WWE 2K24
WWE 2K24 | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Visual Concepts |
Publisher(s) | 2K |
Series | WWE 2K |
Platform(s) | |
Release | March 8, 2024 |
Genre(s) | Sports |
Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
WWE 2K24 is a professional wrestling sports video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. It is the twenty-fourth overall installment of the video game series based on WWE, the tenth game under the WWE 2K banner, and the successor to WWE 2K23. It was released on March 8, 2024 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
WWE 2K24 received generally favorable reviews upon release, with critics considering it to largely consist of incremental improvements and refinements over its predecessor.
Gameplay
Like its predecessor, WWE 2K24 features arcade and simulation wrestling gameplay. Several gimmick matches have returned to the franchise, such as ambulance, casket, gauntlet, and special guest referee matches. The "Backstage Brawl" mode was updated with a larger variety of weapons and four-player multiplayer.[1][2][3] New combat features include "Super Finishers"—which allows players to use all three of their finisher charges at once to perform a higher-powered move, the ability to dive onto groups of opponents, and new types of objects as weapons such as microphones and trash cans.[3][1][2]
The Showcase mode, "Showcase... of the Immortals", is themed around notable matches from the history of WrestleMania, from Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, with George "The Animal" Steele by his side, VS. "Macho Man" Randy Savage, with Miss Elizabeth by his side, for the WWE Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania III to Roman Reigns VS. "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship (WWE and Universal Championship belts) at WrestleMania 39, through including recreations of their respective venues (such as SoFi Stadium for WrestleMania 39), all without usage of arena names, due to licensing issues, all cumulating with a dream match: a 30-men Royal Rumble match at the WrestleMania X arena to determine the "Champion of WrestleMania", featuring 29 superstars that were playable throu (including 2 variants of . It incorporates archive footage mixed into gameplay, and also features segments narrated by various WWE superstars, such as Hulk Hogan, Seth "Freakin'" Rollins, and "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and it is hosted by Corey Graves.[4][1][2] Furthermore, alongside Mike Rome, who has been the sole ring announcer since WWE 2K22, Samantha Irvin and Alicia Taylor will now serve as ring announcers. An option to choose one of the three ring announcers has been added in the Ver. 1.05 patch update on April 3, 2024. The tutorial mode from the previous two games have been retooled as "Lessons" mode, allowing players to learn the various combat mechanics individually or in sequential order by session or through a single run, playing as various WWE superstars in the WWE Performance Center, with the final lesson being a free practice session with "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes and Roman Reigns, which can be ended via pinfall.
MyGM mode is similar to 2K23, but adds additional features such as the ability to purchase permanent tiered upgrades to production, scout for talent, and conduct trade offers between brands following events. It also adds new match types, four new managers (Roman Reigns' special council, "The Wiseman" Paul Heyman, "The Million Dollar Man" Ted DiBiase, Theodore Long and William Regal) and a new brand (ECW). MyUniverse was similarly updated with additional features, including more types of run-ins, a "Superstar" mode, where you control a WWE superstar or a custom superstar across the calendar, and support for double title and loser leaves town matches.[1][3] MyFaction introduces Persona cards, which unlocks alternate attires for existing WWE superstars that can be playable in any mode if obtained. MyRise mode on 2K24 features two campaigns, the men's division campaign "Undisputed", and the women's division campaign "Unleashed". In Undisputed you play as "The Dark Horse", the newly crowned Undisputed WWE Universal Champion whom attempts to escape the shadow of Roman Reigns, after vacating the title to pursuit his Hollywood career, in hopes to break his record of 1,253 days[a] as champion in the modern era. In Unleashed, you play as "The Captain of TBD" an indie wrestling legend who suddenly thrust into the WWE, as she tries to "unleash" her full potential.[5][2]
Development
In May 2023, during an annual quarterly earnings call held by 2K's holding company Take-Two Interactive, WWE 2K24 was announced as an upcoming title set to be released in March 2024 fiscal year.[6]
The game was officially announced on January 22, 2024, for a release on March 8 for PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes was announced as the cover star of the standard edition, while The Judgment Day's Rhea Ripley and "The EST of WWE" Bianca Belair were announced as the cover stars of the deluxe edition. A "40 Years of WrestleMania" Edition was also announced, with its cover featuring a collage of current and past WWE performers.[7][4]
Release
The game was released on March 8, 2024. In the United States, all copies of the game include a one-month trial of Peacock. Pre-order bonuses included a digital copy of WWE 2K23, and a Nightmare Family pack with four characters (Stardust, "Undashing" Cody Rhodes, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, and "The Superstar" Billy Graham) and three gold MyFaction cards (including an "Elite Collection" Mattel WWE Defining Moments "Bruised" Cody Rhodes Action Figure Persona, and Rhodes' dog Pharaoh as a manager). The Deluxe edition added early access beginning March 5, the season pass, and perks such as the ability to immediately unlock the entirety of the game's roster, a "Mega-Boost" for custom wrestlers in MyRise mode, and alternate outfits for Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley.[7][4] Furthermore, more "Elite Collection" Mattel WWE Action Figure Persona cards were added post-launch, such as John Cena and "Ichiban" Hulk Hogan.
