Undisputed Creator Says Studio Should Have “Stuck To Its Guns” More Often
Steel City Interactive founder Ash Habib has reflected on the development journey of Undisputed, the studio’s authentic boxing simulation, revealing one of his key lessons: the difficulty of pleasing everyone without compromising the original vision. In an interview with Insider Gaming, Habib discussed the challenges of steering a game through years of development while managing community feedback and expectations.
Undisputed launched to largely positive critical reception, establishing itself as a genuine boxing game created by and for boxing enthusiasts. However, following its release, a vocal segment of the community has pushed for changes and additions to the game. Habib acknowledged that he would approach certain decisions differently in hindsight, particularly regarding how firmly to hold to the studio’s original design philosophy.
“I think I probably should have stuck to my guns a little bit more,” Habib stated, suggesting that attempts to accommodate various community demands may have diluted some of the core vision. The game has attracted millions of players and received numerous updates since launch, indicating the scale of the community investment and the ongoing development effort required in modern gaming.
This reflection touches on a common tension in live-service game development: balancing authentic creative vision with responsive community engagement and feedback. The remarks suggest that while community input can be valuable, excessive accommodation of demands from particularly vocal groups can potentially compromise the coherent direction of a project.