WWE 2K22: Difference between revisions

| released = MarchJuly 11, 2022

'''''WWE 2K22''''' is a 2022 [[professional wrestling]] [[sports video games|sports]] video game developed by [[Visual Concepts]] and published by [[2K (company)|2K]]. It is the twenty-thirdsecond overall installment of [[WWE 2K|the video game series]] based on [[WWE]], the nintheighth game under the ''[[WWE 2K]]'' banner,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilson |first1=Ben |title=WWE 2K22 release date, roster, cover and everything you need to know |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/wwe-2k22-guide/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=[[GamesRadar+]] |date=March 11, 2021 |archive-date=November 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211122171749/https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/wwe-2k22-guide/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Shirey |first1=J. Brodie |title=WWE 2K Teases Announcement Coming At WrestleMania 37 |url=https://screenrant.com/wwe-2k-game-wrestlemania-37-2k22-reveal-announce/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=Screen Rant |date=April 8, 2021 |archive-date=October 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211031172729/https://screenrant.com/wwe-2k-game-wrestlemania-37-2k22-reveal-announce/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Sheehan |first1=Gavin |title=2K Games Announces WWE 2K22 During WrestleMania 37 |url=https://bleedingcool.com/games/2k-games-announces-wwe-2k22-during-wrestlemania-37/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=[[Bleeding Cool]] |date=April 10, 2021 |quote=It wasn't a huge shock as they kind of blew the surprise two days in advance on Twitter by letting people know they should tune in. |archive-date=November 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104085304/https://bleedingcool.com/games/2k-games-announces-wwe-2k22-during-wrestlemania-37/ |url-status=live }}</ref> and the successor to 2019's ''[[WWE 2K20]].'' <ref>{{cite news |last1=Van Boom |first1=Daniel |title=WWE 2K22 game debuts at WrestleMania 37 |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/wwe-2k22-game-debuts-at-wrestlemania-37/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=[[CNET]] |date=April 10, 2021 |quote=It's the first WWE 2K game in years, after WWE 2K20 was lambasted by critics and fans. |archive-date=November 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211104094706/https://www.cnet.com/news/wwe-2k22-game-debuts-at-wrestlemania-37/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It was released on March 11, 2022, for [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Windows]], [[Xbox One]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Everything We Know About WWE 2K22: Release Date, Platforms, Gameplay and News - Gaming Route|date=December 8, 2021|url=https://gamingroute.com/everything-we-know-about-wwe-2k22-release-date-platforms-gameplay-and-news/|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-08|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208125047/https://gamingroute.com/everything-we-know-about-wwe-2k22-release-date-platforms-gameplay-and-news/}}</ref> The follow-up title, ''[[WWE 2K23]]'', was released on March 1714, 2023.

The 2K Showcase Mode is rebranded as Showcase, featuring cover superstar [[Rey Mysterio]], allowing players to play through the biggest moments of his WWE career, from his [[Halloween Havoc (1997)|WCW Halloween Havoc 1997]] matchup withagainst [[Eddie Guerrero]] under the name, Rey Mysterio Jr., for the [[WCW Cruiserweight Championship]] atto his [[Halloween HavocPayback (19972020)|WCWPayback Halloween Havoc 19972020]] to his [[tag team match]]matcup with his son, [[Dominik Mysterio]], against [[Seth Rollins|"The Monday Night Messiah" Seth Rollins]] and his disciple, [[Buddy Murphy|Murphy]], atin a [[Paybacktag (2020)|Paybackteam 2020match]]. The Showcase mode incorporates new features and updates. By progressing through, players are able to unlock new characters, attires, and arenas.<ref name="Game features"/><ref name="Game features 2"/> At [[IGN]] Fan Fest 2022, a gameplay of the match between Rey Mysterio and [[Dolph Ziggler]] at [[SummerSlam 2009]] featured a transition method between in-game to real-time action, with the [[referee (professional wrestling)|referee]]'s face being blurred, using both [[Mike Rome]]'s recordings as the ring announcer in-game and archived audio, unlike in previous games, where the commentary has been re-recorded and archived audio is used in certain points during in-game cutscenes. The game features a new mode called MyFACTION. In it, players are able to build a wrestling stable by collecting, managing, and upgrading WWE wrestlers with regular updates and weekly events. MyFACTION features player cards from throughout WWE's history.<ref name="Game features" /><ref name="Game features 2"/>

