Since the lacklustre release of UFC 3 over two years ago, MMA fans have been itching for another rendition of the classic prizefighting game.
On 11 July, the UFC and EA Sports officially released the full trailer for UFC 4, featuring undefeated middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and superstar striker Jorge Masvidal.
The trailer has captured both the attention and imagination of sports fans, with many eager to get their hands on the upcoming game.
Here’s everything that we know about UFC 4 so far.
UFC 4 release date
Just hours after the UFC 4 trailer dropped, fan anticipation skyrocketed. Luckily for us all, we will not have to wait very long.
The official release date of UFC 4 is 14 August, 2020, with the game releasing on the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. You can pre-order the game through both the PlayStation and Xbox store.
Who we know will be in the UFC 4 roster
EA Sports have remained tight-lipped on which fighters will make an appearance in the fourth instalment of the UFC video game franchise.
Many athletes, such as the champions, are already expected to have earned their slot. However, the recent trailer published by UFC 4 includes two names that are unfamiliar with the MMA scene.
If you pre-order UFC 4 before its 14 August release date, you will receive the two world heavyweight boxing champions, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.
Both pugilists will be available to play as in the heavyweight division of the UFC game, and will likely boast formidable stand-up skills. It’s obvious why Joshua and Fury have been included in the latest edition of the game – money.
People will pre-order the game exclusively to play as those two; I don’t mind them being in the game but believe that ranked fighters such as Calvin Kattar and Shane Burgos are more deserving.
In fact, a recent leak suggests that those two have missed out on a spot in EA’s UFC 4 roster.
Here are some of the other fighters spotted in the UFC 4 trailer and confirmed to be in the game:
- Israel Adesanya
- Jorge Masvidal
- Amanda Nunes
- Valentina Shevchenko
- Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Conor McGregor
- Zhang Weili
- Kamaru Usman
- Nate Diaz
- Tyron Woodley
- Gilbert Burns
- Justin Gaethje
- Leon Edwards
- Colby Covington
- Stephen Thompson
- Donald Cerrone
- Tony Ferguson
- Dustin Poirier
- Demian Maia
- Anthony Joshua (Boxer)
- Tyson Fury (Boxer)
- Bruce Lee (Legendary Martial Artist)
- Kimbo Slice (MMA Legend)
- Daniel Cormier (Commentator)
We are yet to see the full UFC 4 roster, but you should expect your usual high-profile names to be involved, with a few up-and-comers, too.
What game modes will be on UFC 4?
Fans can expect the return of Career Mode, also known as ‘GOAT Mode,’ which is arguably the most enjoyable part of the gaming franchise.
According to various sources, UFC 4’s Career Mode is the most fruitful to date, featuring a multitude of unique options and outcomes.
You can now invite real-life fighters to train with your created character, and even watch tape on your upcoming opponent – sounds pretty good if you ask me.
On top of this will be two new game modes where fans can experience “the origins of combat sports in two all-new environments.” The trailer revealed that these two new environments will be a backyard and a Kumite-style arena, focused on the cover athletes, Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal.
You can also square-off against others in the new Blitz Battles and Online World Championships. Ultimate Team will not be making a return this year – a game mode that failed to produce last time around.
UFC 4 will feature improved gameplay
UFC 4 will offer a more authentic and realistic feel to fights, with “fluid clinch-to-strike combinations that offer more responsive stand-up gameplay.”
It has also been noted that they overhauled takedown and ground mechanics to bring about more control to the player in some of the most critical phases of each fight.
This news was met positively by the gaming community as previous games in the series struggled to please fans due to sloppy gameplay and impractical scenarios.
It was also confirmed that there has been a complete revamp of controls; therefore, you can expect to spend a fair amount of time learning the fundamentals.
Most recently, a gameplay reveal trailer was released for UFC 4, showcasing a bunch of the new features:
The UFC games desperately needed a clean slate, and it appears as if that slate has been wiped clean.
UFC 4 looks set to be a great step-up
Overall, UFC 4 looks to be shaping up to be one of the most successful games of the year. Fight fans have been deserving of an updated, realistic video game for quite some time, and now UFC 4 appears poised to meet their needs.
If you’re interested in purchasing the game, I suggest watching the trailer below: