When is the UFC 5 release date? Unlike many other EA Sports titles, the UFC series isn’t annual, meaning that the release of a new game is pretty exciting. If you’re hoping to go toe-to-toe against some legends, then you’re in the right place to find out the UFC 5 release date and the latest news on all the great new features on the way.
We’ve been waiting over three years since the release of the last game, and we’re hoping that UFC 5 could be one of the best fighting games yet. Whether it will be one of the best PS5 games and best Xbox games of the year remains to be seen, but if you’re waiting for a reason to get back into the octagon, then this is it.
UFC 5 release date
The UFC 5 release date is Friday, October 27, 2023, for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S. However, there is an early access period beginning on Tuesday, October 24, 2023 for those who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition. Unfortunately, EA Sports has officially confirmed the game isn’t coming to PS4, Xbox One, or PC.
While EA Sports’ games typically follow a very rigid release schedule, UFC 5 breaks the mould and doesn’t release at a set time in the year. For example, UFC 3 released on February 2, 2018, while UFC 4 released on August 14, 2020.
The UFC games have always been an outlier due to its two-year release cadence, rather than the yearly FC (FIFA) or NHL games, but UFC 5 takes that further with this unusually late release date. This does mean that EA has four sports games coming out between September and November: FC 24, NHL 24, UFC 5, and WRC.
However, it is, at least, in line with recent rumors of the game hitting store shelves before March 2024, with a May 2023 financial report from EA confirming an (at the time) unannounced game would be released before the new financial year. You can pre-order the game below:
Even more puzzling is that UFC 5 will only release on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S, skipping PC entirely. But, the NHL franchise and EA’s other niche series’ have done this in recent years, so the writing was on the wall, even if it is sad to see it available on fewer platforms. Likewise, last-gen console players are now being left behind. Hopefully this will at least result in such welcome improvements to the series due to a much tighter focus on the current-gen consoles.
UFC 5 cover athletes
The UFC 5 cover athletes are Alexander Volkanovski and Valentina Shevchenko, both of whom appear on the standard edition of the game. On the Deluxe Edition, you will find Israel Adesanya.
Alexander Volkanovski has been in the fight for more than a decade now and he has a vast array of championships to his name. Valentina Shevchenko is a former UFC Women’s Flyweight Champion. At 35 years old, she has been in the fight for two decades at this point, beginning her career in 2003.
Finally, Israel Adesanya has multiple championships across mixed martial arts, kickboxing, and boxing. Currently, he is the two-time UFC Middleweight champion in kickboxing and a former Glory Middleweight Championship title challenger.
UFC 5 trailers
Thanks to the UFC 5 First Look trailer, we’ve had the chance to see the game in action. The highlights include significantly improved graphics and physics, which plays into the much more detailed and authentic damage system. Cuts, bruises, and swelling will build up with each hit you take, with “over 64,000 possible combinations of facial damage“. We also see the new ringside doctor checks system, which occurs as a result of this more authentic damage.
There’s also a range of new animations for several strikes, including spinning attacks, punches, kicks, and more, that better emulate the physique of the fighter. That’s not all though, as hit reactions have also been improved so you’ll feel every hit that you dish out, and every hit that you take like never before.
Last up, we see the revamped Seamless Submissions system. Building on the grappling systems of previous entries, UFC 5 sees faster animations and the removal of mini-games to force your foes into submission. The goal is to create smoother and more authentic action when the fighting hits the ground.
The debut trailer for UFC 5 is a cinematic tease of the fight that will await you in EA’s Frostbite engine. Given it’s cinematic nature, there isn’t all that much to glean from this trailer, though it did build our excitement for the First Look trailer later on.
And that’s everything you need to know about the game ahead of the UFC 5 release date, including all the new features coming in UFC 5. Be sure to stay tuned for even more information and details on this exciting new Xbox game and new PS5 game that will (hopefully) be an MMA fans’ dream.