Over the years the virtual WWE experience has slowly ground to a halt, so much so that last year’s WWE 2K20 was thought of as one of the worst wrestling experiences yet. With that in mind 2K have gone back to the drawing board, to instead deliver a totally over-the-top WWE experience to Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC and Google Stadia players. Today that all-important release date is known, as the roster of more than 70 WWE Superstars and Legends begins to take place.
If you’re looking to brawl without limits, then WWE 2K Battlegrounds promises to allow the chance, with it reveling in arcade styled competitive action in which friends and family can be brought together in the ring.
So, that release date… September 18th 2020 is when you’ll be able to play WWE 2K Battlegrounds, with launch on Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, PC and Google Stadia taking hold. Available for pre-order from various sources right now, should you wish to get involved you’ll find that no less than 70 WWE Superstars and Legends will be available at launch, with further characters releasing thereafter.
Created by Saber Interactive, WWE 2K Battlegrounds promises to offer explosive excitement in an approachable experience. This means it should well cater for everyone from passionate WWE fans to casual players, with several ways to play…
- Exhibition: Take part in Exhibition matches at home or on-the-go, anytime and anywhere, in local and online multiplayer action for up to four players;
- Campaign: Join the adventures of seven new WWE hopefuls – created exclusively for WWE 2K Battlegrounds – in Campaign mode and compete for the chance to earn a WWE contract. Along the way, you’ll unlock new arenas, inspired by locations such as the Everglades, a military-style Bootcamp, Mexico, New York and Scotland, while receiving guidance from legendary personalities including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin® and Paul Heyman™;
- King of the Battleground: Take on all comers in the King of the Battleground, an online, last-man-standing mode where four players start in the ring while four more wait outside to enter, challenging you to run the gauntlet and defeat them all;
- Online: Test your toughness in online tournaments and Exhibition matches.
In WWE 2K Battlegrounds you’ll find eight unique Battlegrounds environments that all play a major role in the action, many of them featuring interactive elements adding to the mayhem alongside a variety of outrageous melee weapons players can use to pummel opponents. You’ll be able to soar from military helicopters, smash down onto opponents with cars in an auto shop and toss them into the jaws of a hungry alligator in the swamp – probably those hungry alligators we found in the brilliant Maneater.
Throw in some of the most bombastic play-by-play provided by WWE commentators Mauro Ranallo and Jerry “The King” Lawler, and the mood is pretty much as you would expect.
Further to that though, players will also be able to customize their own arenas to give each brawl a personal touch and use the Superstar Creator to build their own, unique WWE Superstar with different body types and sizes, facial features, clothing, hair and fighting styles.
“We know WWE fans and gamers enjoy a wide variety of experiences, and with WWE 2K Battlegrounds, we’re presenting a whole new dimension through arcade-style gameplay that’s completely different than our WWE 2K simulation franchise,” said Chris Snyder, Vice President of Marketing for 2K. “We look forward to seeing everyone tear it up with friends and family in the Battlegrounds.”
In order to appeal to the fans though, the Superstars and Legends have to be in place and it is here where WWE 2K Battlegrounds should suit all. Designed to be easy to pick up and play, but challenging to master, with more advanced techniques to be learned and skills to be unlocked, the main draw will be the roster. Expect to find the biggest stars in place, including the likes of:
- Roman Reigns®,
- Drew McIntyre®,
- Charlotte Flair®,
- Becky Lynch®,
- Asuka®,
- Daniel Bryan®,
- Kofi Kingston®,
- Randy Orton®
- Andre the Giant™,
- Undertaker®,
- Mankind®,
- Shawn Michaels®,
- Yokozuna™,
- Sgt. Slaughter™
- and many more…
With additional unlockable Superstars to come via free updates in the future, things are certainly looking bright for WWE 2K Battlegrounds. Each Superstar utilizes one of five class styles, and each class style has its own combat moves, strengths and weaknesses. Choose from the Powerhouse, Technician, High-Flyer, Brawler and All-Rounder to find the style that works best for you. Arcade-style powerups, such as Flaming Fist, Ice Breath and Earthquake, are accompanied by colorful visual effects, offering extra excitement and an additional dimension of strategy that can quickly change the direction of a match.
Should you wish to pre-order then you’ll find the Standard Edition (£34.99) and Digital Deluxe Edition (£44.99) in place. Put your money in up-front and pre-order the Standard Edition and you’ll receive WWE Hall of Famer Edge at launch. The Digital Deluxe edition includes Edge, as well as all versions of “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock and Ronda Rousey unlocked at the beginning of play. That edition will also supply 1100 bonus Golden Bucks; an in-game currency that can be used to unlock Superstars, as well as cosmetic items.
What are you waiting for? Get that pre-order in now and then kick back until WWE 2K Battlegrounds launches on September 18th 2020. We’ll be sure to remind you when the time comes.
This game looks pretty interesting. However, will the exhibition also be single player or is that strictly multiplayer?