Among other contemporary titles are Mobile Suit Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy, Arcade Paradise, Bang-On Balls: Chronicles, You Suck at Parking, and Syberia – The World Before for PS4 and PS5. PS4 players can look forward to Captain Tsubasa: Rise of New Champions.

As for Premium-exclusive offerings, there’s Arcade Paradise VR for PlayStation VR2. The Classics are arguably more endearing, though, as they include Armored Core 1, Armored Core: Project Phantasma, and Armored Core: Master of Arena for PS4 and PS5. Those who enjoyed Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon may want to check them out.

As for the lackluster PS4-only offerings, Sony already confirmed plans to wind down on the same, only occasionally offering them past January 2026. Head here for more details.

Next up is Lightyear Frontier (available in Game Preview), My Time at Sandrock, Rolling Hills and Robin Hood – Sherwood Builders, all playable on January 8th for Game Pass Standard subscribers. Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can experience EA Sports UFC 5 on January 14th for Xbox Series X/S and the cloud.

The original Diablo is also playable on PC for Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers on the same. It’s an eclectic range of titles across various genres and platforms.

Of course, as is the case every month, several titles will leave Game Pass on January 15th. Members can purchase them at up to 20 percent off for permanent ownership. Check out all the games leaving next week:

• Common’Hood (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Escape Academy (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Exoprimal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Figment (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Insurgency Sandstorm (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Those Who Remain (Cloud, Console, and PC)

Prey

While they can be turned off, Traumas add much more to the experience in Arkane Studios’ Prey. Concussions can cause blurry vision and reduce psi capacity. Fear reduces firearm accuracy and impacts your vision. All of these require treatment with different items or from visiting a medical operator and reinforce the importance of, say, Thermal Shielding to prevent third-degree burns or Fear Shielding to reduce the duration of, well, Fear.

Among the other new titles for the week is EA Sports UFC 5, which launched worldwide before the weekend. It debuted in seventh, below EA Sports UFC 4 and its chart-topping debut in August 2020. Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures and Just Dance 2024 debuted this week but failed to make the top ten.

Other noteworthy titles include Assassin’s Creed Mirage in fifth place, even with sales dropping by 25 percent. Sonic Superstars plummeted from fourth to 15th place due to a 72 percent sales drop, and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom fell to 17th place, even as sales increased by nine percent.

Check out the UK’s top-ten best-selling physical games for the week below.

From there, it’s straight to the menu to engage in the new Fight Contracts, start a new Career from the bottom to make it in the UFC and become champion, engage in quick fights (with Backyard Fights and Kumites available) or battle online. Thankfully, there is a mode for learning the ins and outs of the game, but as you quickly discover, especially if you’re coming from EA Sports UFC 4, UFC 5 doesn’t feel like a big step up.

"Hilariously, after a few fights, your initial knockout from the Backyard Brawl is noticed by UFC owner Dana White, and it’s off to the Contender’s Series."

Let’s start with Career Mode, which sees you selecting a type of fighter, customizing their appearance, social media handle, stances, weight class and more. You can choose from multiple presets and adjust hairstyles, skin tone, eyebrows, different body styles and then tattoos, with several layers available. This will look very familiar to fans of the previous game because most of them carry over wholesale. Separating official gear and the Apex Kit for other cosmetic items is fine, but even as far as character creators go, the available options are serviceable. Nothing extraordinary, nothing terrible – just fine.

Your career starts in a Backyard Brawl, which doesn’t feel completely sanctioned, and after Coach Davis rags on you for doing those gigs, you train for legit fights. The interactions with Davis are acceptable, at times typical, but again, nothing special. I could do less with Davis calling me a “social media sensation.” Were there no other names available? Do nicknames serve no purpose?

Hilariously, after a few fights, your initial knockout from the Backyard Brawl is noticed by UFC owner Dana White, and it’s off to the Contender’s Series. This is where Career Mode opens up, as you accept (or deny, but only once) fights, spar with partners in different aspects of Mixed Martial Arts, hype a fight or learn new moves from more established fighters. You can also spend those Fighter Evolution Points to increase various stats like Kick Power, Kick Speed, Blocking, Takedown Defense, and so on. Moves evolve based on how much you use them, which allows for fully developing your style.

"Scoring those KOs and technical knockouts feels pretty good, especially with the new cinematic replays."

