Why WWE 2K26 Leaving Last-Gen Consoles Out to Dry is a Good Thing

As current PlayStation and Xbox consoles approach their sixth year, WWE 2K26 is finally designed to take full advantage of their power. Early supply chain problems starting in 2020 delayed the widespread adoption of these consoles, but the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S have become popular platforms in recent years. With the addition of the Switch 2 in 2025, players have even more options. The WWE 2K series had been sticking with older console generations, but that’s now changing.

As a long-time fan, I’ve noticed a lot of big games still coming out on older consoles, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 7 was a recent example. It makes sense that Activision wants to reach as many players as possible, but even Call of Duty will eventually drop support for those older systems. Now, with WWE 2K26 only releasing on the newest consoles, I know a lot of PS4, Xbox One, and Switch players are going to be upset. But honestly, it’s time. Those last-gen consoles had a great run, but WWE 2K26 needs to move forward if the series wants to keep getting better.

WWE 2K26 Being Current Gen-Only Already Has Some Major Benefits

Okay, so 2K dropped a bunch of info about WWE 2K26 last week and honestly, I’m hyped! They’ve shown off details about the wrestlers and the match types, and there’s a lot of cool stuff coming. A lot of it is stuff we’ve seen before, but 2K is promising it’ll all look and play way better thanks to the newer tech they’re using. It sounds like they’re really focusing on improving the overall quality of the game, which is awesome.

WWE 2K26 has four different editions available: Standard, King of Kings, Attitude Era, and Monday Night War. If you pre-order any edition except the Standard Edition, you’ll get to play the game seven days before its official release.

2K Games Promises WWE 2K26 Will Get a Big Gameplay Upgrade

According to 2K Games, the new game will feature improved physics, making the action feel more realistic and impactful. While that description is a bit broad, the trailer already shows some of the differences. While WWE 2K25 looked good, WWE 2K26 has noticeably better graphics. Some elements, like the fire effects in Inferno matches, still aren’t perfect, but the wrestlers themselves look much more detailed. It’s not a huge overhaul, but it’s a positive move towards even better visuals in future games. The visual improvements over WWE 2K25 are clear, but we’ll have to wait until the game is released to fully evaluate the new physics engine.

Imaga via 2K

It’s difficult to believe the latest gaming hardware wouldn’t significantly enhance the gameplay experience. WWE 2K26 looks set to deliver exciting and dynamic matches, and it will be interesting to feel how the improved physics system changes the game.

Leaving Behind the Old Generation Means That WWE 2K26 Can Go Bigger Than Ever

Improved Creation Suite
More memory
Larger roster of superstars
Improvements to The Island
Switch 2-specific features

Here’s a quick look at how the latest hardware improves WWE 2K26. A major upgrade is to the Creation Suite – WWE 2K25 let you save 100 custom characters, but WWE 2K26 doubles that to 200. This means more replay value and even greater freedom to create. The newer consoles simply have more memory, and that makes a significant difference in the game.

The Island and Fighter Roster Also See Big Changes

The return of The Island in WWE 2K26 has sparked some debate, especially considering past issues with the online multiplayer experience. However, this new version of The Island is significantly improved – it’s larger and much more interactive. Players can now choose one of three factions and battle for control of the map. While microtransactions could still be a point of contention, fans of the original Island mode will find this version even more engaging thanks to the power of current generation consoles. And WWE 2K26 will feature over 400 playable characters – the largest roster in the game’s history, demonstrating the benefits of the new console technology.

WWE 2K26 also marks The Island finally being available for PC players, expanding the mode’s reach.

Switch 2-Specific Features Could Make the Console One of the Best Ways to Play WWE 2K26

As a Nintendo fan, I’m really excited about the Switch 2! It sounds like it’s going to let you play with a mix of console and PC-style controls, which is awesome. What’s really got me hyped is that WWE 2K26 is going all-in on the new mouse controls. Apparently, you can use them to create incredibly detailed custom wrestlers! Plus, it looks like Switch 2 will have features like GameShare and GameChat, making multiplayer even better. It’s a huge step up!

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WWE 2K26 Focusing On the Current Gen Was Going to Happen Sooner or Later

For a while, many game series continued to support older consoles, but now the industry is inevitably moving forward to focus on the newest systems – something current console owners have been eager to see. This isn’t about abandoning the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or Nintendo Switch; it’s simply the natural progression that will allow games to truly take advantage of modern technology. With talk already starting about the PlayStation 6 and the next Xbox, 2K Games has a limited time to show off what the WWE 2K series can achieve on current hardware. Focusing on new consoles is the only way WWE 2K26 will be able to utilize improved physics, increased memory, and hopefully, better overall performance.

It’s really tough to develop a game for both older and current consoles while also making it better than the last one. While WWE 2K26‘s graphics aren’t a massive upgrade, they do look noticeably improved. The biggest improvements are actually in how the game plays, which is good – fun gameplay is more important than amazing graphics. This is a good first step towards the graphics eventually matching the advanced gameplay, and we can expect WWE 2K27 to look even better. WWE 2K26 represents a significant change for the series, and it will be interesting to see how it shapes future installments.

2026-02-07 14:05