WWE Possibly Partnering With EA

It is interesting being on this side of the fence for big releases like Dying Light 2, Elden Ring, and even WWE 2K22, seeing things that are possibly more evident than others. We see things such as reviews from major sites not releasing within hours of the embargo lifting. We haven’t hit it either despite the fact I played several hours of it yesterday, as we only received the code hours following the embargo lifting. However, as Gamespot put it, 2K22 could be a “make-or-break game” for publisher 2K. Mike Straw of Fightful Select reports that WWE is apparently seeking a deal with EA.

Following the abysmal release of 2K20, accompanied a year later by the not so atrocious but indeed monotonous and desperately unwanted 2K Battlegrounds, one could see a reason why the latest release puts 2K on tenterhooks. Fightful reports, “multiple sources have stated that WWE has had preliminary discussions with EA about bringing the WWE Games line over to one of the top gaming publishers in the world.” A claim I don’t think I’d stand by in a court of law. Individually, Tencent, Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft generate more yearly revenue than the FIFA loot box peddlers.

There are reports of budget cuts and other examples of strife throughout development, making morale as bleak as the actual WWE locker room at the moment. Repeated releases have taken a toll on those working on the games following the departure of Yukes, it seems that WWE views this as damaging to the brand. As if daily news on how the company is run didn’t do that enough. According to one source, “WWE has shown a lot of frustration with the reception and lack of success of recent games. The gaming market is a major selling point for them, and they believe they’ve fallen behind the competition.”

Of course, this fall in the marketplace comes as Yukes left in 2019 following the release of 2K19, making the departure after an 18-year partnership. Starting back in 2000 with then-publisher THQ, the then WWF SmackDown games became a hallmark of the PS2-era. Shut your Mouth and Here Comes the Pain often are regarded as the greats, though I’ll always hold SmackDown Vs Raw ’06–’08 in high regard. 2K would purchase the publishing rights following the downfall of THQ as we knew it before the name would be resurrected by Nordic Games, and thus the 2K era began in 2013 with 2K14.

It wasn’t an easy start then either, as it wasn’t until 2K16 and 17 that the new partnership gelled into a solid game. Now the longtime developer of everyone’s favorite wrestling games is set to release an AEW title at some stage, though we don’t know when. As reported, WWE did begin talks in 2016 ahead of a six-year extension on the 2K partnership being signed. Reports also suggest there is an option to continue beyond that. Following recent events with 2K releases, a deal with EA couldn’t be too far out of the picture.