Justin Leeper’s predictions have come full circle, as WWE 2k21 has officially been canceled, and 2K just announced brand new wrestling game. Leeper, a former WWE 2K narrative lead, broke the story of the game’s cancellation, and that a new title was being developed for release this year. That new title was just announced today on the WWE 2K website as WWE 2K Battlegrounds.
The game is an arcade-style brawler and is developed by NBA 2K Playgrounds studio Saber Interactive. The trailer reveals some of the game roster, which includes names like Becky Lynch, John Cena, and even The Rock. The trailer highlights its wacky, over-the-top gameplay and art style, and features a scene of The Rock throwing John Cena into… a crocodiles mouth!?! Characters in the game can apparently summon superpowers and each move has some added flair to it. Speaking of flair, Charlotte Flair is also seen in the trailer growing bright green after a victory over Becky Lynch.
A more lighthearted and fun approach should go a long way with 2K’s wrestling game community. Their last release, WWE 2K20, was glitchy, filled with bugs, and deservedly met with scathing reviews. The new title could be a sign of amelioration, and provide a nostalgic callback to the arcadey wrestling games of the past, like WWE Wrestlefest. The WWE 2K series will return after an extended development, with the hope that a longer production timeline will improve quality. In their announcement, 2K addressed the failures of the series last release and made their future goals clear, saying “we are applying what we’ve learned to the next WWE 2K simulation game with a renewed focus on quality and fun.”
WWE 2K Battlegrounds is set for release this fall, with more information on the game and its launch window to be shared in the coming months.