As a Kickboxer, I decided to try and beat most opponents with whatever kicks were in my arsenal, ground game be damned (famous last words, I know). However, as you encounter a greater variety of opponents, from Wrestlers to Boxers, you quickly find yourself clinched, taken down and submitted if the fundamentals aren’t solid. Still, scoring those KOs and technical knockouts feels pretty good, especially with the new cinematic replays.

After joining the UFC, you can start taunting opponents on social media to gain rivals and generate hype for fights, take on sponsors, predict how a match will end (and in what round), and build connections with other fighters to learn their moves. Keep up the training routine lest your fitness plummet and max stamina drop to almost nothing in a long fight.

Sparring with partners can lead to injury, which you must pay for or rest the week (which means skipping necessary activities). While you could go with a punching bag, your move evolution is slower, so there’s always some incentive for sparring. It would have been nice to have other activities, maybe some mini-games to break the monotony, but alas. At least there’s some incentive for sparring over simulating, since completing optional challenges gives bonus Evolution Points.

"At the very least, submissions feel dangerous as you desperately look for ways to escape, and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, the ground and pound options are utterly lacking."

EA Sports UFC 5 makes several changes to controls from the previous game. It’s been a while since I played the last game, but even then, some of these feel too convoluted. L2 + Square and X for a single-leg takedown? Square and Circle for a spin, then a face button to execute a spinning attack (which offers the chance to feint but still)? Throw in some more complex moves, like a Lead Body Side Kick, and things can get a little dicey.

It’s doable, mind you, but still hilariously awkward. As far as the actual feel goes, the striking feels weighty, but still relatively responsive (even though some hits seem like they shouldn’t connect). Also, sometimes the one-two combos feel a bit slow between hits, with the snappiness sometimes feeling like it’s not quite there.

Managing stamina and targeting body parts, backing off to defend yourself while being aware of your position in the cage, is key. At times, I would have to change strategies, from kicking my opponent into oblivion to playing for time to recover. The difficulty of opponents also feels just right. They look for ways to counter your game plan, adapting while leaning into their strengths. It encourages a holistic approach to training in every aspect if only to become more familiar with each situation and find ways to survive.

As far as the ground game goes, there’s a new Grapple Assist for choosing the best option on the ground, but you can still use Legacy Controls, which is recommended. Being able to flow between submissions feels better, even if it’s odd to see opponents escape clinched-in submissions so easily. At the very least, submissions feel dangerous as you desperately look for ways to escape, and that’s a good thing. Unfortunately, the ground and pound options are utterly lacking.

"Aside from Career Mode, there are the Fight Contracts, which essentially give you a set number of fights weekly to complete for UFC Coins (used to purchase gear, backgrounds and other cosmetics)"

When it comes to the presentation and visuals, they’re mostly on point (though announcer Bruce Buffer not listing a fighter’s height, weight and accomplishments beforehand feels wrong). Animations are relatively smooth, though there is very occasionally a bit of jank, and the camera sometimes gets a little wonky when backed into a corner, swinging wildly as it tries to find an anchor. The attention to detail in certain aspects, like the sweat on fighters’ skin and the new Authentic Damage system resulting in realistic cuts, is good. It doesn’t feel like a big jump over UFC 4, but your mileage may vary.

Authentic Damage isn’t just a cosmetic feature – it affects fights. Injuries can affect your overall performance (which means adjusting on the fly), and there are even doctor stoppages. If a fighter’s face is swollen on the left side, targeting that area has a chance of causing the doctor to step in and stop the fight. A neat concept – the problem is that the doc walks in and walks out continuously until finally deciding whether the fight should stop. It affects the flow and can get more annoying than realistic.

Aside from Career Mode, there are the Fight Contracts, which essentially give you a set number of fights weekly to complete for UFC Coins (used to purchase gear, backgrounds and other cosmetics). You can attempt each match three times, and your win/loss record tracks throughout. It’s a neat feature, even if some matches feel a bit unbalanced in difficulty.

"It’s essentially an improved version of the fourth game with some intriguing new systems and mechanics, even if some (like doctor stoppage) could be better."

One match saw my opponent reading through my intentions incredibly well, but another went down quickly after blocking a few too many punches with his face. Strangely enough, Fight Picks, which allows for making predictions for the main card of actual UFC events to earn coins, is completely missing with little explanation. Online options include quick matches, an Online Career, and Blitz Battles, but I couldn’t try them out.

Overall, I didn’t mind EA Sports UFC 5. It’s essentially an improved version of the fourth game with some intriguing new systems and mechanics, even if some (like doctor stoppage) could be better. The visuals are good, even if the presentation lacks in some key areas, and the gameplay feels fun, especially if you can get into the new submissions system.

