The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) has officially given the AEW: Fight Forever video game a T for Teen rating, citing Blood, Language, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco, and Violence. Originally expected to launch last year, the AEW: Fight Forever video game is still without a release date, but the ESRB rating suggests the game could be launching sooner rather than later.
It was previously reported that the AEW video game release was delayed due to issues with the ESRB. Apparently, the ESRB wanted to slap AEW: Fight Forever with an M for Mature rating, which would have limited its potential player base. With AEW: Fight Forever now officially receiving its T for Teen rating, it seems AEW and developer Yuke's have toned down the game's content, though it still sounds like it will be plenty violent and over-the-top.
The ESRB rating describes AEW: Fight Forever as a fairly standard wrestling game, but then mentions its special match types like Barbed Wire, Stadium Stampede, and Unsanctioned that allow weapons. Some of the weapons in the AEW: Fight Forever game include barbed wire, baseball bats, metal chairs, and perhaps most absurdly of all, Molotov cocktails. Using these weapons in AEW: Fight Forever will result in blood-splatter effects that can stain the mat as the match goes on. The ESRB rating also makes mention of live-action footage of AEW matches in the game that show blood.
Beyond the violence in the game, the ESRB rating confirms some of the other content in AEW: Fight Forever that some parents might not find suitable for their children. Female wrestlers in AEW: Fight Forever will wear "revealing outfits" that show "deep cleavage" and "exposed buttocks." There will even be bunny outfits in the game, though it's possible that particular attire is restricted to the wrestler who is literally named The Bunny. The ESRB adds that there are some inappropriate gestures from wrestlers in AEW: Fight Forever, including crotch chops, along with live-action footage of wrestlers drinking and smoking. The word "sh*t" can be heard in the game as well.
AEW programming is aimed at an older audience than WWE, and so a lot of this kind of content is regularly featured on the company's television shows. It makes sense for the video game to be reflective of the television product, though the Molotov cocktails may be a little extreme. AEW: Fight Forever's lighthearted Pokemon Stadium-style mini-games and generally zanier approach could be an indication that things like the Molotov cocktails are more cartoonish in execution, but fans will have to wait to play the game for themselves to find out.
AEW: Fight Forever is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.