Future of EA Sports MMA undecided

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 27 June, 2011

"It's not a no but it's also not a yes."

EA Sports is yet to decide whether it will release another MMA game.

"A world where we're not involved in fighting is a world I'd rather not think about," EA Sports' Andrew Wilson told Kotaku.

"That said, what goes on in the sport, and what's gone on between the UFC and Strikeforce, certainly has an impact on what we can do in the space."

Wilson was referring to UFC's recent acquisition of Strikeforce, the principle licensor of EA Sports MMA.

Given rival publisher THQ's exclusive licensing agreement with UFC, Strikeforce is now unavailable to EA, leading some commentators to cast doubt on the future of the MMA series.

"I am, other than [EA Sports MMA executive producer] Dale Jackson, probably the biggest MMA fan here," Wilson continued.

"I used to watch the fights on pirate VHS tapes in black-and-white. I trained in jiu-jitsu with the Gracie family. I'm a huge fan of the sport.

"So it's not a 'no' but it's also not a 'yes'. We'd love for there to be one because I'm a diehard fan of the sport. We have to figure out how to make that happen."

Eurogamer's UFC Undisputed 2010 review smashed an 8/10. A third game from THQ, UFC Undisputed 3, is due out early next year.

Eurogamer's EA Sports MMA review responded with a 7/10.

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 (14) Latest comment 11 months ago

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

  • riceNpea #1 11 months ago

    the public have already decided for you as your MMA game was poorly received and didn't fare well. also to Joe Public MMA is UFC such is the strength of the brand so EA have a mountain to climb to get their franchise to the top.

  • #2 11 months ago

    The UFC have been pretty smart about this -- their acquisition of Strikeforce has left them in a very dominant position. I'm not keen on playing an MMA game which features anything other than licensed fighters, so I'm not sure what the future holds for non-UFC gaming titles.

  • BloodSaint #3 11 months ago

    Considering how much THQ's new UFC game is stealing from EA MMA, I wouldn't be surprised that EA will be offered the UFC license after THQ's contract expires...

  • #4 11 months ago

    @BloodSaint: Iiiinteresting. Do you know when the deal expires?

  • MiniAmin #5 11 months ago

    @craigmunro

    It expires in 2018: http://www.mmafighting.com/2010/10/19/th...

  • TheEarlOfZinger #6 11 months ago

    We'll be dead by then.

  • layleeloo #7 11 months ago

    Me and my good mate used to LOVE UFC 2010 online together. Having just got another 360, we decided to go for MMA for a bargain £7.95 and although weird at first, we both preferit to UFC now. It's the age old FIFA and pro evo, MMA is the slower FIFA and UFC the more arcadey pro evo. You cant do half the stuff in UFC that you can in MMA So were loving MMA and looking forward to the next one. (although I must admit, if I can find UFC2010 cheap enough I'll prob buy it again too just for the one punch knockouts)
    Edited by layleeloo at 27/06/11 @ 12:35

  • layleeloo #8 11 months ago

    @riceNpea. The brand argument is like the football one of 10 years ago that has no Merritt. When Pro Evo was the far better game despite it having no recognisable licences. Thus I don't think the branding makes a damn bit of difference. A quality game will shine through just like FIFA did in the end, and just like MMA has and will in future

  • kobashi #9 11 months ago

    The only option EA have is to create an MMA game with the license from Dream, Pancrase, Shooto etc.

    Problem is that Japanese MMA is dying and nobody in the West is interested in it.
    Edited by kobashi at 27/06/11 @ 12:41

  • Popolon #10 11 months ago

    the first game was a joke.
    some things are better left dead.

  • nuanimal #11 11 months ago


    To be fair I remember a few years back EA were benefactors of a NFL/NBA/NHL exlusivity deal which made things diffcult for 2K Games competing product.

    Ahh such is business.

  • riceNpea #12 11 months ago

    @layleeloo

    i understand what you're saying but football and MMA don't compare. football as a sport is hardly something people wouldn't know about if they weren't at all interested in it whereas if you mention MMA to the average person they would likely assosiate it as UFC.

    it's like Hoover and vacuum cleaners or Tannoy and public announcement systems. for years i thought the word for vacuums was Hoover until i realised it was a brand.
    Edited by riceNpea at 27/06/11 @ 13:10

  • The-Bodybuilder #13 11 months ago

    There's always UCMMA and BAMMA, right fellas?
    Fellas?

  • MiniAmin #14 11 months ago

    @Bodybuilder

    LOL