A Failed Knockout – Undisputed Disappoints

Undisputed was supposed to be the big return of boxing games, but instead of a knockout, we got a technical knockdown. The game has massive shortcomings, is full of bugs, and the gameplay is far from satisfying.

The first issue is the punch physics – they often feel unrealistic, and landing hits doesn’t feel rewarding. The animations are stiff, and fighters move like robots. The blocking and dodging mechanics are also problematic – they often feel random, and character reactions can be delayed.

Another problem is balance – some fighting styles are useless, and matches often come down to spamming a few effective punches. The AI is terrible – opponents behave unnaturally, with reactions that are either too predictable or completely chaotic.

And then there are the bugs. Graphical glitches, problematic matchmaking in online mode, and even fights suddenly ending for no reason. It feels like the game was rushed and lacks polish.

Compared to the classic Fight Night Champion, Undisputed falls short. EA Sports managed to create a dynamic and realistic boxing system years ago, yet this game feels like a step backward. If you’re looking for a good boxing experience, you’d be better off going back to Fight Night rather than struggling with this unfinished game.

Score: 3/10

A Heartbreaking 500+ Hour Journey – Save Your Time and Money

I don’t usually feel compelled to write reviews, but after spending well over 500 hours with this game, I feel an overwhelming need to share my experience with others. The frustration and disappointment I’ve encountered have reached a point where I simply can’t remain silent any longer. I’ve invested far more time into this game than I would ever care to admit, hoping that the countless hours would eventually lead to an enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. Instead, I’ve been left with a game that is rife with broken mechanics, unbalanced systems, and a multitude of issues that have persisted since launch. The most disheartening part of it all is that the developers have made little to no effort to address or rectify these issues, despite repeated feedback from the community. For anyone even remotely considering purchasing this game, I urge you to look elsewhere. There are far better, more refined options out there that will truly reward your time and money.

The Infamous Round 8 Glitch – A Game-Breaking Issue
Let’s dive into one of the most frustrating and game-breaking issues that has haunted my experience with this title: the infamous Round 8 glitch, also known as the Last Round glitch. This problem has plagued the game since it was first released, and despite countless complaints from the player base, the developers at SCI have been utterly silent on the matter. To clarify, this glitch occurs during the final round of a fight, where it fails to register and score the last round correctly. This means that, in many cases, players lose matches they should have won simply because the game neglects to accurately score the last round. It’s incredibly frustrating when you’ve worked hard throughout the fight, only to have the game screw you over in the final moments because of a glitch that should have been addressed long ago. The fact that this game-breaking issue has persisted for so long with no real effort to fix it speaks volumes about the developers’ lack of commitment to maintaining and improving the game. This glitch, in particular, has caused many of my matches to end in confusion and disappointment, and it feels like a slap in the face to loyal players who’ve given this game their time.

Knockdowns Are Nearly Impossible to Achieve – An Unbalanced System
Moving on to another major issue, the game’s knockdown system is broken and inconsistent at best. Ideally, a boxer who stuns their opponent should be rewarded with an opportunity to land a knockdown. However, in this game, that’s hardly ever the case. The mechanics simply don’t work as you’d expect. Knockdowns are almost impossible to achieve unless you’re playing as overpowered fighters like Deontay Wilder or Carl Froch, who can spam power uppercuts and hope for a lucky knockdown. For the vast majority of the roster, landing a knockdown is an exercise in futility. This undermines the satisfaction that should come with executing a well-placed, perfectly timed punch. Instead of feeling rewarded for landing clean strikes, you’re left frustrated as the game fails to deliver the consequences of your hard work. As a result, the gameplay often feels like a tedious grind, where even successful moments don’t carry the weight they should.

