EXCLUSIVE: AEW “Strongly Considering” New Partner For Future Video Games

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As a dedicated fan who has spent countless hours cheering for AEW wrestlers and playing their games, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and apprehension about the future of AEW video games. The news that AEW is considering finding a new development partner after the issues surrounding AEW Fight Forever has left me with a sense of ‘will they or won’t they?’

The future of AEW video games currently hangs in the balance.

According to various reports, it appears that the key figures at AEW are seriously thinking about teaming up with a different company for future projects, following several challenges encountered during the game’s production process.

According to a source, AEW realizes that things didn’t turn out as planned. The game they released exceeded the budget and fell short of expectations upon release. This setback is making them seriously contemplate switching to a different game developer for future projects.

In June 2023, AEW Fight Forever was released with a split reception. While its gameplay was enjoyable and straightforward, it fell short for several players due to a lack of depth and numerous bugs. It was later revealed in April 2024 that the developers were under pressure to produce something quickly rather than taking the time it required.

Currently, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is deliberating on the direction for their gaming platform. Initially, they had a one-year post-launch agreement with Yuke’s, which resulted in four DLC packs featuring additional wrestlers, moves, game modes, and venues. The latest DLC, introducing Jay White, was released in July. There have been discussions about incorporating newly signed wrestlers such as Will Ospreay, Kazuchika Okada, and Mercedes Mone into the game, but it’s uncertain where these talks between AEW and Yuke’s are at this point.

Sources speaking under the veil of secrecy indicate that the main emphasis lies with shaping the overall trajectory of the gaming industry.

As a gamer, I was informed by TopMob that all possibilities are open for discussion. There were some advantages to the Yuke’s partnership, and it’s been suggested that with a solid foundation established, another game could potentially rectify issues instead of abandoning the project after one try. However, it’s hard to deny that there were concerns regarding the development process in the last year of the game’s production.

Issues From The Start

Tensions between Yukes and AEW go back to before Fight Forever’s release, marked by frequent disagreements on both sides, including involving AEW executive vice president Kenny Omega. At one instance, it was reported that Omega had grown so frustrated with working with Yukes that he felt like he “hated” the collaboration. On the other hand, some people believed that Yukes was trying to exploit Omega’s lack of experience in game development.

According to a source, there wasn’t much joy when the game was released. In fact, discussions about altering the project with Yuke’s or transitioning it to another developer were already happening before its launch. The options included either expanding upon the existing work or starting anew, or abandoning the console market and concentrating on mobile games instead.

Many employees in the company are keen on another chance to develop a console game, but ultimately, it depends on whether the person holding the purse strings is willing to take a chance on them once more.

When asked where that sits, I was told, “No one knows.”

All Things Considered (AEW) holds the blueprint for the engine powering Fight Forever, allowing them to transfer it to a different developer if needed, for further development based on existing work. Given the financial struggles Fight Forever faced – exceeding its budget and failing to generate profits – AEW might not be keen on starting another project from scratch. However, the specific terms of any collaboration with a new partner will determine the next steps.

At this point, AEW is only discussing potential changes. They haven’t made a definitive choice about bringing on a new partner, nor have they confirmed plans for a fresh game in the near future.

It’s mentioned that they are reaching out to several well-known game developers specializing in wrestling to gauge their potential interest in these types of games. They are carefully considering all aspects before making a final decision.

Interested to know your thoughts on where AEW gaming could be headed? Let’s chat about it over at the TopMob Forums!

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2024-09-30 18:48