For more than a decade, two teams have been battling it out for dominance in the soccer game: FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer (PES) (now eFootball). However, in recent years, there hasn't been much of a competition, with EA's FIFA establishing itself as the clear monarch over Konami's PES.

Many games have come and gone over the years as developers failed in their attempts to produce titles for the world's most popular sport, but there is a new kid on the block who may just be able to upset the established order.

When the Ultimate Football League (UFL) first came to prominence, it did so with a slew of loud and thrilling marketing campaigns, large promises, and even greater celebrities associated with the enterprise.

Following the recent release of a new trailer for UFL, now is an excellent moment to take a look at what is known about the game thus far and determine whether it has the potential to rival FIFA as the world's most popular soccer game.

What is Ultimate Football League?

In the near future, Strikerz Inc. will release UFL, a free-to-play console soccer game that will be developed and distributed by Strikerz Inc. Players will be able to download and play UFL for free with their friends and on the internet because it is a free-to-play game.

The UFL will also be "fair to play," which means that players will only be drawn against other players of a comparable skill level, reducing the frequency of one-sided games in the competition. A single champion will be recognized at the conclusion of each season in the United Football League's online divisions, which will be drawn over a 12-month period.

Another distinguishing element of UFL is that it will not release new titles on a yearly basis.

When is the release date?

Although there is currently no specific release date for UFL, the teaser indicates that it will be sometime this year. Given that the current European club seasons are nearing the conclusion of their respective seasons, it would make sense to time the release for the start of the following season. However, logic alone cannot predict when the game will be released; the entire world is waiting for the official announcement.

Which platforms will UFL be on?

For the time being, UFL will be available on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S. It remains to be seen whether or if a PC version will be released following the launch.

What game modes will be available?

There will be normal online and offline friendly modes (1v1, 2v2, 3v3, etc.), online tournaments and divisions, as well as unique objectives and challenges. The UFL will also offer standard online and offline friendly modes.

The Flagship Mode, on the other hand, is the game mode on which UFL will seek to stake their future on. This will function similarly to FIFA's Ultimate Team, in which users can create their clubs and teams by hiring players and coaches and accruing (or paying for) UFL's equivalent of XP to better their team's overall performance. Because players will be allowed to remain with their clubs for more than one season, the UFL will be significantly different from FIFA's Ultimate Team in this regard.

Will UFL have access to license and rights?

A settlement has been reached between the United Football League and FIFPro, the international body that represents professional players and grants licenses for games like Penalty Kick Online to utilize genuine names and player likenesses. However, although FIFA is believed to have the rights to use around 17,000 players, the United Football League is believed to have the rights to use approximately 5,000 players.

FIFA also holds exclusive rights to the majority of major leagues, therefore the United Football League (UFL) will most likely use titles like Spanish First Division for La Liga and English First Division for the Premier League to distinguish their competitions.

Having said that, the United Football League has struck agreements with a number of clubs, some of which you may be familiar with if you know how to place soccer bets online. West Ham United, Monaco, Sporting Club de Portugal, Besiktas, and Borussia Monchengladbach are among the teams in this category. The specifics of how this will play out in the game will be disclosed in due course.

Which players are on board?

The United Football League made a significant statement when they announced that superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will be one of their player ambassadors. Kevin De Bruyne of Manchester City and his teammate Oleksandr Zinchenko, as well as Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino and Chelsea forward Romelu Lukaku, have all signed up with the organization.

So, can it challenge FIFA?

Given that the game has yet to be published, it is far too soon to say whether or not UFL will be able to ruffle FIFA's feathers and establish itself as a credible competitor to EA's market-leading title.

The United Football League (UFL) is making all the right sounds, and with some heavyweight player ambassadors, there is no question that excitement is rising ahead of the league's eventual introduction. If the UFL proves to be popular, its free-to-play style may inspire FIFA to adopt a similar model.