UFL — A Competitor to FIFA Featuring Cristiano Ronaldo. The Game Conducts a Short Open Beta Test

The dominance of FIFA in the realm of football simulators might soon face a significant challenge. Firstly, the flagship game of the genre is no longer called FIFA but has been rebranded as EA Sports FC. Secondly, the FIFA organization is actively seeking a new video game partner. Thirdly, a new contender is stepping onto the field — UFL, developed by the studio Strikerz Inc.

UFL is being touted as the "next-gen football" game, promising to transform any gamer into a "true professional." The game places a strong emphasis on your very own football club, where you can assemble real athletes and engage in extensive customization. This customization includes various kits, gloves, boots, balls, and stadiums. The gameplay is heavily focused on multiplayer and a seasonal competition format with other players. UFL is set to be distributed as a free-to-play game, but the developers insist that the outcome of matches will primarily depend on personal skill rather than the amount of money spent.

UFL has already secured substantial investments, with the total amount exceeding $40 million. One of the notable investors is none other than Cristiano Ronaldo. The game is built on the Unreal Engine 5, which promises high-quality graphics and smooth gameplay.

From June 7th to June 9th (this weekend), UFL will conduct an open beta test on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series. The client is already available for pre-download. The content available during the beta includes the main online mode with upgrades for your club, as well as a local offline multiplayer mode.

UFL is planned to launch exclusively on PlayStation and Xbox platforms in 2024. If everything goes according to plan, football enthusiasts could have three football simulators to enjoy this year: the traditional EA Sports FC, the new UFL, and the alternative FIFA 2K25 (which, according to rumors, is being developed by 2K Sports). Additionally, there might be an update for Pro Evolution Soccer eFootball, which has been navigating the free-to-play landscape with mixed success for the past three years.