Playing with The Boys

Electronic Arts has removed a series of Amazon-sponsored flash ads from its MMA simulator UFC 4, following a huge back?lash from fans on social media and Reddit.

The offending feature would cause adverts for Amazon TV show The Boys to appear on-screen between rounds and replays. In a video uploaded to Reddit by user Ydino, the ad even popped up as a part of the U.I. mid-match. While this sort of heavy on-screen advertising is authentic in regards to UFC's televisual style, fans were fuming to see the same kind of advertising appear in-game, particularly as the ads were activated one month after UFC 4's launch, and thus were not previously referenced in any of the game's re??views.

In a statement to Eurogamer (later appea??ring on Reddit), EA announced that it was disabling mid-match advertising: "It is abundantly clear from your feedback that integrating ads into the Replay and overlay experience is not welcome. The advertisements have been disabled by the team and we apologize for any disruption to gameplay that players may have experienced."

"We realize that this should have been communicated with players ahead of time and that's on us. We want to make sure our players have the best possible experience playing EA Sports UFC 4, so ad integration in the Replay and overlay experience will not be reappearing in the future. Thank you for your continued feedback on EA Sports UFC 4."

EA responds to f??an back??lash to in-game ads in UFC 4 [Eurogamer]

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Madden '21 the only new entry in Top Ten

It was a quiet one for physical releases last week. As such, there has been very little movement in the UK Charts, with only Electronic Arts' annual football release Madden NFL '21 breaking the Top Ten.

Nintendo Switch social sim Animal Crossing: New Horizons currently holds the number one spot, having popped in and out of the premier position since its initial release back in March (Yes, March. Can you believe it?). The remainder of the Top Ten is rounded out with Nintendo regulars such as Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, Ring Fit Adventure, and Minecraft, alongside sporting titles such as Electronic Arts' UFC 4, FIFA 20 and 2K Games' PGA 2K21.

This is merely a calm before the storm of the holiday release period. Next week sees the launch of Square Enix' Marvel's Avengers, 2K Games' NBA 2K21, and Activision's much-desired Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, kicking off wh?at is to be several months of guaranteed high-str??eet sellers.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: August 29, 2020
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo
2. PGA Tour 2K21 - 2K Games
3. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
4. Grand Theft Auto V - Take-Two
5. Minecraft - Nintendo
6. Ghost of Tsushima - Sony Interactive Entertainment
7. FIFA 20 - Electronic Arts
8. UFC 4 - Electronic Arts
9. Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo
10. Madden NFL '21 - Electronic Arts

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

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You can't keep a good doge down

Isabelle has won her rematch against Electronic Arts' UFC 4, with Nintendo's Animal Crossing: New Horizons regaining the number one spot of the UK Charts, after being usurped by the MMA simulator last week.

Sticking with the sports theme, 2K Games' golf sim PGA Tour 2K21 also had a successful physical launch, making an impressive debut at number three. The rest of Top Ten saw the summer mainstays jostling for position, as Nintendo's Ring Fit Adventure, Minecraft, and Mario Kart 8 Deluxe stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Sony open-world epics Ghost of Tsushima and Marvel's Spider-Man.

As we reach the tail end of August, September will see the new release schedule pick up, with the launch of titles such as Square Enix superhero throwdown Marvel's Avengers, Activision's retro-remake Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 & 2, 2K Games' WWE 2K Battlegrounds, and inXile's Wasteland 3, paving the way for the 2020 holiday season.

U.K. video game sales chart w/e: August 22, 2020
(Chart reflects in-store physical sales only)

1. Animal Crossing: New Horizons - Nintendo
2. PGA Tour 2K21 - 2K Games
3. UFC 4 - Electronic Arts
4. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe - Nintendo
5. Ghost of Tsushima - Sony Interactive Entertainment
6. Minecraft - Nintendo
7. FIFA 20 - Electronic Arts
8. Grand Theft Auto V - Take-Two
9. Marvel's Spider-Man - Sony Interactive Entertainment
10. Ring Fit Adventure - Nintendo

U.K. video game charts [GamesIndustry.biz]

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Get up, ya son of a bitch

Electronic Arts has released a new trailer for its MMA sim UFC 4. The new preview is entirely focused on the upcoming fighter's Career Mode, which will see ??players take their own ??custom fighter into the hard-training, hard-hitting, and surprisingly social-media-savvy world of The Octagon.

The UFC 4 career mode has been revamped to offer "the most in-depth, authentic experience yet". Create your own MMA superstar from scratch, before embarking on a storied fighting career under the guidance of in-game trainer Coach Davis. Hyb??rid your fighting style ??from a number of selected disciplines, and use Evolution Points earned in fights and training mini-games to fine-tune nuances such as striking power, to leg strength, takedown momentum, head movement and much more.