The Game Does Not Reward Technical Play – A Skill Gap That Doesn’t Exist
As someone who values technical boxing—emphasizing strategy, precision, and a diverse set of moves—I have been left sorely disappointed by this game. The core mechanics simply do not reward players who take the time to master the nuances of boxing. Instead, the game’s design encourages spamming—whether it’s hook spamming, body shot spamming, or power shot spamming. It’s incredibly frustrating to fight against opponents who don’t bother with basic boxing fundamentals like jabs or straight punches, yet still manage to win by exploiting the broken mechanics that have existed since the game’s release. I can’t count the number of times I’ve lost to an opponent who didn’t throw a single jab, let alone a straight punch, yet somehow emerges victorious because they abused these flaws. It’s clear that the developers have abandoned any intention of creating a balanced, technical experience, opting instead to cater to those who are willing to exploit these issues. Even more disheartening is the fact that SCI has shown no sign of addressing or fixing these problems, despite widespread feedback from the player base. Their complete disregard for the integrity of the gameplay is truly disappointing.

Ranked and Quick Play – A Miserable Experience
If you’re a newcomer thinking about jumping into ranked or quick play, I’d highly recommend you reconsider. The matchmaking system is a mess. Queue times are excessively long, and when you finally get into a match, you’re likely to face players who are exploiting the game’s broken mechanics. In fact, it’s incredibly common to face opponents who rely on spamming hooks while playing passively on the back foot or spamming body shots with no regard for the technical aspects of the sport. There’s absolutely no skill gap in this game—if you’re willing to play passively and walk backward while spamming hooks, you can win nearly every match with minimal effort. But if you try to engage in a more strategic fight, using a variety of punches and techniques, you’ll quickly realize that the game punishes you for trying to play with any kind of skill. It’s not about who’s the better boxer—it’s about who can exploit the most broken mechanics. The game fails to offer any real challenge and instead rewards lazy, unskilled tactics that make the experience feel like a repetitive, monotonous grind rather than an exciting and engaging challenge.

The Dismal Meta – A Stale and One-Dimensional Strategy
Since the game’s release, the meta has remained virtually unchanged, and it’s become a source of immense frustration. The strategy for success is painfully simple: walk backward, don’t walk forward, and spam punches. That’s it. The game has boiled down to a one-dimensional, passive strategy that rewards players for constantly retreating and spamming hooks, leaving very little room for actual strategy or creative gameplay. You might be wondering, “If this is the winning strategy, why don’t you just do it?” The answer is simple: I find it boring. I didn’t invest my time in this game to simply backpedal and spam—boxing is supposed to be dynamic, fast-paced, and full of strategic depth. But instead, this game has become an exercise in passivity, where you’re essentially forced into a boring, unskilled playstyle if you want to win. It’s not what I signed up for, and after 500 hours, I’m still left yearning for a more exciting, rewarding experience.

Tracking Issues and Hit Detection – A Major Setback
Another major problem with the game is its hit detection and tracking system. Even when using some of the most technically sound fighters—like Lomachenko, Sugar Ray Robinson, or Muhammad Ali—the game’s tracking system fails to deliver. You would expect precision and accuracy from fighters known for their impeccable technique, but instead, the game seems to actively punish you for trying to fight on the front foot. Whether you’re trying to land clean jabs or execute well-timed straights, the game’s hit detection often fails to register your punches, making it nearly impossible to fight effectively. This not only makes playing off the front foot frustrating but also pushes players toward the passive, back-foot strategy that dominates the meta. The tracking issues significantly hinder the skill-based game play that should be at the core of the experience, further perpetuating the game’s broken state.

Undisputed was only "fully released" to justify a release on consoles which meant they could green light dlc so they could reach a wider audience to make more money, as much as people dislike jake paul being added, it attempts to attract a newer generation to the world of boxing but instead of being an introduction to the genre it becomes a deterrent for people to even gain interest because they have to worry about broken mechanics and exploits against players online and can't even enjoy an offline experience because the game is so unsatisfying to play. Countering your opponents, controlling the ring and trying to "box" has no fulfilment because you feel like you're punished for playing this way. The fact that this is only option that fight fans have on PC without installing UFC Undisputed Forever only hurts the overall growth and health of the community. Truly just sad the overwhelming support Steel City had in the beginning only for them to neglect the community and ruin the game. I do not understand what they are doing for the hit tracking to be so horrible and it still not be fixed 3 and a half months later. Its a boxing game what other mechanics/features are taking so high priority that this can't be fixed? its like you buy a racing game and it handles like watch dogs 1, you'd just be left wondering what the devs did the entire time.