A brand new WWE game named WWE 2K Battlegrounds was just announced, and fans don't seem too pleased with the announcement. WWE Battleground is set to release later this fall, with over-the-top arcade wrestling action. 2K seems to be looking to shake up the WWE games, but it may not be happy with the results thus far if it pays attention to fans online.
After a poorly received WWE 2K20, 2K announced that it would not be releasing an official WWE2K21. However, some WWE video game news was still released— the aforementioned arcade WWE title that fans aren't delighted with.
In just a 25 second trailer, WWE 2K Battlegrounds shows crocodiles, fists on fire, and a Green Lantern looking aura surrounding fighters during what may be super-attacks of some sort. The graphical style is extremely cartoony, but the character models aren't given much life to them. Wrestlers like The Rock, John Cena, and Charlotte Flair have literally no facial expression as they are either pile-driving opponents or getting punched in the face. The video seems slightly low tier, and not like it would come from a AAA publisher.
Fans have often asked for an arcade WWE title, perhaps a follow-up to the successful WWE Allstars. But this may be going too far, or at least, not with the heart or attention to detail that fans were hoping for.
It's rare to see a stream of reaction on Twitter without at least someone using The Office as a reference, as even Animal Crossing: New Horizons fans have found ways to sneak The Office into the game. One Twitter user very adequately used Micahel Scott to represent the disappointment of many WWE supporters.
Some fans think the hate towards 2K is a bit unfair, as fans have been asking for an arcade WWE game for quite some time. It's possible to imagine fans being very excited about this announcement if the trailer was done right and the game looked fun.
Others just want the newer WWE titles to play like WWF Wrestlemania 2000, which ranks among many fans' best wrestling games of all time, or other classic wrestling games. Perhaps WWE 2K Battlegrounds is catering to a wider and even younger audience, but the Twittersphere isn't too happy.
John Cena is often the punchline of many WWE related jokes, but being eaten by a crocodile seems extra ridiculous. It also raises the question as to how the croc even saw Cena in the first place.
In the end, the consensus among gamers, sans a few stragglers here and there that are hoping that the game will at-least play like WWE Allstars, is that WWE 2K Battlegrounds isn't great, judging by the reveal. Time will tell if the game will rank among the worst sports games of all time, as it's not fair to judge a game by its trailer, but so far the internet's opinion is pretty obvious.
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is launching fall 2020 for unspecified platforms.