Two years after launching, 2K Sports has removed WWE 2K22 from sale. This is after 2K shut down the game’s online servers on January 3 without any warning. This delisting includes its listing on Steam, Xbox and PlayStation digital storefronts, leaving fans unable to purchase the game across major platforms.
The shutdown of WWE 2K22’s servers and its subsequent removal from digital stores is part of a larger pattern. Notably, WWE 2K17, 2K18, 2K19, and 2K20 were all removed in July 2022. However, WWE 2K22 had a notably shorter lifespan, with its online services lasting only 22 months, compared to the 33 months of 2K20. The gap, WWE 2K21, was canceled following the poor reception of 2K20, making 2K22’s eventual revival and positive reception all the more significant.
Despite being better received than some of its predecessors, with a Metacritic average score of 72 and nearly 75% positive ratings from around 10,000 Steam users, WWE 2K22 now faces the same fate.
Digital platforms and marketplaces present a hazard for games to become inaccessible, potentially lost forever. This problem isn’t unique to WWE 2K22; it’s part of a broader trend affecting various games, including major titles like FIFA, which are removed digital stores in preparation for new releases.
The delisting of WWE 2K22 and similar games is fueling discussions about the practices in sports games, often criticized for exploitative behaviors such as annual releases with minimal updates, reliance on loot boxes, and extensive DLC that can frustrate players. Wrestling fans, in particular, feel the impact of such practices, with limited options for quality wrestling games available, leading to calls for increased competition. Critics are arguing that the lack of competition allows these companies to engage in questionable practices, as seen with EA Sports’ dominance in football and 2K’s uncontested reign in basketball, among others.
WWE 2K22 isconsidered one of the better WWE 2Kreleases. Following the particularly poor reception of WWE 2K20, the franchise took a year off before returning with 2K22, which received a comparatively positive reception. However, the game’s relatively short lifespan, especially in terms of online play availability, has now become a point of contention, setting an unfortunate precedent among fans.
Many are calling out 2K to offer amore than a transient experience, or at least be honest about how long it intends to support each iteration.
Unfortunately, without any significant backlash, 2K isn’t expected to make changes.
The next game in the franchise, WWE 2K24, will be released on March 8. Ahead of its release, 2K has confirmed its list of upcoming DLC Superstars, which includes CM Punk.
