The Portuguese football sensation and five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo has invested in the upcoming free-to-play football video game, Ultimate Football League (UFL).
To significantly influence how football fans engage with the gaming industry, the football legend has joined a group of investors that has decided to invest more than $40 million in the video game, which is a skill-first approach tool made by gamers.
Ronaldo, who is one of the most recognisable players in football, will use his massive social media following to promote the new title globally.
“I’m thrilled to be a part of this project as UFL can become the new breed in football gaming,” said Ronaldo.
The developer of UFL, Strikerz Inc., reckons there’s an appeal for a game like UFL that combines outstanding gameplay with social elements to foster player connection.
This industry has also lately seen a shakeup, with UFL attempting to fight EA Sports, which just changed its name from the iconic ‘FIFA‘ to ‘EA FC’ in conjunction with the launch of its newest game, ‘EA FC24.’
By offering gameplay that rewards strategic knowledge and gaming prowess, UFL hopes to set itself apart from the classic football video game. It also plans to showcase new features and frequent upgrades without requiring monthly or annual fees.
Although Strikerz has not yet announced a release date for the game, the UFL’s closed testing phase started this autumn. The Xbox Series X and S, as well as the PlayStation 5, will support the game.
Eugene Nashilov, CEO of Strikerz Inc., said, “Having Cristiano Ronaldo join us as a partner and investor is a significant step forward and an endorsement of our vision to create the leading game for football fans in the world. UFL is committed to innovation, technology and entertainment and we see significant potential to do things differently in the gaming industry. This is an ambition shared by Cristiano and we are excited to be working together, while continuing to engage with future investors, to create a game that fills a gap in the football gaming market by unifying a rich gaming experience with continuous progress and a fair approach.”