The WWE 2K games have suffered tremendously ever since Yuke’s left to work on a different wrestling game following the release of WWE 2K19. WWE 2K’s current developers, Visual Concepts, have had a rough go at the franchise with a dismal release with WWE 2K20 and a highly-anticipated but delayed installment in WWE 2K22. Now, it appears that the world-renowned wrestling promotion is ready to break away from 2K to work with Electronic Arts.
According to Fightful Select’s Mike Straw, WWE is paying close attention to how WWE 2K22 does once it comes out on March 11. Straw describes the game as a “make or break” opportunity for Visual Concepts and Take-Two, with WWE reportedly ending their long-standing partnership if WWE 2K22 does not deliver. Straw clarified that WWE has considered working with EA for years, but it was the disappointing performance of WWE 2K20 and WWE 2K Battlegrounds that renewed WWE’s interest in forging a new partnership.
Interestingly, there were reports last year that WWE wasn’t happy with Visual Concepts’ decision to delay WWE 2K22.
After an initial reveal at WrestleMania 37, WWE 2K22 was scheduled to release in October of the same year. Unfortunately, Visual Concepts delayed the game so WWE 2K22 would launch on March 11 instead, marking the first time that a WWE 2K game wouldn’t be released in October.
Take-Two and EA are the two most prominent publishers of sports sims in the video game industry. The two have had a “rivalry” going on for years, swapping franchises occasionally as was the case when Tiger Woods signed with 2K last year, with EA reviving its dormant EA Sports PGA Tour series soon after. If the WWE license does jump to EA after WWE 2K22, we expect 2K to counter with the appropriate response. 2K might even link up with Yuke’s, who is presumed to be working on a wrestling sim for All Elite Wrestling.
The good news here is that more competition is always good for consumers. In addition, Electronic Arts is no slouch when it comes to fighting games. In an ideal scenario, EA would announce future WWE games to its Vancouver studio, which has done an excellent job with the UFC games.
Of course, all this speculation will be for nothing if WWE 2K22 sells well. At the moment, those who pre-ordered the Deluxe Edition or the nWo 4-Life Edition of WWE 2K22 have had access to WWE 2K22 since March 8 and all appears to be going rather well. However, if WWE already has one foot out the door, WWE 2K22 will have to exceed expectations just so 2K Sports would not end up losing its license.
