WWE 2K22was announced this year at Wrestlemania 37, showing brief footage of Rey Mysterio squaring off with Cesaro. Since then, not much information has surfaced on the latest entry into theWWE 2Kseries, but it’s got something to prove. Fans have been frustrated with theWWE 2Kgames for some time now, with the quality waning with each release.With the poor receptionWWE 2K20had, and a first-ever year break from development,WWE 2K22may be fans' last hope at a redemption title.
WWE Smackdown vs Rawwas a successful series of WWE wrestling games in the latter half of the 2000s, ending withWWE SvR 2011. During these years, the developer Yuke’s experimented with new game mechanics within each iteration that fans remember fondly, some becoming staples in the genre. However, some features haven’t been seen since then, and these are some that fans miss the most. With a new entry on the horizon, anddeveloper Visual Concepts riding solo once more, it could take a look back at some features to include, even modernizing some of them while the company is at it.
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What WWE 2K22 Could Do Differently
WWE 2K22will most likely be releasing towards the end of 2021. Though this is in line with previous iterations releasing in October every year, releasing on a different schedule could be indicative of change. It’d be a small one, of course, but it’d be there if the company took a different approach and something more akin toSvR.
WWE SvR 2006introduced the Stamina system that is still used in recent iterations. Another feature allowed players to use up their special while laying on the mat to roll up their opponent in a sneaky pin attempt or use their special to copy their opponent’s taunt, effectively draining their opponent’s momentum meter. These were nice little touches added to the gameplay side, showing how important innovation is, though what fans are really hoping for inWWE 2K22is the return of General Manager Mode.
WWE SvR 2006introduced a beloved feature that was only later seen inWWE SvR 2008and that was General Manager Mode. In this mode, players act as the general manager for Smackdown or Raw, managing their finances while contracting or releasing their own roster of superstars. Players will have to book matches, establish rivalries, and compete with the other brand to ultimately become General Manager of the Year by the seasons' end at Wrestlemania. GM Mode is by far the most requestedWWE 2K22feature and for good reason, as it allows players to see the other, arguably more interesting side of the business in a really entertaining way.With AEW announcing its own GM game for mobile, this could be the time to bring GM Mode back.
Smackdown vs. Raw
Another featureWWE 2K22could take from the SvR series is the ability to use custom music. During a time, players could use custom music from their console (or music CD) for their created wrestler’s entrance theme, but this was eventually scrapped. The ability to truly personalize every aspect of a created wrestler, or even update an existing wrestler with their current music, is lost if custom themes don’t eventually make a return.
One last feature that is missed fromWWE SvR 2009was the ability to create a finisher. This feature allowed players to string up to 10 animations from 500 and create a deadly (or silly) looking finishing animation. With the flashy and creative new ways that pro wrestlers are coming up with to assault their opponents, this would allow fans to update the roster of available moves keeping their copy up to date.
For now, speculation and hope are all that there is for the upcomingWWE 2K22. It seems Visual Concepts is listening to the fans in some capacity, and with real competition on the front lines in AEW and its games, perhaps fans won’t have long to wait to enjoy some of their favorite features again.
WWE 2K22is still in development and will be released in 2021.
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