“Fight Island” isn’t the only big reveal Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) has planned this weekend as the promotion released the first official trailer for EA Sports UFC 4 earlier today (Sat., July 11, 2020).
Check out the trailer drop above courtesy of EA Sports.
EA Sports UFC 4, which is scheduled to release on Aug. 14, will be available on PS4 and Xbox One platforms, while eventually upgrading for use on PS5 and Xbox Series X, which are due to release later this year. The upcoming video game is expected to feature new environments, an overhauled Career Mode, and a plethora of customizable fight gear.
“EA SPORTS UFC 4 is the best fighting game ever made,” said UFC President Dana White (h/t GFinity). “Fans can play in the top arenas, as well as in Backyard and Kumite environments. This game allows you to play with the top athletes in UFC history*, plus legends like Bruce Lee and boxing champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. It’s crazy how good this game is.”
From the official EA Sports press release:
In gameplay, fluid clinch-to-strike combinations offer more responsive and authentic stand-up gameplay experiences, while overhauled takedown and ground mechanics deliver more control in those key phases of the fight. No matter how or where players play, EA SPORTS UFC 4 puts them at the center of every fight. Fluid clinch control brings RPM into the art of the ‘clinch’, adding a key element of strategy to the striking system. RPM Tech drives a takedown overhaul, with a slew of new takedown animations, driven by player control and fighter attributes. A new submission system was built to offer a simplified player experience, with more ways to transition into submission attempts, accelerate a finish, or deploy high-impact slams to escape them.
Additionally, an overhaul to Career Mode introduces a brand-new way to develop fighter backstories and offers an in-depth evolution process for the duration of the fighter’s career. The new fighter evolution feature lets players dictate a fighter’s skillset, as every punch thrown, or every takedown executed builds fighters up in that specific discipline. Relationship Building brings the impact of partnerships and rivalries into UFC 4, learning from both friend and foe to gain experience and learn vital skills. Players can pick their path, which allows them to choose the fights, weight class and rivalries they want, ensuring no two careers are alike.
In addition to the new trailer, it has been confirmed that UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya and welterweight contender Jorge Masvidal will be featured on the EA Sports UFC 4 cover. The timing is perfect as Masvidal is set to challenge UFC welterweight champion Kamaru Usman later tonight at UFC 251 on “Fight Island” in Abu Dhabi (results HERE).
“I am the face of the new wave of UFC fighters, so it feels right to represent the sport on this new generation UFC game,” Adesanya said. “I look forward to my fans playing as me as much as I have enjoyed playing as myself.”
On Fight Island and on the cover Jorge Masvidal and Israel Adesanya are your #UFC4 Cover Athletes @GamebredFighter @stylebender pic.twitter.com/YHg81EMUax
— EA SPORTS UFC (@EASPORTSUFC) July 11, 2020
“MMA is more than about the belt,” Masvidal said. “It’s about who you are as a person and the determination that drives a fighter to go from unknown to selling out arenas all over the world. I grew up backyard fighting so it’s exciting for me to see that style of fighting come to UFC 4 where players can bring out their Gamebred mentality.”
These video games have come a long way over the years so fight fans are hoping this is the best edition yet. Based on the above trailer and some of the early factoids about gameplay and features, EA Sports UFC 4 is already shaping up to be a killer adaptation of combat sports.
Fight fans can pre-order EA Sports UFC 4 by click HERE.
MMAmania.com will deliver LIVE round-by-round, blow-by-blow coverage of the entire UFC 251 fight card this weekend RIGHT HERE, starting with the ESPN+“Prelims” that are scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. ET, then the ESPN portion at 8 p.m. before the PPV main card start time on ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET.
To check out the latest and greatest UFC 251: “Usman vs. Masvidal” news and notes be sure to hit up our comprehensive event archive right here.