Electronic Arts and the Ultimate Fighting Championship have announced a multi-year deal that will see the gaming company develop future versions of video games sporting the UFC brand.
The rights were previously held by THQ Inc., who produced “UFC Undisputed” 2009 and 2010, and will now transfer to one of the world’s biggest video game companies in the world.
The official announcement was made at today’s E3 convention in Los Angeles as well as through an official release.
“We’re thrilled to begin a long-term partnership that will bring fans incredibly authentic, and deeply connected, UFC videogames,” said Andrew Wilson, EVP and Head of EA SPORTS. “UFC has become a global powerhouse because they have the world’s best fighters, competing in the world’s best mixed martial arts events. We share UFC’s passion for the sport, and we look forward to capturing all of the intensity and excitement of the action with unique new game experiences across a range of platforms.”
Zuffa has licensed to EA the UFC rights previously held by THQ, Inc. (THQI).
“We’d like to thank THQ for creating some of the most critically-acclaimed sports videogames of this console generation, and we’re excited to enter a new relationship with EA that will help us deepen our connection with fighting fans around the world,” said UFC President Dana White. “There’s no one better at creating authentic sports videogames than EA SPORTS, and we’re excited to have a partner who shares our vision of deep, connected and multi-platform global game experiences.”
“We’ve relished our relationship with UFC over the last several years and believe that the UFC gaming brand is in great shape. THQ’s more focused strategy moving forward meant that transferring the license to EA made sense to all parties,” said THQ CEO Brian Farrell. “We’d like to thank the UFC for their great support and partnership and wish EA all the best moving forward.”
EA has already produced their own mma video game entitled “EA Sports MMA” which was released in October 2010 featuring fighters outside of the UFC such as Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture, who at the time was not subject to Zuffa’s contractual obligation of signing over image rights to the Las Vegas company.