Key Highlights:
- Full method to unlock every fighter and Bare Knuckle Mode on all Xbox consoles in 2025.
- Uses the Start + Select profile sign-out trick still working through backward compatibility.
- Permanent unlocks for the roster once saved, with Bare Knuckle needing the quick repeat step each new boot.
This method still works today across Xbox One, Series S and Series X through backward compatibility in Fight Night Champion. I tested it again recently to confirm the timing window, and the process is identical to how it worked on the Xbox 360. The game never had an official way to purchase locked fighters again, so this is the only working method left in 2025.
A lot of players stumble because they press the buttons too slow or at the wrong time. On modern controllers, it is Menu + View at the exact moment the profile screen appears. When I say exact, I mean within the first second of the title screen opening. If you miss it, back out and try again. Once you get the rhythm, it becomes muscle memory.
Quick Links:
The Fast Version
Launch the game
When the title screen appears, press Menu + View together to open the old Xbox 360 profile screen.
Sign out
Choose Sign Out, then back out of all prompts until the game continues offline.
Enter the game
Go to Fight Now and confirm fighters like Floyd Patterson and Jack Dempsey are still locked. Bare Knuckle Mode will also be missing.
Press Menu + View again
This time choose Sign In and select your profile. Back out to the menus again.
Check the roster
Locked fighters are now unlocked, and Bare Knuckle Mode is visible. Your created fighters and Champion Mode unlocks will only appear after you finish the next step.
Permanently save the roster
Go to Boxer Share > Edit Boxer, open any unlocked fighter, change a single thing (I usually tweak glove shade), then save. This locks the entire roster to your profile forever.
Important: Bare Knuckle Mode must still be reactivated every time you boot the game. Fighter unlocks do not.
The Detailed Walkthrough
Load into the title screen. Instead of pressing A or Start like normal, you want to hit Menu + View at the exact same moment the prompt appears. This opens the old Xbox 360 account blade that backward compatibility still uses behind the scenes. It is the key to the entire exploit.
Choose Sign Out, back out through the warnings, and continue without saving. This loads you into the game with no signed-in profile. From here, you will notice a few things:
- Champion Mode fighters remain locked
- Your created fighters do not appear
- Bare Knuckle Mode is missing
- Legends Pack fighters are still hidden if you do not have the DLC installed
Now press Menu + View again. Sign back into your Xbox profile. Back out once more to the menus.
You will now see all the hidden fighters available in Fight Now, including Rocky Marciano, Sonny Liston, and others that were normally locked behind old DLC promotions. Bare Knuckle Mode should also be visible again, unless the Bare Knuckle add-on is missing from your account. If the mode does not appear, check your Microsoft Store library for the free Bare Knuckle add-on, which is still downloadable in 2025.
Created fighters and Champion Mode fighters are still missing at this stage because the game has not tied the unlocks to your profile yet. To fix this permanently, go to:
Boxer Share > Edit Boxer
Pick any fighter unlocked by the exploit. Change a single cosmetic value, even something tiny like glove colour, then save. Once the game writes that edited fighter to your profile, it permanently saves the entire roster unlock. You never need to repeat the exploit for the fighters again.
You do still have to repeat it to enable Bare Knuckle Mode, since that setting does not persist across boots. The process takes about ten seconds once you are familiar with the timing.
DLC, Legends Pack, and common questions
Do I need the Legends Pack to unlock everything?
Yes, you do need the Legends Pack to unlock everything. It is still free on the Xbox Store and must be installed for certain fighters to appear. If it refuses to download, cancel it, restart your console, and reinstall.
Why do Champion Mode fighters not unlock using this method?
Champion Mode fighters do not unlock using this method because they were never tied to DLC. They only unlock by beating them in Champion Mode, so you still have to finish the story to access Andre Bishop, Isaac Frost, and the rest.
Do I need the Young George Foreman code?
Yes, you still need the Young George Foreman code. His licence was a pre-order exclusive, and the only working method now is to search the Microsoft Store for the Young George Foreman listing and request a code by email. Some players still receive one, others do not.
Can I unlock Raymond Bishop and Prison Andre?
No, you cannot unlock Raymond Bishop and Prison Andre. They required promotional bottle-cap codes years ago, and there is no longer a valid way to obtain them.
Does this FNC Exploit work online?
Yes, this method does work online. Players have confirmed that unlocked fighters function correctly in online matches, although casual matchmaking is almost empty in 2025.
Permanent unlocks vs temporary unlocks
To avoid any confusion, here’s the clearest way to put it.
Permanently saved to your profile:
- All normally locked fighters
- All Legends Pack fighters
- All Champion Mode fighters (once beaten)
- Your created fighters
- Edited fighters via Boxer Share
Must be redone on every boot:
- Bare Knuckle Mode
For a complete roster breakdown by weight class, including Legends Pack fighters and Champion Mode unlocks, see our upcoming All Fighters List for Fight Night Champion guide. The exploit persists for the roster because the save file stores fighter availability, but it does not store mode toggles.
If you want deeper tips on story fights, fighters, training, and gameplay systems, the Ultimate Fight Night Champion Guide covers everything in one place. It is the next step once you have unlocked the full roster.