2K and Visual Concepts officially announced WWE 2K23, revealing a lot of details like cover star, release date, new features.
2K and Visual Concepts officially revealed WWE 2K23 – the sequel to the long-running franchise, as well as details regarding the cover star, game mode, release date, and more. WWE 2K23 releases on the 17th. March 2023 and will feature John Cena (in three iconic poses) as the cover star on the regular, Deluxe and Icon versions.
Following the success model built by WWE 2K22, this new installment continues to iterate and improve on its core content. WWE 2K23 promises “ultra-realistic graphics, animations, camera angles, and lighting, plus accessible controls and a new optional pinning mechanism that will add to the more immersive experience.” . In addition to the basic improvements, it also features a new game mode called WarGames, a unique twist on the Showcase 2K featuring John Cena, and improvements to the MyGM mode.
WarGames is a 3v3 and 4v4 single or multiplayer match, in which players will compete in two arenas side by side, surrounded by a steel cage. The exact rules of the game are still uncertain, but WWE has hosted WarGames every year since 2017 under its NXT brand, with SurvivorSeries WarGames 2022 being its first appearance in the WWE PPV at this point. Meanwhile, Showcase 2K returns to the same Slingshot technology used in WWE 2K22, with the showcase spanning Cena’s 20-year WWE career and narrated by Cena herself. The change, this time, is that the player won’t be John Cena. Instead, “players will step into the shoes of some of Cena’s toughest competitors with one goal in mind: defeat the man who will ‘Never give up'”.
“It has been a pleasure to tell the story of my career through the WWE 2K23 Showcase,” said John Cena. “2K has done an amazing job of capturing and energizing the WWE 2K franchise through this concept, and I am honored to be on the cover of WWE 2K23.”
The MyGM mode has some improvements, such as more GMs to choose from as well as a custom GM. Perhaps the biggest improvement is the inclusion of “multi-seasons,” where WWE 2K22’s MyGM mode comes to an end after one season. Other enhancements include additional display options, expanded match cards, and more match types, all with the goal of beating rival GMs in weekly rankings. MyFACTION, MyRise, Universe, and the creator suite all return with lots of improvements, such as the ability to play MyFACTION online and an expanded universe with a remastered story system.
All in all, it seems like another step in the right direction for the WWE 2K brand, after WWE 2K20 was released globally. Of course, it all remains to be seen, but fans will know themselves in just a few weeks.