Undisputed Debuts Oct 11: Body Scans Enhance Boxing Authenticity

The highly anticipated boxing game, Undisputed, is set to launch on October 11 for the PlayStation 5. This game has been in development for nearly five years, evolving from its initial concept as the Esports Boxing Club into the first major boxing game release in over a decade. The game boasts a roster of over 70 prestigious prizefighters, including renowned names such as Canelo Álvarez, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk, Roy Jones Jr., and Joe Frazier. The development team prioritized not only making these fighters look stunning but also ensuring they move in ways unique to their real-life counterparts.

From Scan to Sculpt

Creating authentic and lifelike representations of legendary fighters like Joe Calzaghe, the longest-reigning super middleweight world champion, involves a meticulous scanning process. The team collaborates with various scanning studios worldwide to obtain the most accurate reference images. These images are then used by the Steel City Interactive art team to sculpt the in-game models, capturing every muscle, vein, hair, and bead of sweat.

For legendary boxers, a de-aging process is employed. Players want to experience these icons in their prime, so the team strives to recreate their appearance during their peak fighting years.

Francesco Primiceri, a 3D character artist at Steel City Interactive, explains the challenges of this process: "One of the most challenging parts of bringing characters from the past to life is the de-aging process. Lots of things usually change with age: eye shape, lip volume, cheekbones, body fat, even ear size, but my aim is to get them back to their fighting shape, recreating the look of their greatest fights. First, I collect a lot of references from every possible angle to have an overview of what I want to achieve. Then, I check the model to understand what to keep and what to change according to the pictures and footage. I then work on the tone and symmetry, removing some fat, wrinkles, and imperfections from the body and face. After this, I sculpt the main muscles and tweak the facial features. Eventually, I get to a point where the boxer is recognizable both from a distance and up close. When I’m happy with the result, I proceed to fix the textures as well."

Motion Capture

To ensure the authenticity of each fighter’s movements, the team outfits as many fighters as possible in motion capture suits. This allows them to record unique footwork, punches, slips, dodges, and even taunts. The goal is to make players feel like they are truly embodying fighters like Oleksandr Usyk. The art and animation teams spend days processing the motion capture data and applying it to the detailed character models.

British and Commonwealth Super-Lightweight Champion, Dalton Smith, was one of the fighters who worked closely with the team to capture his boxing style. He also helped by mimicking the movements of fighters who are no longer with us, ensuring they are immortalized in the game.

Smith shared his experience: "I am used to boxing in the ring or the gym, but throwing punches in a motion capture suit is a whole different ball game. I got suited up and spent a few days working with the team at Steel City Interactive to capture not only my own personal in-ring moves but those of some of the old school boxers as well. You don’t realize how intense and detailed the process is until you’re throwing the same punches and performing the same blocks over and over again until it’s captured from every angle. Seeing the results in-game is incredible – my avatar really does look like me."

Styles (and Stats) Make Fights

In boxing, there’s a saying that "styles make fights," and this concept is crucial in Undisputed. The game ensures that each fighter’s style is backed up by real-life statistics. For instance, it wouldn’t be accurate to include the undefeated legend Rocky Marciano without also giving him the punching power and stamina he was known for.

To achieve this level of authenticity, the team collaborates with CompuBox to define each fighter’s ratings, statistics, and behaviors. For example, Deontay Wilder’s ability to land knockouts in the game is enhanced, reflecting his real-life knockout ratio. This applies to both the player-controlled and AI versions of the fighters. Each boxer has unique skills and abilities derived from their actual fight records, which can significantly impact the outcome of a match. It’s up to the players to figure out how to counter their opponents’ strengths.

Rule the Ring

Undisputed features the most expansive and authentic licensed fighter roster of any boxing game to date, providing a rich and immersive experience for players. The game also offers different editions for eager fans: the Undisputed Deluxe WBC Edition will be available on October 8, allowing players to enjoy the game three days early, while the Standard Edition launches on October 11 for the PlayStation 5.

This game aims to set a new standard in the boxing genre, combining meticulous character modeling, authentic motion capture, and accurate fighter statistics to deliver an unparalleled gaming experience. For more information, visit the official PlayStation website.

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