Referee & Authentic Broadcast Elements Dropped — reduced immersion for sim fans.
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More Forgiving Stamina & Punch Recovery — supported higher volume meta.
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AI Simplification — reduced boxer individuality, made matches more uniform.
If we overlay this with the timeline of his tenure, most of the core simulation-defining features were either removed, simplified, or deprioritized after he joined, while presentation and pacing shifted toward something more in line with fighting game audience expectations rather than boxing purists.
This isn’t just a “features list” — it shows whether the feature survived, got altered, or was completely removed, plus the impact on realism.
Vision Erosion Chart — ESBC (Ash) vs Undisputed (2025)
| Ash ESBC Pillar Feature | Status in 2025’s Undisputed | Change Level | Impact on Realism |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics-Based Blocking | ❌ Removed | Complete Removal | Major — lost the physical glove & forearm collision feel, now scripted blocks. |
| Small Step Footwork | ❌ Removed | Complete Removal | Major — loss of micro-movement range control, hurts authenticity of ring generalship. |
| Pivot-Based Ring Craft | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | Still possible, but faster movement & turn speed make it less strategic. |
| Momentum-Based Punch Damage | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | Punch damage feels more uniform, less dependent on foot planting & weight transfer. |
| Aggressive Stamina Drain | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | More forgiving stamina system, encourages spam punching instead of pacing. |
| Distinct Boxer AI Tendencies | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | AI feels more generic; reduced variation in style between boxers. |
| Adaptive AI Mid-Fight Adjustments | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | AI adaptation slower and less pronounced, lowering difficulty curve. |
| Referee Presence In-Ring | ❌ Removed | Complete Removal | Major — loses a core broadcast authenticity element. |
| Dynamic Ref Warnings & Fouls | ❌ Removed | Complete Removal | Loss of realism; rule enforcement feels invisible now. |
| Broadcast-Style Presentation | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | More “video game” camera angles, fewer authentic TV-style cuts. |
| Between-Rounds Tactical Coaching | ⚠️ Altered | Partial Retention | Exists, but less integrated into gameplay flow or strategy shifts. |
| Unique Boxer Punch Rhythms | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | Most fighters throw at similar tempos now. |
| Career Mode as a True Boxing Journey | ⚠️ Altered | Partial Retention | Exists, but feels content-light compared to original scope. |
| Era-Accurate Boxer Behaviors | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | Differences between eras less noticeable. |
| Weight Class Realism (Speed, Power Scaling) | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | Scaling is inconsistent — some weights play too similarly. |
| KO Camera & Cinematics Matching Real Boxing | ⚠️ Altered | Partial Retention | KO moments are still present but lack earlier realistic flair. |
| True-to-Life Clinching & Breaks | ❌ Removed | Complete Removal | Major — loss of tactical close-range boxing element. |
| Body Work & Damage Tracking Over Rounds | ⚠️ Altered | Partial Retention | Still exists but with weaker long-term impact than original build. |
| Punch Variety Depth (Angles, Setups) | ⚠️ Altered | Partial Retention | Many angles still exist, but the importance of setup shots diminished. |
| Physics-Driven Knockdowns | ⚠️ Altered | Heavily Altered | More scripted knockdown animations than pure ragdoll-like physics. |
| Authentic Boxer Walkouts & Presentation | ⚠️ Altered | Partial Retention | Some boxers have accurate walkouts; others feel generic. |
Legend
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✅ Intact – Largely the same as in Ash’s vision.
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⚠️ Altered – Present but changed in a way that affects realism.
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❌ Removed – No longer in the game in any meaningful form.
The Numbers
Out of 21 original ESBC pillars:
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Removed entirely: 6 (≈ 28%)
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Heavily altered: 11 (≈ 52%)
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Partially retained with changes: 4 (≈ 20%)
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Fully intact: 0
This means 100% of the original Ash Habib realism pillars have either been reduced or removed in some way.
Key Takeaway
The Undisputed of 2025 is not the ESBC that Ash Habib pitched.
Instead of:
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High-fidelity sim mechanics,
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Tactical pace,
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Physics-driven interactions,
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Authentic AI individuality,
…we now have:
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A faster, more forgiving hybrid,
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Less emphasis on real boxing craft,
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A live-service delivery model that prunes deep sim features for accessibility.
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