Ash Habib is a boxing fan from England who was frustrated that no new games like Fight Night from EA were being released. He quit his job to start his own development studio, even though he had no experience in it. Now, his game is on Steam and is getting good reviews.
What kind of game is it? Undisputed was released on January 31 in Early Access on Steam and has since received over 6,300 reviews, 78% of which are positive. His goal was and is to create the most realistic boxing simulation possible.
He started by watching tutorial videos on the Unity engine and developing a 2D game. However, he soon realized that a 3D version was also possible. Together with his brothers, he founded the studio Steel City Interactive in 2020, where 50 people are now working on Undisputed.
The boxing game focuses on:
- 60 different types of punches
- Especially realistic footwork
- Physically controlled interactions, so punches can sometimes go around or through the guard
- 50 attributes and characteristics to distinguish the styles and skills of fighters
- Small details like intentional fouls or interactions with the referee
You can fight against AI opponents with various difficulty levels, but also online against other players.
“I want this game to be as technical as possible, but still fun”
How was the development of the game? According to Ash Habib, who spoke extensively with PCGamer at an event, his main goal was to make the game as accurate as possible. Real dimensions and the reach of punches should also play a role. He explained:
I have a wish list of everything I’ve ever wanted in a boxing game. I can’t complain to anyone that I didn’t include that in the game. So during the pre-production phase, we just tried to incorporate everything we could with a very young and very small team. I want the game to be as technical as possible, but also fun.
A lot has been tried out, and not everything is perfect yet, which some reviews on Steam criticize. Some modes are missing, there are technical issues, and the movements are said to not be fluid enough. However, many praise the game as a true “boxing simulation” and not just a rough game for “Street Fighter” fans.