What to Expect From WWE 2K25 in 2025

by

As a longtime fan of WWE and a seasoned gamer, I can confidently say that the latest installment of WWE 2K is shaping up to be a real treat for us wrestling enthusiasts. With my fingers crossed and my hopes high, I eagerly await the release of WWE 2K25.

Despite its rocky start with the release of WWE 2K20, the game has proven to be a blooming flower that deserves recognition. At launch, it was a catastrophe, but it pushed Visual Concepts to take a break from the annualized series, improve their basics, and return stronger than ever with WWE 2K22. This momentum continued into WWE 2K23 and even strengthened in WWE 2K24. For the past few months, fans have been eagerly waiting for news about WWE 2K25, but there has been silence from 2K and Visual Concepts on this topic. Just like the anticipated match between Roman Reigns and CM Punk, it’s just a matter of time before we hear more.

The only real update fans have received on the title comes from Take-Two Interactive’s August 2024 financial report, where it was confirmed that WWE 2K25 was in development and would release in Q4 2025. This means it’ll be released by the end of March, but given that WWE 2K22, WWE 2K23, and WWE 2K24 also released in March, that’s not surprising at all. In many ways, fans can expect WWE 2K25 to roll out in a similar manner to its past games, and that’s the safest expectation. Getting into its possible content, though, is where everything goes out the window, like when The Rock returned ahead of WrestleMania 40.

WWE 2K25: The Basics Are Easy Enough to Predict

For news and promotions related to wrestling and gaming, sticking to the fundamentals is simple enough. As the road to WrestleMania commences, you can anticipate an abundance of trailers and updates in that time frame until its release. The anticipated game, WWE 2K25, will be available in March 2025. Moreover, each superstar’s rating will likely follow a pattern similar to previous years. However, beyond these details, the specifics become less certain. Narrowing down its release date further, it’s worth mentioning that past entries were typically launched on either the second Tuesday or Friday of March 2025. The dates of March 11th or March 14th seem plausible then, but keep in mind that factors could cause a shift, so looking forward to March overall might be more prudent.

Cover Star and Special Feature

In brief, the main story and special attraction are expected to grab headlines for the upcoming WWE 2K game. Each recent iteration of the game has kicked off with these features, although WWE 2K22 deviated slightly. Essentially, every aspect of WWE 2K22 was fresh, but its standout feature was arguably the return of MyGM mode. WarGames was the unique selling point for WWE 2K23, while WWE 2K24 showcased numerous new match types. The crowning achievement of WWE 2K25 is yet to be determined. While it’s difficult to say, fans can anticipate learning about this feature early on.

In my opinion, the cover star of WWE 2K games should be someone who can really draw in the audience. I also like how Showcase can be used to highlight their career, although the two do not have to be intertwined. It was for Rey Mysterio and John Cena, but not necessarily for Cody Rhodes and the Showcase of the Immortals. He certainly has his role in it, but Rhodes being on the WWE 2K24 cover and losing the last match of its Showcase always rubbed me the wrong way. Tangent aside, fans can expect the cover star to also be revealed early, but as to who that is remains to be seen.

Personal Cover Star Wish List

  • The Bloodline – I would like to see Roman Reigns and the OG Bloodline on the cover. Not only is Roman deserving since his last cover title was WWE 2K20 (and obviously he’s the OTC), but Bloodline Business is WWE Business. Seeing some of his original run as the Tribal Chief and the Head of the Table in Showcase Mode would be a smart move.
  • CM Punk – This also feels possible. CM Punk’s DLC addition to WWE 2K24 was a big deal, but not as big as his return to WWE. The Reigns/Punk segments have been hot as of late, and Punk’s Rivalry with Drew McIntyre exceeded high expectations. Looking at his past matches in Showcase during his current run would be a strong proposition; plus, we could finally get the John Cena vs. CM Punk Rival in a WWE 2K Showcase.
  • Drew McIntyre – Speaking of the Scottish Warrior, there’s no denying how big he has been over the past year or so. Reports indicate that there are major plans ahead for him in WWE. Not only does he deserve those flowers, but a cover would be fitting for him as well.
  • Nia Jax – Nia Jax has done amazing things since her return to WWE. She’s a dominant WWE Women’s Champion, and her storylines (especially around Tiffany) have made for great TV.
  • Liv Morgan – Likewise, Liv Morgan’s Revenge Tour has made her so easy to hate and her current reign isn’t without “controversy.” But seeing the two Women’s champs on the cover would be awesome.
  • Bayley – I’d also argue for Bayley. She’s lost some momentum in recent months, but her highs in winning the Royal Rumble and defeating Iyo Sky make a strong argument on their own.
  • The Undertaker – I’m never not going to argue for The Undertaker to be the cover star; I’ll take this hope to the grave.

