I’ve been around Undisputed since the early days of Early Access, back when the game still went through eSports Boxing Club. I’ve watched it grow from a rough, promising prototype to the greatest boxing game in a generation, and last August I finally reviewed the finished article and gave it a nine out of ten. Almost a year later, the game is now arriving on Xbox Game Pass and seated boxing as the second most popular sport among young people, I returned to see if that verdict still held. The short version: The play I scored just became a heavier hitter.
Bigger
When I looked at it, the list was around seventy fighters and seemed generous. It now exceeds 100, the largest boxing game line-up ever seen. DLC packs continue to expand the pool of dream matches, and two of my recent favorites are The Senator, which adds Manny Pacquiao, and The Mexican Monster, which brings in David Benavidez. Add in the names from the base game, Ali, Fury, Usyk, Canelo and yes, even Jake Paul, and you can set up fights that history has never given us. I’ve spent more late nights than I should admit, doing just that on the couch with a companion.
Better
Bigger wouldn’t mean much if boxing hadn’t improved, but it has. Update 2.0 last October marked a turning point. Blocking now rewards patience rather than punishing it, the stamina system reads more fairly, and the AI picks its moments instead of charging. On Series X, the presentation is closer than ever to a Saturday evening broadcast. The four-way targeting that overwhelmed newcomers at launch has been softened without losing depth, making couch vs. friend the most fun it’s ever been.
Unbeatable
Here’s the part that still surprises me. Undisputed has no competition. EA shelved Fight Night over a decade ago and never came back, so it remains the only licensed boxing simulation available on the market. Undefeated by default, perhaps, but he earned the belt on merit. More than five million players have participated in more than two hundred million fights. For a small Sheffield studio that started with three brothers and a prototype, it’s a story, and for someone who followed it through to the end, a satisfying story to tell.
What comes next
The other title for 2026 is where Interactive Steel City it starts from here. The studio has confirmed that it is pouring its energy into a sequel, completely rebuilt in Unreal Engine, in pursuit of the most advanced sports fighting game it can create. I have mixed feelings as a fan, because part of me wanted the roster to grow forever. But there’s something unique about a game reaching its final, complete form as the team moves toward something bigger. What’s on my Series X today is the definitive version, and that counts for a lot.
So, does the new still hold up?
This is the case, and on the contrary, it has aged in the score. The version I reviewed was strong. The version on Game Pass today is more complete, better balanced, and deeper in fighters, and it’s the one new players will encounter. A steep learning curve and a few inconsistent AI moments still keep it at a sub-ten level, but as a whole it has only grown.
The timing couldn’t be better, because as of June 8, Undisputed is on Xbox Game Pass. If you’ve ever been curious about the only licensed boxing game, now is the time to throw your first punch at no extra cost. Bigger, better and for now at least, undefeated.
If you want context, my original review and the Undisputed FAQ are still available.