UFC 4 will also be bringing two new mechanics to this iteration's career mode. A new Relationship system will c?hallenge players to hone their interactions with other fighters, training ca??mp pals, and even the fans themselves. Build a name for yourself as a positive role model or a piece-of-shit heel, work with younger fighters to help them grow, or use them as punching bags to boost your own abilities, turn in-ring rivalries nasty, or earn the respect of your peers. Every path has its own pros and cons. It's up to you whether you want the reputation of a Royce Gracie, an Amanda Nunes, a Ronda Rousey, or a Conor McGregor.

Finally, an overhauled and "unscripted" injury system will see devastating afflications haunt you throughout your career. Failing to train properly, mismanaged stats, or taking fights on short notice can increase your chances of developing long-term injuries, creating sign-posted weak point??s on your body in the thick of the action. It will be up to you to d??ecide how brightly you will burn, lest you burn out completely

UFC 4 launches August 14 on PS4 and Xbox One.

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That, my friends, is gonna leave a mark

EA Sports has released a new gameplay trailer for its upcoming MMA simulator UFC 4, which launches on PS4 and Xbox One August 14. The video focuses on new striking, grappling, and submission systems which will help you become the master of the Octagon, or leave you looking at the lights, whichever ?comes first.

Among the gameplay elements featured in the new video are the Dynamic Striking System which corresponds the strength of strikes to button taps and holds. The clinch game ha??s been overhauled, offering more options for movement, strikin??g and throws when things get up-close-and-personal. Even takedowns themselves have been revamped, and rather than an instant takedown, momentum can be used to carry to the cage, segue into secondary takedowns, or drop your opponent with a wind-busting power slam.

Once on the ground, the fight continues with a new "Ground and Pound" mechanic, offering more choice regarding guard transitions and striking options. Should a fighter choose to go for the tap-out with a choke or joint lock, UFC 4 offers up a new submission mini-game, and also the option? to strike your opponent mid-submission, in order to further weaken their resolve.

All of the above carnage will be showcased UFC 4's "High Impact Moments" feature, a cinematic mechanic that offers dynamic camera movements, close-ups, and slow-mo highlights for defining strikes, slams, and reversals in the fight. Given the complexities of all of the above, you might be better off just coming ??in with a Jorge Masvidal flying knee. You can trust me on this, I've been a UFC expert ever since that dude sh??owed up wearing one boxing glove.

UFC 4 launches August 14 on PS4 and Xbox One.

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Two fighters tied to preorders

It's been a few years since EA Sports dropped a new UFC fighter on fans, but Saturday morning, the publisher revealed EA Sports UFC 4 is on its way to PS4 and Xbox O??ne consoles soon. Like, really soon. In fact, it's launching just over a month from now on August 14??.

UFC 4 will feature fighters Israel Adesanya and Jorge Masvidal on the cover, and if you preorder, you'll gain access to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. The game is introducing two new fighting arenas: the Backyard and the mythical Kumite. No word if UFC Fight Island, or UFSea, will also make the cut.

As of right now, there is no definitive list of UFC fighters that will be included in the game, though in the trailer above, I'm sure you can see some familiar faces. According to the game description, UFC 4's career mode will let you go from an amat??eur to an all-star with a unified progression system throughout all modes. And because this is ?an EA Sports title, there will be optional in-game purchases as well.

EA Sports UFC 4 launches on August 14 for PS4 and Xbox One.

UFC 4 [EA Sports]

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Duke it out

Yesterday's EA Play Live event came and went without the expected reveal of EA Sports UFC 4. Some promotional materials for July 11's UFC 251 at Fight Island (which has a monster card, by the way) casually mention that a game announcement will happen during the Pay-Per-View. Waiting a little longer isn't too much hassle considering we already know what we're?? waiting for.

I used this space three years ago to argue that Joanna Jedrzejczyk should be on the cover of EA Sports UFC 3. That argument aged very poorly as she lost for the first time ever mere days later. Since then, she has lost three more times to some of the best names in women's MMA. She will not be on the cover of EA Sports UFC 4 unless there's a Mars Attacks edition. Still, Joanna's my favorite fighter and you can?'t take that away from me.

So, who will be on the cover? It's tough to say because while the UFC has only grown in popularity in recent years, it no longer has a transcendent star like Ronda Rousey or Conor McGregor. (Conor "retired" again&??nbsp;a few weeks ago.) Ther?e are many options but few clear-cut locks. Let's rank them.

10. Jon Jones

He very well might be the greatest mixed martial artist of all-time but his outside-the-cage track record has been less than stellar. He's fresh off a DUI conviction whe?re he went joyriding while firing a handgun in the air, but that's hardly the extent of Jones' problematic history. He's also got that hit-and-run against a pregnant woman, another DUI, a suspension related to cocaine use, and two more suspensions for using banned substances that most fans suspect were masking agents for anabolic steroids.

