Steel City Interactive’s Coming DLC Wake-Up Call: Why Names and Cosmetics Won’t Save Undisputed

Introduction

Steel City Interactive (SCI) is heading into dangerous territory with their DLC strategy for Undisputed. The studio seems confident that pumping out new boxer packs and cosmetic add-ons will be enough to keep their revenue flowing. But the reality is far harsher: casual fans are fleeting, hardcore fans are alienated, and a roster bloated with boxers who feel the same does not create long-term value. Unless SCI pivots, their DLC model is heading for a rude awakening.

The Casual Illusion

Casual players are often treated as the financial backbone of a sports title. SCI appears to be banking on this same model. But here’s the catch—casuals rarely invest deeply into a single game for the long haul.

They’ll buy the big names: Ali, Tyson, Canelo.
They’ll experiment with a few DLC packs early on.
Then they drift away when the novelty wears off.

That’s the very nature of the casual audience. They provide short bursts of revenue but not the consistent, dedicated support needed to sustain a niche sports game like boxing.

The Hardcore Exodus

Hardcore fans are the true long-term lifeblood of any boxing title. They’re the ones who:

Know the entire history of the sport.
Recognize differences in style, stance, rhythm, and footwork.
Invest in multiple DLC packs—so long as each one adds authentic value.

Unfortunately, SCI is failing them. When every boxer feels like a recycled skin, when traits don’t function properly, and when tendencies are absent altogether, hardcore players begin to feel ignored. Why spend money on DLC if it doesn’t deliver the realism they’ve been demanding since the start?

If the hardcore leave, the foundation crumbles. They’re not just paying customers—they’re evangelists, the ones who spread word-of-mouth and keep the game alive between content drops.

The Identity Problem

A boxing game cannot survive without identity. In boxing, every fighter is unique—not only in appearance but in how they fight, defend, and adapt in the ring.

Ali isn’t Tyson.
Canelo isn’t Lomachenko.
Joe Frazier isn’t Sugar Ray Leonard.

Fans buy into styles, not just names. Yet in Undisputed, the boxers largely feel interchangeable. Without unique tendencies, AI behaviors, and traits that actually function, the DLC pipeline risks becoming nothing more than a roster of “reskinned avatars.” That’s not just uninspiring—it’s dangerous for retention.

Names and Cosmetics Are Not Enough

SCI has been leaning heavily on names and cosmetics to sell DLC. Nostalgia, tattoos, trunks, and ring-walk gear dominate the updates. That strategy may sell the first wave of content, but it cannot sustain growth.

Cosmetics do not provide replay value. The hardcore base does not want more shorts—they want mechanics, tendencies, and depth that reflect the sport they love. A roster stacked with famous names dressed in accurate trunks means nothing if they all fight like clones once the bell rings.

The Missed Opportunity: Educating the Casuals

Casual fans can be converted into more dedicated players—but only if the game inspires them to learn. Imagine a game where controlling Roberto Durán makes you curious enough to go watch his fights. Or where using Lomachenko’s footwork in-game teaches you why he’s a modern phenomenon.

That’s the magic of authenticity. It bridges the gap between casual and hardcore by making the casual want to know more. Right now, SCI gives players no reason to dig deeper. Instead of curiosity, there’s apathy.

The Road Ahead: A Necessary Pivot

SCI is standing at a crossroads. Their DLC strategy will either:

Collapses under its own weight if it continues to rely on names and cosmetics.
Thrive if the studio finally invests in what makes boxing authentic: uniqueness, tendencies, and depth.

Here’s what must happen for SCI to avoid disaster:

Make Every Boxer Unique – Traits, tendencies, and AI behaviors must work to create real differences.
Stop Selling Only Surface-Level Cosmetics – Focus on gameplay identity, not just ring-walk gear.
Respect the Hardcore Base – Build systems that keep serious boxing fans engaged long-term.
Educate Casuals – Create mechanics and presentations that make casuals curious to learn, not bored to leave.

Conclusion

Steel City Interactive’s rude awakening is on the horizon. Casuals won’t stick around once the novelty fades. Hardcores won’t keep buying into a game that disrespects authenticity. And cosmetics cannot mask a lack of true boxing identity.

For Undisputed to survive and for its DLC model to succeed, SCI must stop leaning on names and cosmetics as a crutch and start building the authentic boxing experience the community has been demanding from day one.

Poe’s Think Tank

Saturday, September 27, 2025