WWE 2K22 was first announced at this past year's WrestleMania event, with 2K Sports sharing a brief video of Cesaro and Rey Mysterio wrestling each other. The next update for WWE 2K22 came at SummerSlam, with more superstars revealed and fans getting an even closer look at what the gameplay of the new title will look like. Fans had assumed that more information would come at Survivor Series, but 2K Sports shot down the possibility.
Even though it was said that WWE 2K22 news wasn't going to coincide with Survivor Series, it seems that the game's developers have decided to share more information after all, providing a list of 10 key features that WWE 2K22 is bringing to the table: Redesigned Gameplay Engine, New Controls, Stunning Graphics, Immersive Presentation, New WWE 2K Showcase, MyGM, MyFACTION, MyRISE, Universe Mode, and Creation Suite.
Full details on what all of these features have to offer have not been revealed just yet, but more information will come around Royal Rumble 2022 in January.
WWE 2K22 Has A New Engine and New Graphics
WWE 2K22 has been in development longer than any WWE 2K game has in years, and with that extra development time, Visual Concepts has redesigned the gameplay engine, promising that players will "feel the difference" as soon as they pick up the controller. This will come with new controls meant to give WWE 2K22 players more agency over their moves, with the developers promising that the game will still be easy to pick up and play, but will have enough depth to please those looking for a more complex experience.
While it's still far too early to make any judgment calls about WWE 2K22's gameplay, one can certainly form an opinion on the graphics. The WWE 2K22 trailers have shown off what the game's graphics will look like, and it certainly appears as though the game is living up to the promise that it will have "stunning graphics." Visual Concepts has implemented the same scanning methods that it uses to put together its NBA 2K rosters, which should go a long way in ensuring that all of the wrestlers look as lifelike as possible.
The improved visuals will be on full display in WWE 2K22's presentation, which the developers hope will be more immersive than ever before. The goal is to create an authentic WWE feeling when fans are playing the game, and that's been accomplished through the improved graphics as well as hours of new commentary, new crowd reactions, and new camera angles.
WWE 2K22 Game Modes
- WWE 2K Showcase
- MyGM
- MyFACTION
- MyRISE
- Universe Mode
- Creation Suite
While full details will have to wait until next year, the developers did divulge some information on the suite of WWE 2K22 game modes that will be available come launch next year. This includes the usual 2K Showcase story mode, with this year's entry seemingly about Rey Mysterio, if the trailer is any indication. WWE 2K22 will also see the long-awaited return of General Manager Mode, which is now known as MyGM.
The WWE 2K22 General Manager Mode wil llet players draft their roster of superstars, book their shows, and manage contracts. The developers said that players will start out in "high school gyms" and work their way to primetime television, which seems to suggest that the mode starts out with players essentially running their own indie wrestling promotion. This could be an interesting twist on the General Manager mode from previous games, and it will definintely be interesting to see how it all plays out when WWE 2K22 launches next year.
2K Showcase and General Manager mode are both popular returning features, but MyFACTION is a brand new mode for WWE 2K22 where players will be able to create their own stable, ala the nWo or D-Generation X, and participate in weekly events. This mode is a single-player experience and is the only game mode with microtransactions, and this time around, players will still be able to earn currency in-game as well, with the developers saying that WWE 2K22 will not be "pay-to-win."
MyRISE, meanwhile, is a revamped version of MyCareer mode from past WWE 2K games. This time around, there are more branching story paths, with players able to make choices that impact their storylines. On paper, it sounds similar to the career modes in the older WWE video games, but whether or not it's as memorable in practice remains to be seen.
And of course, WWE 2K mainstays Universe Mode and the Creation Suite are back, letting players participate in ongoing seasons of their own WWE universe and create their own custom content. The new WWE 2K22 trailer offers a brief glimpse at what Create-A-Superstar has to offer this year, and it's clear that there are a lot more options than in previous installments, which should definitely be exciting for fans that enjoy that aspect of the game.
After the disastrous WWE 2K20, it seems that WWE 2K22 is making a great effort to get the franchise back on track. Fans will find out if it succeeds when WWE 2K22 launches next year.
WWE 2K22 will launch March 2022.