No More Excuses for SCI: Fans Must Demand Accountability
Introduction: Enough Is Enough
There comes a point where the phrase “It’s their first game” becomes a crutch instead of a context. Steel City Interactive (SCI) is not a group of high school students making a demo in their bedroom; they are a professional studio with veterans from the gaming industry, multiple investors, a major publisher, and five years of development behind Undisputed.
And yet, the same excuses keep circulating among fans and influencers. Every flaw is met with “Give them time,” “They’re a small studio,” or “At least they tried.” But how long do fans have to wait for the game they were promised, the game that was marketed as a realistic boxing simulation?
1. The Myth of “First Game” Protection
SCI’s defenders often use the “first game” excuse to dismiss criticism. But here’s the reality:
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SCI has been in operation for over half a decade.
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They’ve had publisher backing from Plaion (Deep Silver), one of the largest in Europe.
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They’ve hired industry veterans who previously worked on AAA titles and even sports simulations.
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They’ve received investment from multiple sources and secured licensing with three major boxing properties.
When a studio has that level of backing and time, it’s not a “rookie effort.” It’s a professional production that should meet professional standards. The fans aren’t being unfair; they’re holding SCI to the expectations SCI set for themselves.
2. The Problem Isn’t Ambition, It’s Direction
Undisputed started as a dream project, a promise to bring boxing back to the gaming world with realism, authenticity, and respect for the sport. But somewhere along the line, the direction shifted.
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Realism gave way to arcade tendencies.
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Deep mechanics were simplified or removed.
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Authenticity was compromised for mass appeal.
This wasn’t due to lack of talent; it was due to mismanagement and misplaced priorities. When a game spends five years in development and still releases with broken animations, bugs, and downgraded systems, the issue isn’t that they’re “new,” it’s that they stopped listening to the core boxing audience.
3. Fans’ Silence is the Real Problem
Too many fans are defending SCI instead of demanding better.
Every time a fan voices frustration, someone replies with:
“Stop crying, it’s still early.”
“It’s not that bad.”
“You’re too negative, enjoy the game.”
That mentality is dangerous. Silence and complacency kill innovation. The gaming industry improves when fans hold developers accountable. If players had stayed silent about Cyberpunk 2077, No Man’s Sky, or Battlefield 2042, those games wouldn’t have improved post-launch.
Constructive criticism is not “hate.” It’s a lifeline for a struggling project. True fans want the game to succeed — but success doesn’t come from blind loyalty.
4. The Reality of Modern Game Development
When you have:
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Five years of development,
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A high-profile publisher,
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Multiple investors,
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Outsourcing access to veteran developers,
You are not a “small indie studio” anymore. You’re a mid-tier studio with professional infrastructure. Fans are not wrong to expect:
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Stability and optimization.
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Realistic animations are true to boxing.
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Functional online play.
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A clear, creative vision consistent with early promises.
It’s time to stop pretending that SCI is still learning the basics. They’ve been in this for years — the excuses simply don’t hold up.
5. The Call to the Community
Fans, influencers, and “observers” have to stop making excuses for SCI and start demanding accountability. The community should:
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Speak up about the changes and downgrades from early builds.
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Push for transparency about development direction.
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Encourage constructive feedback instead of silencing critics.
Every time a fan says, “It’s fine the way it is,” it gives the studio permission to keep lowering the bar. And once the bar is lowered, it rarely gets raised again.
6. The Game We Were Promised
The original vision for Undisputed was clear — a realistic, authentic boxing simulation built for fans of the sweet science. Not a hybrid arcade experience. Not a half-finished experiment. A true simulation.
Fans supported SCI, promoted their dream, and invested emotionally in that promise. Now, the studio owes it to those fans to deliver on that commitment — not hide behind marketing spin and fan excuses.
Conclusion: Demand Better or Settle for Less
If we, as fans, keep letting things slide — if we accept broken promises and incomplete visions — then we’re telling every developer and publisher that boxing fans don’t deserve quality.
But boxing fans do deserve better.
They deserve depth.
They deserve authenticity.
They deserve the game they were promised.
The excuses have to stop, not because fans are angry, but because they care too much to stay silent.
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