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.