Where do MMA and WWE games stack up in sports games’ popularity?
When people think of sports video games, they tend to think of the popular FIFA soccer series or Madden NFL. Other popular titles aim to replicate the experience of playing golf or extreme sports, but many people forget about professional fighting games such as WWE 2K22. Although the first iterations were largely forgettable, developers seem to have cracked the complex art of representing wrestlers’ signature moves and MMA-stars’ brutal takedowns.
Titles like EA’s UFC 4 exhibit a remarkable degree of complexity, with various grapple techniques, punch styles and submissions being easy to trigger. With the news that UFC 5 could be just around the corner, we’re having a look at whether MMA and WWE games can start to rival the traditional big hitters. The last decade belonged to FIFA and Madden. What about the next?
MMA and WWE’s popularity compared to other sports
Most truly iconic sports video games owe most of their success to the sports they emulate. FIFA wouldn’t be as popular without the global prevalence of soccer, while Madden cannot live without the NFL in real life. With this in mind, one of the first places to start is with MMA and WWE’s viewership compared with other sports.
Generally, most WWE Raw episodes average up to two million viewers. On the other hand, NFL games often have almost 20 million viewers. However, the big difference is MMA and wrestling tend to be pay-per-view, which drives the overall audience down because of cost.
Nevertheless, looking at other metrics like sports betting confirms that the NFL is the more popular competition. Football is perfect for things like same-game parlays and other more detailed bets, and it is far more frequent. Additionally, bettors can enjoy bonuses by using offers like the Fox Bet promo code. These offers are also applicable to MMA and WWE bets, but football and soccer tend to be the more popular choices.
What MMA and WWE games are there?
As with most sports, EA is the main provider of MMA and WWE games nowadays. It also takes care of promotional content and shows, with news of the WWE UpUpDownDown relaunch exciting fans across the board. The two main MMA and WWE games currently are:
EA Sports UFC 4: EA’s UFC 4 is the leading MMA-focused video game. Released in 2020, it continued to hone the complex art of representing UFC fights. Players have access to a treasure trove of different fighting moves, all rendered with stunningly realistic graphics. Read the EA Sports UFC 4 review for more information.
EA Sports WWE 2K22: EA Sports WWE games have been around for years now, no doubt having featured heavily in countless teenage bedrooms over the course of the 2000s. Nowadays, gamers can enjoy a significantly upgraded WWE 2K22, EA’s most realistic wrestling game to date.
Some of the all-time best sports games
Games like UFC 4 and WWE 2K22 are immensely popular these days, although mentioning them in the same category as all-time greats like FIFA 2022 or NBA 2K22 is debatable. To gain a bit of context, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite sports games below:
FIFA 14: Choosing your favorite FIFA game is a bit like choosing your favorite child, but most fans will agree FIFA 14 was the best. The Messi-adorned soccer classic caused pandemonium after its release, due to the remarkable graphics upgrade and game realism.
Skate 2: One of the most high-octane sports games of all time, Skate 2 was a household favorite after its release in 2009. It was a skateboarding game trailblazer, continuing to enhance the unique player controls introduced by the original Skate. Although newer installments have better graphics than Skate 2, you cannot argue with the game’s legendary status.
FIFA Street: Putting an outrageously fun spin on traditional soccer games, FIFA Street enabled gamers to pull off tricks straight from Ronaldinho or Neymar’s playbooks. Released in 2005, it’s still a timeless classic today.
Can MMA and WWE games match other sporting games?
Although the newest MMA and WWE game iterations are remarkably advanced, soccer or football games are generally more popular. Times are changing, though. For example, wrestling is the most popular gaming genre among children in Mexico. Who’s to say this won’t end up being the case on American soil as well?
For now, the traditional big hitters in the sports game world still have their noses in front, but this may not be the case for very long.