However, it just doesn’t feel like enough, especially three years after the last game, especially in Career Mode, character customization and so on. It’s not an awful game, but with how much has changed with the UFC over the years, EA Sports seems like it’s hesitating to take the next big step.

This game was reviewed on PlayStation 5.

As a follow-up to EA Sports UFC 4, the sequel uses the Frostbite Engine and sees players embodying different fighters, like cover athletes Valentina Shevchenko and Alexander Volkanovski, in authentic fights. Career Mode returns with some quality-of-life improvements, and there’s also an Online Career available.

The gameplay has also changed with the Real Impact System and Authentic Damage delivering more realistic injuries and cuts. If the damage becomes especially egregious, the doctor may step in to potentially stop the fight. EA Sports UFC 5 also marks the debut of Fight Week content, with Fight Contracts to earn UFC Coins, Challenges and more. Stay tuned for more updates on the fighter in the coming months.

https://twitter.com/EASPORTSUFC/status/1717919170187170244

Of course, a lot more is inbound, including F1 Manager 2023 on October 19th for cloud, consoles and PC. Cities: Skylines 2 launches on October 24th for PC Game Pass, while Dead Space Remake arrives on October 26th for cloud, PC and Xbox Series X/S via EA Play.

The same day sees Frog Detective: The Entire Mystery for cloud and consoles, collecting all three Frog Detective cases in one game. Mineko’s Night Market will also launch for cloud, consoles and PC. Finally, October 31st sees the launch of Headbangers: Rhythm Royale and Jusant, both for cloud, consoles and PC.

Those with EA Play (included in Game Pass Ultimate) can also play the early access trial for EA Sports UFC 5 on October 24th. Check out the games leaving Game Pass on October 31st:

• Gunfire Reborn (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Kill It With Fire (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Persona 5 Royal (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Signalis (Cloud, Console, and PC)
• Solasta Crown of the Magister (Cloud, Console, and PC)

One of the new features, Fight Week Contracts, sees players battling AI opponents to complete weekly challenges. You earn in-game currency for winning, but subsequent fights in the week become tougher. Complete the challenges, and you get some nice-looking cosmetics.

Another nice new feature is making predictions on real-world PPVs, and if you get the results right, then free UFC Coins are heading your way. As for Career Mode, it sees the return of Coach Davis, new locations and cinematics and numerous quality-of-life improvements. You can now simulate training camp and earn Challenge Packs from sparring sessions based on challenges completed.

The AI is also improved, and Legendary Career Mode is simulation-only, which means no HUD, increased damage and more stamina drain, making for a tougher experience. If a straightforward fight is your thing, select Fight Now and choose from different fight types, including Kumite and backyard brawls.

EA Sports UFC 5 launches on October 27th for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Stay tuned for more details ahead of release.

EA Sports UFC 5 will be the first game in the UFC franchise to make use of the Frostbite engine, which will in turn allow for the game to have dynamic lighting and overhauled character fidelity, including realistic strands of hair and cloth animations.

The engine has also led to the game getting new lighting and rendering features, such as dual-lobe skin and eye shading, strand-based hair, updated fighter body types, and facial animation technology for better fighter likenesses.

The trailer features art director Kirk Gibbons, who mentions that the game felt indistinguishable from real-life UFC shows in terms of the quality of presentation and other various aspects. The game features attention to minute details, including blood and sweat dripping down to the mat for more extreme fights.

In order to make the strikes in a match feel more impactful, EA Sports UFC 5 also features a more in-depth facial deformation system, that allows for realistic reactions to impacts from strikes.

All of the new features, including the use of procedural camera systems and realistic camera lenses, come down to the studio’s use of the Frostbite engine, according to Gibbons.

EA Sports UFC 5 is slated for release on October 27 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

The Real Impact System is new and works in tandem with advanced rendering features to realistically represent damage to a fighter. As your fighter accumulates damage, their performance will suffer in-game. A cut above the eye lowers defenses on that side, while kicks to the leg will cause mobility to decline and your fighter to limp.

If a fighter is hurt enough, the doctor will intervene and may even stop the fight, which makes it a legitimate strategy for players. You also have Seamless Submissions, as you use the right stick to transition into different moves or counter the opponent. The Cinematic Replays are also worth noting, showcasing your fight-winning final blows with slow-mo, dramatic angles and lighting.

EA Sports UFC 5 is out on October 27th. Stay tuned for more gameplay and details in the meantime.