For years, WWE games have ruled the sports entertainment video game market, pushing out AAA games at an annual rate. During this period of dominance, various other brands, such as TNA, put out their own wrestling games. However, those games were not able to attract the massive and loyal fanbase that the WWE titles held. With the AEW video game now in development, there are many reasons to be excited about a fresh take on the popular sports entertainment genre. However, for the game to successfully challenge WWE’s throne, there may be the need for AEW to acquire a partnership with a reputable publisher.
A solid publisher plays an important role in the success of any video game, as publishers not only deal with all the logistics for the game, but oftentimes also fund the game and ensure the right marketing spreads awareness prior to the game’s release. In the sports entertainment market, there are a few successful publishers that have reliably put out new games that were well met by players. For AEW to turn into a real competitor for WWE games, it will need the right publisher that is well known in this space, while also knowledgeable on marketing and distributing this type of game.
Working with AEW Game Developer Yuke’s
Yuke’s are the current developers of the AEW game, and are probably the best company to carry forward AEW thanks to the experience the company has in creating the early WWE games. Yuke’s also has a loyal fan base within the WWE games market itself, as it has developed games such as WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, and the WWE 2K series up to WWE 2K19, which was hailed as the best WWE 2K title, until the release of WWE 2K22.
While Yuke’s track record proves that it is more than capable of creating great wrestling games, the company is not well known for its publishing abilities. Its most known publications have been the video game adaptations of Real Steel and Pacific Rim, which were not genre-defining games by any means. Since it is currently developing AEW, there is a strong possibility that future titles will be published in-house, but having an outside publisher like 2K Games would make more sense.
EA Sports
EA Sports is the most well-known and reputable sports publisher in the world today, with an unmatched catalog that has provided it with decades of success. The biggest reason for EA Sports to pick up the publication rights of AEW would be the failed acquisition of the WWE license. Since it is already in the market for a sports entertainment title, and previously lost out at the chance of publishing WWE titles for at least another year, AEW would be a good choice for EA Sports if it wants to compete with 2K Games.
EA’s biggest downfall, the inconsistency of making meaningful changes and improvements to the overall game, has plagued its titles for years. FIFA and Madden NFL titles in recent years have suffered from this lack of changes and improvements that have rendered much of the game modes and gameplay stale. For a new title that will be competing against a favorite like WWE 2K, especially after the success of WWE 2K22, AEW will need continued success beyond the first game.
2K Games
The current publishers of the WWE 2K titles may not be able to publish the AEW game in 2023, but could pounce on the opportunity to publish future titles if it loses the WWE publication rights. As mentioned, AEW needs continued success to turn into a real competitor in the market, and 2K Games could help ensure that success. With WWE 2K22, the company has already proven that it is ready to take any means necessary to ensure that the games published meet the expectations of the fans, which is something that can truly elevate any new title.
The real problem with 2K being a plausible publisher is the high probability that it will retain its WWE license after the release of WWE 2K23. For AEW to be published by 2K Games, they would need the WWE franchise to look for other publishers. However, with the success of WWE 2K22 and the possibility that future titles maintain this success, it is more than likely that WWE will remain with 2K Games for the foreseeable future.
AEW has the potential to grow into a real competitor for WWE 2K games and drive a sharp improvement in the content put out from the entire sports entertainment genre. Having a competing game will compel WWE 2K titles to take innovative steps forward, and will undoubtedly make fans of both games extremely happy.
For the success of AEW to turn into a reality, having a solid and reputable publisher is a must, which is why the best bet for the upcoming game would be EA Sports. While the company has not been the most reliable, it does have a huge fan base and will do what it takes to compete against 2K Games. That being said, there is a case to be made for in-house publishing, given the growing following that AEW has acquired.
AEW is in development for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.