Why Companies Have No Excuse Not to Make a Boxing Video Game
An Investigative Editorial by Poe’s Think Tank
1. The Myth of the “Too Risky” Boxing Game
For over a decade, studios have repeated the same excuse: “Boxing games don’t sell anymore.” Publishers point to expensive licenses, fragmented rights, and the supposed dominance of MMA and other combat sports as barriers. But history, and the fan response to recent boxing projects, tells a different story.
The truth is simple: a well-made, authentic boxing simulation will always find an audience. The problem has never been boxing; it’s been execution. Developers who misunderstand the sport, who chase trends instead of authenticity, and who fail to respect what makes boxing special end up creating hollow, arcade-style experiences that alienate true fans.
2. The Licensing Excuse Doesn’t Hold Up
One of the industry’s favorite scapegoats is the cost of boxer licensing. Executives claim that securing likeness rights and promotional deals for dozens of boxers is “too complicated.” Yet games like NBA 2K, FIFA, and UFC manage to license hundreds of athletes across multiple organizations, many with far higher fees than boxing’s fragmented ecosystem.
The reality is that boxing doesn’t need every boxer. A strong foundation of realistic mechanics, intelligent AI, deep career systems, and creative customization is enough to drive interest. Boxers are the icing, the hook that draws players deeper into a system that already feels alive.
When Fight Night Champion was released, it proved that a serious, story-driven boxing game could sell. And when Steel City Interactive (SCI) released early footage of ESBC (Undisputed), the internet exploded with excitement — not because of famous names, but because of how it looked and felt.
3. Proof That Fans Are Still Hungry
SCI’s “Official Alpha Gameplay Features (First Look)” trailer, which surpassed a million views on YouTube, demonstrated something the industry ignored: fans crave realism. The video didn’t feature the biggest stars in boxing. It showcased movement, rhythm, and flow, small details like head slips, foot pivots, and defensive transitions that made the sport feel alive again.
Millions of viewers didn’t know who Eddie Hall or David Adeleye were. They didn’t care. What caught their attention was the authenticity. That was proof of concept, visual evidence that boxing as a simulation could stand shoulder to shoulder with any major sports franchise if built with respect and intelligence.
4. The Fan Base Has Never Left — It’s Been Ignored
Boxing isn’t a “dead sport.” It’s one of the most global sports ever created, woven into culture from the United States to the Philippines, Mexico, the UK, Japan, and beyond. The issue isn’t fan disinterest; it’s fan frustration.
Fans have been waiting over a decade for a true successor to Fight Night. They’ve been patient through false starts, vaporware promises, and shallow arcade attempts. The appetite for a serious boxing title is massive, millions strong, and waiting to spend money on the right product.
5. The Blueprint for Success Already Exists
Companies now have no excuse not to act. Everything needed to build a great boxing game already exists:
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Technology: Unreal Engine 5 and advanced motion-capture systems (like Ten24) can recreate realistic boxer movement and physics far better than ever before.
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AI Advancements: Adaptive learning AI and behavioral systems can replicate real boxer tendencies, ring IQ, and fatigue management.
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Community Support: Boxers, trainers, and fans are more vocal and connected than ever. A developer who collaborates transparently can build trust and momentum.
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Modularity: Studios can release scalable games that grow, start with core systems, then expand rosters, modes, and tournaments post-launch.
It’s not about budget; it’s about vision.
6. What Fans Actually Want
The modern boxing fan doesn’t need a 200-boxer roster. They want:
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Realistic movement, stamina, and damage systems.
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Unique styles: slick boxers, pressure fighters, counter-punchers, technicians.
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Intelligent AI that adapts.
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Deep career and creation suites that allow role-playing as a boxer, trainer, or promoter.
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Authentic arenas, commentary, and referees that react dynamically.
When a developer respects boxing’s spirit, its chess-like intelligence, its rhythm, its danger, fans notice.
7. A Message to Developers and Publishers
If you’re hesitating, you’re already behind. The demand is there. The technology is ready. The fan base is waiting.
Boxing doesn’t need another “try.” It needs a studio brave enough to do it right. Because when a boxing game is built with care, truth, and authenticity, it sells itself.
The sport deserves it. The boxers deserve it. The fans deserve it.
Closing Thought:
Steel City Interactive’s first video showed what belief can spark. The next great boxing game will come from the studio that believes harder, not in licenses or shortcuts, but in the art, science, and soul of boxing itself.
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