Here, with the whole myriad of articles I’ve written, I have hardly spoken about the WWE games; aside from my arguments for bringing back their management side from the ‘06 to ‘08 games. They are games I do enjoy, and I would highly suggest anyone who wants to try them to play the 2K16 or ‘17 releases. However, when I’d only heard of 2K18‘s Switch port being problematic and nothing more, I’d opted to fallow this and the following release also. Though, earlier this week several details were revealed for the upcoming release.

Most prominently the cover, which for sports games is like a Call of Duty game giving armchair generals a single-player mode to kill people of color. This year’s cover is the first in several years to feature a woman; however, it is the first to have said woman as the lead character on the box. The last game to have a woman featured on the cover had Michelle Calaway (née McCool) under Paul “Triple H” Levesque’s armpit back in 2006 for THQ’s Smackdown Vs. Raw 2007 release. This year’s cover models for 2K’s release feature “The Man” Becky Lynch and Roman Reigns. Both arguably being WWE’s biggest stars and those whom the company wants to push.

Over the last few years (this year in particular), WWE has been pushing further and further into giving women a more prominent role. This year alone has seen women headline the largest event in North American wrestling, in recent years the term “Diva” was dropped in favor of “Superstar,” and women are playing a more formal role than just something to look at while half-naked men hug each other. However, for several years, including those years raising other women up, one woman had gone missing from WWE’s vocabulary altogether.

This year will see the return of “The 9th wonder of the world” Chyna into the WWE sphere with a 2K20 roster appearance. I will forgo the depressing story that led to this being such a moment, though it is nonetheless. This addition comes to the Deluxe and the Collectors editions respectively as DLC. One could assume with knowledge of previous pre-launch exclusives this will also be available for purchase at a later date.

Sticking with the women and additions to the game. We will now be able to play as our own characters in the “My Career” mode, and you will be able to play as either a male or female superstar. In a short promo video featuring WWE’s Xavier Woods, he explains that once again “My Career” will retain its supernatural element from last year’s Wyatt vs Hardy “House of Horrors” match. Personally, I feel it worked better as a wrestler-focused game allowing you to role-play the character.

With that, comments are complaining that close-up cinematics looks a little, “terrible.” With the few close-ups of gameplay we’ve seen, I’ll admit it doesn’t look like 2K has used any Grand Theft Auto tax money to boost graphical fidelity. However, the graphics aren’t the selling point of the game, right? They shouldn’t be, it is a yearly release that flops out without pause much like FIFA, F1, Madden or any of the others. Not to mention close-ups on a game you play from a distance is a hard thing to complain about.

Despite that, the comments are filled with similar complaints I have had. Where’s the GM mode? As dead as the original THQ name. With 2K20 featuring the weaker and much more shallow “Universe mode.”

In the game mode sphere, 2K has brought back the “2K Showcase” mode which has featured in several 2K releases. In previous years it has focused on the careers of Goldberg, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, and Daniel Byran/Bryan Danielson. This year’s release 2K has decided to focus more so on the “Four Horsewomen” of WWE, giving you the ability to play through the careers of Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, and Bayley from NXT to more recent events.

2K has also brought back the “2K Towers” mode which featured in last year’s game. As I’ve never seen, heard, or cared for this piece, I have no idea what this is. However, WWE has Switched out the life and career of AJ Styles for the life and times of Roman Reigns. Though from the little flecks I’m hearing now about the mode it is a challenge mode for insane people who want to ruin their lives.

With additions rolling off the line like skittles, 2K has also introduced a more recent WWE addition. You can now play in the “Mixed Match Challenge” matches, the subtle intergender matches that give the illusion of men and women being in the same match. In reality, it is a tag match with both genders. A nice addition and one that brings the games closer to the TV product, however, it doesn’t add too much.

2K has added a section called “WWE 2K20 Originals,” seemingly a Mario Maker style content after launch system. In the clip that we’ve seen, it shows some concept art of a swampy arena area with Brown Strowman and a more classic Brey as a humanoid Cthulhu. With last year’s zombie Triple H and big head mode, one could assume this is the parable for this mode and possible expansion on it, allowing for creative freedom from players. As very little has been said on it, this is all speculation at this point.

The final point one has to make is the roster, which is yet to release, though it has begun the speculation train as it does every year. The first edition of the trailer reportedly featured “The American Dream” Dusty Rhodes, however, that was later removed. This may be a legal issue as the Rhodes family is not anywhere near WWE, or it could mean anything under the sun.

Some have been asking WWE Legends that are familiar with the company if they will be appearing, and of course, said legends are avoiding or outright stating they don’t know. The legends we do know will be featured, providing no more sex tapes come out of said legends, include “Stone Cold” Steve Austin and Hulk Hogan. We’ve also seen clips of NXT superstars and newer WWE additions such as Ricochet with the promise of many many more to come.

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