THQ extends UFC license to 2018

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 19 October, 2010

Expect "social, mobile and brand extensions".

THQ has extended its exclusive licensing agreement with Zuffa to make UFC games through to 2018.

"We're very excited to extend our relationship with Zuffa and the Ultimate Fighting Championship," said core games boss Danny Bilson.

"Working closely together with Dana White and the incredible team at UFC, we plan to continue to deliver outstanding interactive UFC experiences to gamers around the world in all new ways, including social, mobile and brand extensions."

UFC, too, expressed delight at the deal. "THQ has delivered the quality demanded by UFC and its fans with the first two Undisputed games and we are about to broaden the UFC brand experience among gaming fans through social and mobile apps," said UFC president Dana White.

"We are impressed by the passion that THQ brings to making great games and we look forward to working together to create even greater gaming experiences for our fans in the future."

In August Bilson told Eurogamer the next UFC game, tentatively titled UFC 3, will be released towards the end of 2011 and will enjoy a longer development cycle than UFC 2010 did.

"The mission on UFC 3, the next game, is to make everybody who's ever bought the first or second game, have to buy the third one," he said. "We don't believe it's a churn it out game every 12 months. We just don't."

Eurogamer gave UFC 2010 8/10 in its review. EA's rival, EA Sports MMA, will release this Friday.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (8) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • ZizouFC #1 2 years ago

    MMA review soon?

  • Brodie #2 2 years ago

    Expect "another brand milked yearly until everyone hates it"

  • xentar #3 2 years ago

    depending on EA MMA reviews I will celebrate or mourn this news accordingly

  • Ryboy #4 2 years ago

    In further news (the post below in fact) Study links violent games to aggression...

  • Zebula77 #5 2 years ago

    I'm liking the fact that they're taking longer to make the next one. I think the series needs it. More responsive controls, better footwork and make the ground fighting a little more intuitive.

    I tried the EA MMA demo and was absolutely appalled by it. Dreadful controls, below par graphics and - well, I deleted the demo pretty quickly.

  • vmanb #6 2 years ago

    Getting the licence until 2018 is a bit OTT, i think there's more chance of THQ going down the pan well before then. Hopefully.

  • Googleboogle #7 2 years ago

    it was already signed to 2012. #good play by THQ as UFC is only going to get bigger. EA will be gutted they missed out on it.

  • DAN.E.B #8 2 years ago

    yeah well tough shit EA you had your chance!
    UFC went to EA first to ask them if they were interested EA responded saying no thanks no one would buy it MMA,s not a big sport.
    A few months later EA announces their new MMA game without a decent licence.