Bruce Lee Featured in New UFC Video Game

Bruce Lee, one of the most iconic martial artists of all time, is back at it again – this time in video game form. Lee’s legend has inspired a wide variety of books, movies, toys, and even video games, but it has been a number of years since he has appeared on the digital stage. The time seemed right to UFC owner Dana White to put him front and center in the octagon.

“I’m a huge Bruce Lee fan,” Dana White, UFC president and co-owner, tells USA TODAY Sports. “Having him as a character in the game is fun. Anytime Bruce Lee can be involved in the UFC, I’m in. I love it.”

The UFC has released three video game titles since 2009, but none incorporated any aspect of Lee’s likeness. However, with next-generation gaming consoles allowing much more realistic character models than in the past, White, along with Lee’s daughter, Shannon Lee, feel now is the time to pull the trigger.

“There hasn’t been a Bruce Lee video game in a while,” Shannon Lee says. “Not that this is a Bruce Lee video game, but to be able to bring my father into that space in a way that I think is super fun and pretty exciting was intriguing to me.” – USA Today

Fans can expect Lee to possess some of his trademark moves and mannerisms. The game creators poured through tons of video and photographic imagery in order to get the rendering just right. Technology has never been better at creating lifelike 3d models so players can expect a close-to-life experience when playing as Lee.

In the world of mixed martial arts Lee is seen as something of a progenitor. Dana White has pointed to Lee on multiple occasions as someone who understood the goal of mixed martial arts before UFC even existed. The inclusion of Lee as a character is a natural expansion and point of homage as well as marketing opportunity.

If the past few decades have taught us anything it’s that interest in Bruce Lee is never likely to die out. Interest may wain, but then opportunities come along to introduce fresh generations to his legacy. This pattern is likely to continue for the foreseeable future as technology only gets better at re-creating his singular talent.

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