Additionally, having either Roman Reigns or CM Punk’s match commentated by Paul Heyman would be simply amazing.

WWE 2K Game Modes Will Likely Follow the Formula

In essence, though specific details may vary, enthusiasts should anticipate a recurrence of multiple game modes. It’s rather improbable for a novel game mode to emerge, but if it does, it might be the unique selling point emphasized by Visual Concepts and 2K in their promotional materials. Otherwise, the usual set of features is what fans can generally count on.

  • Showcase
  • MyRise
  • MyFaction
  • Universe Mode
  • MyGM Mode
  • Online Matches + Community Creations

WWE 2K25 Showcase

If Visual Concepts doesn’t have a specific plan (one that might be difficult to imagine without seeing it in action), it’s likely that the showcase will primarily highlight the career of the cover athlete. It will mainly feature past matches, but it’s still conceivable that more recent ones could also be included to some extent.

It’ll be intriguing to observe how VC addresses the main flaw of WWE 2K, especially since re-living a cover star’s career can bring nostalgia. However, there’s an underlying weakness in this format as each match relies on that specific superstar. For instance, Rey Mysterio’s Showcase was excellent, but it tended to be repetitive. John Cena’s showcase allowed players to experience matches he lost, yet not every superstar may possess the same level of humility. The Showcase of the Immortals in WWE 2K24 focused on the best Mania matches, and theoretically, this concept could apply to events like Survivor Series, Royal Rumble, or SummerSlam, but that’s more about unpredictability.

WWE 2K25 MyRise

Similar to previous years, viewers can anticipate MyRise to maintain its dual emphasis on narratives for male and female wrestlers. It’d be exciting if these stories branch out into larger, more significant themes rather than just following predictable storylines. The tales spun here can still be engaging. Roman Reigns’ portrayal in the Undisputed MyRise mode of WWE 2K24 was exceptional and seemed like a sneak peek into a post-WrestleMania 30 universe. Although the narrative could take any course, incorporating or tweaking real-world WWE storylines would be intriguing. Here are some ideas that might be interesting:

  • A Massive Return – Maybe with flashbacks to bygone eras of WWE to set this up, it would be cool to see the world of WWE from the eyes of a returning superstar. Making our character, in essence, “CM Punk” would be cool. Or it could be that we coming back from an injury to a changed landscape (think Big E and New Day) or it could be coming back with a vengeance: Drew McIntyre’s current goals with the Bloodline. Of course, this would most likely be inspired by the returns of CM Punk or Randy Orton given WWE 2K25‘s development timeline.
  • Paul Heyman Guy – Another cool story could be being the next Paul Heyman Guy. Not only would this position a new superstar in an envious position, but it could also tell some fun stories with CM Punk and Roman Reigns.
  • Nia Jax’s return could work similar for a Massive Return on the women’s side.
  • Something pushing the WWE Women’s Tag titles could be interesting too.
  • It’s unlikely to happen, but a different story direction for the WWE Women’s US and Intercontinental titles could be interesting.
  • Likewise, it would be cool to be in a position where players have to hold onto the MITB for some time, like Damien and Tiffy, but this probably wouldn’t make for the best story.

As a gaming enthusiast, I can’t wait to dive into the narrative of WWE 2K25, whether it’s based on real-life events or pure imagination. The mystery of its storyline keeps me intrigued and eager to find out where it takes me!

WWE 2K25 Improvements

Generally speaking, fans should anticipate several enhancements spanning gameplay features and modes in the upcoming WWE 2K game. It’s essential to keep in mind that this is an annual series, so expectations should be based on that fact. The improvements are expected to be steady rather than groundbreaking, but with the robust base of the latest WWE 2K games, there’s plenty to look forward to in the new installment.

Read More

2024-12-24 19:24