It’s another year, which means we’re getting another entry in the WWE 2K series from Visual Concepts and rather than resting on laurels, there are tons of new additions, features and modes coming to WWE 2K26.
Every year, the folks at 2K and Visual Concepts always claim that the latest entry will be the best and biggest yet. And while that may be difficult to maintain, it looks like WWE 2K26 might just achieve that goal. With that in mind, I’ll let you know what I’m most excited for.
PlayStation 4 and Xbox One Have Been Dropped!
Arguably, the biggest shake-up with WWE 2K26 is that this will be a current-gen title only, meaning that it won’t be released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. While it’s a shame that gamers who don’t have a PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S or Nintendo Switch 2, this is a long-overdue evolution of the series.
It means that WWE 2K26 won’t be held back by last-gen technology, and it should mean that the developers at Visual Concepts can get more creative. During a roundtable call, the developers revealed that they can achieve in-game picture-and-picture gameplay during matches such as the Royal Rumble, and crowds will now be animated and have texture details.
They also teased new and improved ragdoll physics. An example given is that if you attempt to suplex an opponent off the stage ramp, you run the risk of falling off if you’re too close to the edge. Sometimes, it’s the smallest details that can make the biggest difference overall.
WWE 2K26 Has the Biggest Roster Ever!
Quite literally, the biggest addition, or more accurately, additions is the HUGE roster, boasting its largest playable character count ever with more than 400. We don’t have the full roster list yet or ratings, but as always, we know it will feature current Superstars and Legends of the past. Some of the new names include: Stephanie Vaquer and Penta (previously DLC), Rey Fénix, Rusev, Blake Monroe, Joe Hendry, and more.
WWE 2K26 Ditched the Season Pass and Old DLC Formula
Starting with WWE 2K26, there will be no traditional DLC or season pass. Instead, it’s planned to have six Ringside Passes over the game’s lifecycle.
The Ringside Pass will unlock content across multiple modes, encouraging players to try something new. It will unlock items for new characters, MyFACTION, Virtual Currency, The Island content and more. There will be two tiers per season: a free 60-tiered pass and an additional 40 tiers with the Premium Pass.
CM Punk vs John Cena in the Showcase Mode (at Last)
In WWE 2K23, John Cena was the star of the Showcase mode. A campaign that typically focuses on a particular wrestler as well as play out their best matches, dream matches that never were, and more recently, as in WWE 2K25, get a chance to change history.
John Cena’s Showcase mode took things in a slightly different direction. Rather than focusing on most matches he had won, it was all about his losses. So in this instance, you played as John Cena’s opponent, and your role was to defeat him over the course of multiple eras.
One of John Cena’s greatest opponents is CM Punk, the cover star of WWE 2K26. Arguably, the greatest match between the two was at Money in the Bank in 2011.
However, when WWE 2K23 was released, CM Punk was employed by rival pro wrestling promotion AEW, and understandably, he wasn’t in the game. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue, and I have no doubts that the epic Money in the Bank match will be a marquee chapter of CM Punk’s Showcase.
The Island Returns With a New Story and Locations
In WWE 2K25, Visual Concepts experimented with its new ‘The Island’ mode. Before we got the official details, many of us assumed that ‘The Island’ would be open-world (present company included). But it ended up being more of a hub area with other online players, where their created wrestlers would complete story missions or battle against each other.
Initially, I was left feeling underwhelmed with ‘The Island’. It felt quite barebones in terms of mission variety, NPC Superstars speaking via text instead of audio, it was very microtransaction-heavy, and the rewards felt very grindy. Yet, its potential was clear to see, and it’s a foundation that could be built upon.
‘The Island’ returns in WWE 2K26. It’s too early to tell whether or not all community concerns will be addressed, but what we do know is that it will have a whole new story and areas.
Roman Reigns’ “Island of Relevancy” story is no more. Instead, there’s a new tense “power vacuum” storyline involving three factions, namely: Order of Tradition, Order of Anarchy and Order of Shadows.
One newly revealed area of The Island is the ‘Scrap Yard’. Storylines will feature cutscenes and dialogue screens, hopefully, that’s multiple choice. When creating a character, you can now import a face photo. Oh, and The Island will now be available on PC!
The Draft Comes to Universe Mode!
Many gamers love the Universe mode, and I’m with them. This mode lets you run all shows how you please by booking fantasy matches and PLEs. One of the best auditions for Universe mode this year is the introduction of the ‘Draft’. Sure, you can just edit the rosters in the options, but where is the fun in that? So let’s get on stage in front of a crowd, and make a big spectacle over who’s jumping shows.
WWE 2K26 Gets Four New Match Types
WWE 2K26 will see four new match types. Firstly, we have ‘I Quit’, a one-on-one match, where you beat the crap out of an opponent and force them to utter those two words to win the match. It’s kind of like a No DQ match, but a lot more brutal.
Next up, ‘Three Stages of Hell’, basically a two out of three falls match. You get to pick the match types for all three falls, and there will be no loading screens in between those matches to make the experience feel seamless.
The ‘Inferno Match’ returns, which we haven’t seen since WWE 2K14. The ring apron is on fire, and the premise of this match is to set your opponent on fire to win. A simple but ruthless concept.
Finally, for the first time in the series, we’re getting a ‘Dumpster Match’. This is kinda like a ‘Casket Match’, apart from you’re tasked to throw your opponent in the dumpster, close the lid and win. Just don’t tell Chelsea Green about this match, because you might get impeached.
Interactive Entrances for Added Immersion
The developers remained quite vague on the interactive entrances, but they teased that you’ll be able to emote the Superstars as they walk down the aisle, which can reflect a face or heel personality. Coexisting with the multiple camera choices that players have during entrances and now these emotes, it should mean that gamers and content creators alike will have a lot of fun with this. Wade Barrett and Booker T have also been added to the commentary team, so hopefully we’ll hear Booker T work his magic as Trick Williams makes his way to the ring.
New Weapons Include Thumbtacks
While Visual Concepts did not reveal all the new weapons in WWE 2K26, they did confirm that tables are now stackable. So, if you want to perform the Dudley Deathdrop with piled-up tables, now you can. Shopping trolleys are back, and yes, you can put your opponent in it, and for the first time in the series, we can use thumbtacks.
MyFACTION Improvements
During the roundtable call, specific details on MyFACTION were bare minimum. I assume that 2K and Visual Concepts are keeping those details secret until a later date. They did say, however, that MyFACTION has intergender matches (and in MyGM) and swapping playable characters to complete objectives will be very seamless.
There will also be special cards that can give characters temporary boosts, such as chemistry and abilities, and being able to call in a Superstar to give you a helping hand in a match. I plan on speaking to the devs at a later date to gather more intel on MyFACTION.
WWE 2K26 will be released on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S and Nintendo Switch 2 on Friday, 13 March for the standard edition (CM Punk cover), or Friday, 6 March for the King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition and the Monday Night Wars Edition.
