EA Sports UFC 5 Review: A Paper Champion

Nintendo Switch Sports is just the kind of game you need for your holiday party this year.

Codemasters has released patch 1.3 for EA Sports WRC, which has brought with it key fixes for Unreal Engine shader compilation stutter on PC, as well as added support for the game to work on Steam Deck.

Ubisoft and esports data provider Grid have signed a multi-year exclusive partnership to support the Rainbow Six Siege competitive ecosystem. Grid streamlines access to real-time competitive data for broadcasts, monitoring competitive integrity, coaching and betting. Additionally, the two companies hope to fuel Rainbow Six Siege’s growth through this partnership.

EA Sports UFC 5 has been out for a while and is available for 10 hours for those with an EA Play subscription on either Xbox Series consoles or the PS5. While the core gameplay has seen some tuning up from the prior entry, one thing we have never seen before is the inclusion of this many early versions of fighters. UFC Undisputed 3 had UFC and earlier PRIDE versions of some fighters – but certainly not to this extent. The first season of Origins versions of fighters has now launched with eight fighters getting new virtual incarnations based on key early moments in their careers.

In 1998, my family got a PlayStation. We were allowed one game each. My siblings chose Crash Bandicoot and Tomb Raider. I chose Colin McRae Rally from Codemasters. I subsequently cheated and also picked Gran Turismo for my dad, but my point is that Colin McRae Rally is one of the most formative racers I’ve ever played. EA Sports WRC is the latest chapter in that long-running off-road odyssey. With the lasting legacy of the Colin McRae and Dirt Rally series at its core and a juicy injection of official WRC content – plus the strength of the cracking F1 games as a sister series – how could WRC go wrong? Easily, it turns out, as a range of performance problems and disappointing features have combined here to jam a banana in the tailpipe of WRC’s otherwise fantastic loose surface handling, impeccable audio, and killer car list.

Save $20 on this year's soccer simulator.

The World Rally Championship license stands amongst the most prestigious in the motorsports gaming world, but it’s one that’s bounced from developer to developer, most recently having an extended stay with Kylotonn Games. Despite its prestige it’s not always been a hallmark of quality, and though the outgoing series’ highlight, WRC Generations, benefitted from years of experience with the license it’s now fallen to Codemasters to take their turn at the wheel. As the developers of Dirt Rally and its sequel, arguably the best Rally games of the last decade, expectations for EA Sports WRC are high.

EA’s annual football franchise may have changed its name from FIFA to EA Sports FC with this year’s entry, but it’s continuing to post strong numbers where player engagement is concerned.

EA Sports FC 24 has had a successful launch and EA expects "modest growth" for the title year-on-year, CFO Stuart Canfield said during the firm's earnings call for Q2 FY2024.

EA Sports WRC, Codemasters’ take on the World Rally Championship series, is out on November 3rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5 and PC. However, those who pre-order can access it starting today. Check out the launch trailer below to see what’s in store.

is the latest VR release from developer and publisher Fast Travel Games. Players are thrown into the World of Darkness as they explore the various alleyways of Venice in this narrative RPG. Mastering stealthy movements and various powers will be key to surviving these dimly lit streets as a true creature of the night.

Gfk has released its UK physical charts for the week ending October 28th (via Games Industry), and as noted earlier, Super Mario Bros. Wonder is in first, while Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 is in second. EA Sports FC 24 remained in third place despite stiff competition, and Metal Gear Solid: Master Collection Vol. 1 debuted fourth.