STAMFORD – Sources confirmed the next “WWE 2K” game will not only feature Cody Rhodes as a wrestler, but also honor him with a story mode that can’t be finished.
“To honor the American Nightmare plays will be able to relive his story that he has yet to finish. You’ll scratch and claw your way through the WWE roster, and in the end truly feel the satisfaction of being attacked by the Usos or punched in the balls,” reads the press release. “The mode has elements of roguelike gameplay in it, a historic first for 2K. You’ll be able to buy upgrades throughout the year like dedicating the match to your dad or visiting a Make-a-Wish kid, but in the end it’s all to see how long you can last before losing. With this new technology, it’ll be a finale that’s impossible to newcomers and veterans alike”.
Though developers are not supposed to disclose information about the upcoming game, we were able to sit down with one to talk about the trials of making the title.
“We did have a celebration cutscene planned for Cody a few months back. He’d hold the belt, confetti and pyro would rain down, Vince McMahon would personally hug him, Goldust would come back for some reason, all the works,” revealed the anonymous developer. “Then one of the higher ups said they wanted to hold it off for a bigger release, and just scrapped the entire thing. This mode was what we were putting the whole game behind, we were all disappointed to cut it – I can’t blame them though, we only have 12 months to make these games, and we can’t run a sloppy shop. Priorities take place, like not fixing Universe mode or locking more wrestlers behind MyFaction.”
Though many seem excited by the commitment to not committing, there is a vocal subsection of fans scorned by the decision, as with most things wrestling.
“It’s clear that this game is just going to be the same product that we’ve seen over and over again since 2K22. Just throwing away what the fans want to see happen so that you can build to another quick buck,” said Sam Holland Jr., self-proclaimed ‘smark’. “If they won’t let us finish the story as Cody now, what game will it be? 2K25? 2K26? Are we just going to have to keep waiting until whatever game they put The Rock on the cover? Shit like this is why when I buy the game on launch, I’m only going to be playing as the NXT wrestlers.”
The news has sparked an arms race around the world of wrestling games, as AEW has started looking into including a story mode in a sequel to “AEW: Fight Forever” where your player character has to stand around and do nothing of substance for eight months while their opponent heals from injury.
