Fans of the UFC Undisputed video game series are about to say goodbye to THQ, and hello to EA Sports.
Zuffa LLC, parent company of the UFC, and EA Sports officially inked a deal to transfer THQ’s exclusive UFC video game license to premier developer Electronic Arts Inc, effective immediately. UFC President Dana White announced the partnership during EA’s presentation at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) on Monday afternoon.
“Our fans are so passionate, it’s insane,” White declared. “Now we’ve hooked up with the biggest video game company on the planet. We can now distribute this game to the 175 countries, 22 different languages, and over half-a-billion homes worldwide that we’re in.”
“This is a huge day for the UFC, a big day for the fighters, and more importantly, for you, the fans.”
THQ’s UFC Undisputed series covered the span of three games, beginning in 2009 and concluding with this year’s UFC Undisputed 3.
“Over the last three years, THQ has delivered best-in-class, all-encompassing experiences to MMA fans, sports enthusiasts and fighting gamers around the globe with its UFC Undisputed series. We want to thank them for their stewardship of our brand,” Zuffa CEO Lorenzo Fertitta wrote in a statement. “We look forward to joining forces with EA to leverage their sports platform, and expand our brand in the video game space.”
EA Sports previously entered the mixed martial arts arena in 2010, releasing the seminal cult-favorite EA Sports MMA much to the dismay of White, who at the time declared war with EA due to a long-standing grudge over an alleged past rejection. That animosity, however, seems to no longer apply.
A timetable for the first EA Sports-backed UFC video game has yet to be announced.