Unlike their other sports franchises, EA Sports UFC titles are on a biennial schedule, with a new entry dropping once every two years and it seems like developer EA Vancouver has used this time well. I was recently given a virtual preview of EA Sports UFC 5, and it looks to represent a major step forward for the underrated mixed martial arts series.

　　First off, EA Sports UFC 5 sees the series jump to the Frostbite engine -- the last of EA’s major sports franchises to do so. This means the game will offer significantly upgraded fighter likenesses, improved lighting, and other fancy visual touches, like strand-based hair. But it isn’t just graphical fidelity that’s improving – UFC 5 will be a current-gen-exclusive, and as such, the action will now run at 60fps (previous UFC titles were locked to 30fps).

　　Ah, but as good as the new Frostbite tech looks, something else is likely to grab the lion’s share of fans’ attention – after years of skirting the line, EA Sports UFC 5 is going full-on M-rated. EA Vancouver has come up with a detailed new injury system, which will see fighters potentially swell and bleed from 8 different points on their heads, resulting in a possible 64,000 injury combinations. The amount of blood being shed can get quite intense, soaking fighters and the mat, although EA reps were quick to point out a few of the truly disgusting things that sometimes occur during MMA fights, like compound bone fractures and exploding hematomas and cauliflowers ears, won’t be in the game. This violence isn’t all for show, it will actually have a bearing on gameplay, as certain injuries will effect your performance and doctor stoppages will now be a thing. You can check out some of the bloody action via the first EA Sports UFC 5 trailer for yourself, below.

　　In addition to the new level of violence, EA Sports UFC 5 is upgrading its fundamentals. New, more fluid animations are being added to the mix, and submissions are being totally revamped. No longer a separate minigame, submissions are now integrated more seamlessly into the action, with the ability to hook in a fight-ending hold out of nowhere like in the real sport.

　　In terms of gameplay options, players can look forward to a full Career mode, complete with cinematics. Surprisingly, the M-rating extends to the story, with plenty of f-bombs being dropped. UFC 5 will also offer an Online Career option with players being able to build up a fighter by besting human opponents online. Another online feature is Fight Week, which will present challenges based on real UFC events and history and allow you to unlock special Alter Ego variants for fighters. Interestingly, what wasn’t mentioned was any sort of Ultimate-Team-style card-collecting microtransaction mode, although I’m certainly not going to complain about that being left by the wayside.

　　As mentioned, EA Sports UFC 5 really looks to be an ambitious step forward for the series. The kind of leap you rarely see from EA’s annualized sports franchises. While the level of violence might not be for everyone, hardcore MMA fans are unlikely to flinch, and it seems EA Vancouver has continued to refine the series’ already-excellent core gameplay. This one looks like it could be a real champion.

　　EA Sports UFC 5 hits Xbox Series X/S and PS5 on October 27. Pre-orders are open now, and those who put their money down get access to Fedor Emelianenko, Mike Tyson, and Muhammad Ali.