After a year-long absence, 2K Games is preparing to release the latest iteration of one of its longest-running video game sports franchises. Visual Concepts’ pro-wrestling sim is set to release on March 11 with the promise of taking the series to newer and better heights by overhauling outdated gameplay features and mechanics, among other things.
As if to prove that Visual Concepts wasn’t just all bark and no bite, 2K dropped a more extensive gameplay trailer for WWE 2K22.
2K released the WWE 2K22 gameplay trailer while this weekend’s WWE Royal Rumble event was going on. Naturally, WWE fans were ecstatic to see their favorite wrestlers come to video game life. In particular, audiences are celebrating WWE 2K22’s star-studded roster, all of which were on full next-gen display laying down the law on each other in and out of the ring.
Visual and 2K have made sure that the wait for WWE 2K22 was well worth it. The redesigned gameplay engine and graphics were the stars of the gameplay trailer, as was Rey Mysterio, who will serve as this year’s cover star.
WWE 2K22 will give players a multitude of gameplay options like MyGM, MyFACTION, MyRise, Universe mode, and Creation Suite. However, what is perhaps the most interesting aspect of WWE 2K22 is the 2K Showcase. The aforementioned game mode will take gamers to Mysterio’s biggest matches including his emotional fight against Eddie Guerrero at WrestleMania 21.
Ultimately, only time will tell if WWE 2K22 can deliver. The few chances that we’ve gotten to see WWE 2K22 suggest that Visual and 2K put in a lot of effort to make fans happy. The only question now is if overhauling the engine and gameplay is enough to put WWE 2K22 back on top. If not, 2K might want to reconsider re-visiting the IP in the future, especially if Yuke’s new AEW wrestling game does well when it is released in the next few years.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to watching WWE legends John Cena and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson on the small screen and big screen, respectively. The former is currently the lead star of HBO Max’s Peacemaker, which recently dropped a big teaser ahead of its next episode. Meanwhile, the latter is set to make his DCEU debut later this year in Black Adam.