The "40 Years of WrestleMania" edition is a superset of the deluxe edition that also includes Lincoln Financial Field[b] (site of WrestleMania XL) as an arena, unlocks the entire roster in 2K Showcase mode, and also adds alternate outfits and MyFaction cards for "The Queen" Charlotte Flair, "Macho Man" Randy Savage, Rey Mysterio, Rhea Ripley, and Triple H based on their most notable WrestleMania appearances.[7][4]The alternate outfits and MyFaction Cards in this pack was released on April 3, 2024, with the WrestleMania XL arena to be released on the same summer.
Reception
Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
Metacritic | XSXS: 83/100[8] PS5: 81/100[9] PC: 78/100[10] |
Publication | Score |
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Game Informer | 8.5/10[11] |
GameSpot | 8/10[12] |
GamesRadar+ | [14] |
IGN | 8/10[13] |
Shacknews | 8/10[15] |
WWE 2K24 holds "generally favorable" reviews according to Metacritic.[16]
Mark Delaney of GameSpot noted that WWE 2K24 made "appreciable, albeit not revolutionary, improvements to last year's solid foundation across the board", including more "fluid" chaining of moves and Super Finishers, albeit noting that hair physics were still "janky", and the animations associated with top rope moves were still prone to "warping" that "betray the otherwise commendable level of realism" in the game's presentation. He also noted incremental improvements to MyGM and MyUniverse modes, and the WrestleMania showcase to be akin to a "playable WrestleMania documentary" that blends archive footage with in-engine gameplay, but felt that it needed more interviews to help "contextualize" the matches.[2]
IGN similarly noted that "you'll need to sift through 2K24 with a fine-toothed comb to find significant differences between this and last year's edition", observing that the majority of the roster (besides Becky) were visually accurate to their real-life appearances and had fewer "outdated" gimmicks, new combat options such as Super Finishers and small objects such as microphones as weapons, and AI improvements. The return of gimmick matches such as gauntlet, ambulance, casket, and special guest referee matches were also noted. The Showcase mode was panned for being "full of fights that are simply not as special as they are presented to be", abrupt mixing of live-action archive footage, and exclusion of certain matches. In conclusion, it was felt that "there are enough new little features added to every inch of this iteration that make it well worth climbing back into the ring. Old enemies still have their number, though, such as making its docuseries Showcase mode feel good to actually play, creating a more consistent tone and pacing in MyRise, and getting more of the current day roster up to the high visual bar that’s currently only hit by its most popular superstars."[1]
Notes
References
- ^ a b c d e Green, Jarrett (March 4, 2024). "WWE 2K24 Review". IGN. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e Delaney, Mark. "WWE 2K24 Review - Long-Term Booking". GameSpot. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c Winnard, Liam (January 22, 2024). "WWE 2K24 New Match Types, Game Modes & More Details Announced". WrestleTalk. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Yin-Poole, Wesley (January 22, 2024). "WWE 2K24 Release Date Announced, Cover Star Revealed". IGN. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ "WWE 2K24 MyRISE Details Revealed; Original Titles, Arenas, MyFACTION Cards Included As Unlockables | Fightful News". Fightful.com. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Valentine, Rebekah (May 17, 2023). "Take-Two's Coming Year Includes 16 Games, Including a 'New IP' From a 'Premier Studio'". IGN. Archived from the original on May 17, 2023. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c Coulson, Josh (January 22, 2024). "WWE 2K24 Pre-Order Guide". TheGamer. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ "WWE 2K24 for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "WWE 2K24 for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "WWE 2K24 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Stewart, Marcus (March 11, 2024). "WWE 2K24 Review: Another Strong Push". Game Informer. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Delaney, Mark. "WWE 2K24 Review - Long-Term Booking". GameSpot. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Green, Jarrett (March 4, 2024). "WWE 2K24 Review". IGN. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
- ^ Wilson, Ben (March 4, 2024). "WWE 2K24 review: "A brilliant, bombastic, bruising brawler"". GamesRadar. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ Craddock, Dave (March 4, 2024). "WWE 2K24 review: Showcase of the Immortals". Shacknews. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
- ^ "WWE 2K24". Metacritic. Retrieved March 8, 2024.
External links
- 2024 video games
- 2K Sports games
- Crossover video games
- Multiplayer and single-player video games
- PlayStation 4 games
- PlayStation 5 games
- Professional wrestling games
- Take-Two Interactive games
- Video games developed in the United States
- Video games set in the 2020s
- Visual Concepts games
- Windows games
- WWE video games
- Xbox One games
- Xbox Series X and Series S games