Seeing him on the cover of EA Sports UFC 4 will have people que?stioning their vision, like they were just on the wrong end of a Jon Jones eye poke.

9. Justin Gaethje

Justin Gaethje is a world-class wrestler who has exactly [checks notes] zero takedown attempts in the UFC. He doesn't play to his most obvious strength because he loves punching? dudes in the head. And it wo??rks because the throws absolute bombs.

He just got a signature win over Tony Fergu?son in May, setting him up for a crack at Khabib Nurmagomedov's Lightweight belt. Gaethje isn't yet big enough for a video game cover, but don't be surprised if he gets there very soon.

8. Valentina Shevchenko

There's probably not a more und??erappreciated fighter on this list than Valentina Shevchenko. She only has two losses in the UFC, both decisions dropped to Amanda Nunes. She hasn't lost since 2017. She rolls through the Flyweight division and it doesn't seem like anyone is going to legitimately challenge her anytime soon. Yet, she doesn't stand much chance of being our cover athlete.

7. Jorge Masvidal

If Gaethje and Shevchenko are substance over style, Jorge Masvidal is the exact opposite. Gamebred has a career that's peppered with losses until a three-fight redemption arc has rocketed him toward the top of the public's interest. It started with a win over Darren Till but, more specifically, an after-fight backstage bonus scrap where he got into it with Leon Edwards and gave him "the three piece and a soda." The legend grew with his ridiculous 5-second knockout of Ben Askren.

Of everyone on this list, Masvidal is the only one to never hold UFC gold, not even an interim belt. No, the BMF be??lt doesn't count.

6. Kamaru Usman

The Nigerian Nightmare has stormed through the Welterweight division, knocking off longtime champ Tyron Woodley in 2019. Also, he's headlining the card where EA Sports UFC 4 is going to be announced.

Honestly, just give him t?he cover for shutting up that phony MAGA idi??ot.

5. Khabib Nurmagomedov

Khabib is probably the toughest to parse when it co??mes to this list. He also can lay a rightful claim to best MMA fighter ever. He's undefeated and might very well stay that way forever.

Yet, he's not all that exciting from a marketing perspective. He lets his opponents do 98 percent of the trash talking to hype up a fight. Then he gets in the cage and chokes them out. Besides, something tells me Khab??ib wouldn't want?? to be on the cover anyway -- but maybe I'm wrong!

4. Daniel Cormier

Yes, I know that perhaps Stipe Miocic is a better pick here because he just beat Daniel Cormier for the Heavyweight championship. Yes, I know that Cormier will forever have the Jon Jones losses hanging over his career like Pig-Pen's dirt cloud in Peanuts.

Something tells me Cormier is a very real contender, though. He's in the twilight of his career and UFC president Dana White has made comments about doing right by Cormier as he nears retirement. He's getting a rubber match with Stipe in August. He already has a cushy announcer position whe??n he's not fighting. There's a chance he might be on the cover of the next UFC game too.

3. Conor McGregor

Forget what I said earlier, there's a very real chance Conor's on the cover of EA Sports UFC 4 because selling video games is what's most important. It's likely enough that he leapfrogs all those fighters who are, you?? know, still fighting.

2. Israel Adesanya

Not long ago, Israel Adesanya was an up-and-comer but now he's up-and-here. The current Middleweight champion is one of the most exciting fighters on the UFC roster. He's patient, relying on dodges and counter-strikes. He feints a lot, finding weird angles to throw jabs. And, he will kick the absolute shit out of your legs.

Also though, Adesanya is one of the most charismatic on the roster. He's the rare mixed martial artist who has a personality, and isn't a forced smacktalker who comes off as cringey. There's crossover appeal too because Adesanya is a huge anime nerd. He's done a walkout performance based on Naruto. He mimics writing his victims' names in a notebook a la Death Note. His nickname is "The Last Stylebender," an homage to Avatar: The Last Airbender. Yeah, Izzy feels nearly perfect for the cover.

1. Amanda Nunes

Izzy feels nearly perfect for the cover because there's only one actually-perfect choice. It's Amanda Nunes. She is the greatest women's fighter of all-time. She currentl??y holds the belt in two different divisions. Every time she fights, the only real takeaway is "Damn, Nunes really is that much better than everyone else."

Here's a recent example: Nunes just defended the Featherweight belt two weeks ago against Felicia Spencer. Midway through the fight, the discourse was entirely "Wow, Spencer is tough as hell because she's taking a real beating," and "Corners need to be better about throw??ing in the towel to prot?ect their fighters."

Double champ, GOAT, an absolutely unimpeachable monster in the cage. That's a cover-worthy résumé.

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