There’s some new competition in the soccer sim market. UFL by Strikerz Inc. is looking to make some noise in the sports gaming landscape. FIFA and eFootball‘s newest rival will be free across all major consoles.
The game has been in the works for five years now. Developed on the Unreal engine, the games places focus on player skill and pushes back against pay-to-win tactics like that of FUT. During its announcement at Gamescom 2021, UFL was described as a global online soccer league in which “players will be able to create their own football clubs made up of more than 5000 licensed footballers and compete with other gamers worldwide to prove their skills and climb to the very top of the league.”
UFL Reveal Trailer
“We want to reinvent football video gaming from the ground up, offering players around the world a revolutionary, exciting and fair to play experience,” said CEO Eugene Nashilov in press release. “We are football fans and passionate gamers — we have been playing football video games for years and we know exactly what people want to see in a football simulator,” he continued. “We can’t wait to share more about the game.”
A New Beginning for Soccer Video Games?
The “Fair to Play” soccer simulation certainly has an uphill battle ahead of it. Titles like FIFA have reigned supreme over the genre for nearly two decades now. However, UFL appears to separate itself by being what FIFA is not. EA’s Ultimate Team model has come under heavy fire over the past few years. If UFL can avoid the pay-to-win aspects and give players a great soccer simulation, Strikerz could have a real game-changer on its hands (or boots).
A release date has yet to be announced for UFL. But, that should change “soon.”
Are you excited for UFL? What do you think it would have to do to overtake eFootball and FIFA down the line? Let us know in the comments. For all the latest on UFL and more, stick with us at Sports Gamers Online.