Universe Mode returned with several updates, including the ability to change camera angles while spectating matches. Other new features include playing as a single superstar, focusing only on their matches and storylines.<ref name="Game features"/><ref name="Game features 2" /> MyGM, formerly known as GM Mode, returned to the series for the first time since 2007's ''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008]]''. Players can choose between [[Sonya Deville]], [[Adam Pearce]], [[William Regal]], [[Shane McMahon|"The Best in the World" Shane McMahon]], [[Stephanie McMahon]], or a custom superstar to take control of one of WWE's four [[WWE brand extension|brands]]: [[Raw (WWE brand)|Raw]], [[SmackDown (WWE brand)|SmackDown]], [[NXT (WWE brand)|NXT]] or [[NXT UK (WWE brand)|NXT UK]], determining the optional main championships for both the men's and women's divisions via either the start of a MyGM campaign or a title match during a MyGM campaign, which can have a boost a superstar's popularity or stamina, depending if a superstar is a face or a heel, if holding a championship, with an option to add the men's and women's tag team championships on Normal and Hard difficulties during a MyGM campaign via a tag team title match being added in the Version 1.9 patch on April 19, 2022, alongside the addition of the NXT 2.0 arena. Players can book wrestling shows in high school gyms and on primetime television, draft superstars, manage contracts, and control costs, while trying to create the premier WWE brand, from the [[WWE Draft]] to [[Wrestlemania]] ([[Wrestlemania 37|37]] in this installment) across 12, 25 or 50 weeks, with weekly shows have three matches and up to two promos on Easy difficulty or four matches with up to three promos on Normal and Hard difficulties, premium live events (also known in-game as PPV events), which are held every four weeks on Easy difficulty or five weeks on Normal and Hard difficulties, have four matches with up to three promos on Easy difficulty or five matches with up to four promos on Normal and Hard difficulties and Wrestlemania, which is held on the final week of a MyGM campaign, have five matches with up to four promos.<ref name="Game features"/><ref name="Game features 2"/> In the WWE Draft, each manager starts with $2.75 million and will have to choose a minimum of eight superstars from a pool of current superstars, along with an option to add custom superstars to the pool, with original superstars added to the pool, along with a separate pool which only has WWE Legends, during a MyGM campaign via free agent signings.

Community creations in the creation suite have cross-platform support for users who are signed in to a verified 2K account. Custom images can also be used in character select screens, which allowing the player to put their own photo(s) on screen.<ref name="Game features" /><ref name="Game features 2" /> Furthermore, an in-game tutorial, featuring [[Drew Gulak|Coach Drew Gulak]], taking place at the [[WWE Performance Center]], with Rey Mysterio training with Gulak's NXT mentor, [[Matt Riddle|"The Original Bro" Matt Riddle]], was added. [[content creation|Creator]] Safe Mode can now be toggled, aside of being automatically enabled when streaming via the console's built-in streaming feature (except for the cutscene audio, if disabled), which disables the music and cutscene audio, to avoid [[copyright infringement]] during gameplay.

After ''[[WWE 2K20]]'' received mostly negative reviews from critics, as well as major technical issues in gameplay, ''WWE 2K'' franchise executive producer Patrick Gilmore promised that the next installment would rely more on the quality of the game. As a result, a follow-up, ''WWE 2K21'', was canceled with a spin-off, ''[[WWE 2K Battlegrounds]]'', instead released in 2020.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Casey |first1=Connor |title=WWE 2K's New Executive Producer Reveals Creative Direction for WWE 2K22 |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/wwe-2k-new-executive-producer-creative-direction-wwe-2k22-patrick-gilmore/ |access-date=April 13, 2021 |work=Comicbook.com |date=May 31, 2020 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413020609/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/wwe-2k-new-executive-producer-creative-direction-wwe-2k22-patrick-gilmore/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kim |first1=Matt |title=WWE 2K Devs Promise 'Significant Evolution' for Gameplay |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k-21-gameplay-evolution-no-mercy-smackdown |access-date=April 13, 2021 |work=[[IGN]] |date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=January 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113192625/https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k-21-gameplay-evolution-no-mercy-smackdown |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Olson |first1=Mathew |title=WWE 2K Dev Promises a "Significant Evolution in Gameplay" in the Next Title |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/new-wwe-2k-executive-producer-evolution-in-gameplay |access-date=April 13, 2021 |work=USgamer |date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=April 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413020610/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/new-wwe-2k-executive-producer-evolution-in-gameplay |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''WWE 2K22'' was officially announced after a [[teaser trailer]], featuring [[Cesaro (wrestler)|Cesaro]] and [[Rey Mysterio]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bankhurst |first1=Adam |title=WWE 2K22 Announced During Wrestlemania 37 with Gameplay Teaser |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k22-announced-during-wrestlemania-37-with-gameplay-teaser |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=[[IGN]] |date=April 11, 2021 |quote=During Wrestlemania 37, WWE 2K22 was revealed alongside a first look at gameplay featuring Rey Mysterio and Cesaro. |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411163248/https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k22-announced-during-wrestlemania-37-with-gameplay-teaser |url-status=live }}</ref> aired during [[WrestleMania 37]] in April 2021,<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=WWE |number=1381067312091033605 |title=You saw it during #WrestleMania first... #WWE2K22 is coming soon! Follow @WWEGames for updates and more|date=April 10, 2021 |access-date=April 10, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Aguilar |first1=Matthew |title=WWE 2K22 Reveals First Teaser Trailer |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/wwe-2k22-reveals-first-teaser-trailer/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=Comicbook.com |date=April 10, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411021554/https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/wwe-2k22-reveals-first-teaser-trailer/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Elfring |first1=Mat |title=WWE 2K22 Announced During Wrestlemania 37 With First Game Footage |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k22-announced-during-wrestlemania-37-with-first-game-footage/1100-6489944/ |access-date=April 11, 2021 |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=April 10, 2021 |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411021542/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/wwe-2k22-announced-during-wrestlemania-37-with-first-game-footage/1100-6489944/ |url-status=live }}</ref> with a "It Hits Different" tagline.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=WWEgames |number=1381066263116406785 |title=#WWE2K22. It Hits Different. More info soon… stay tuned.|date=April 10, 2021 |access-date=April 10, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Stewart |first1=Marcus |title=WWE 2K22 Teaser Trailer Promises To 'Hit Different' |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/04/10/wwe-2k22-teaser-trailer-promises-to-hit-different |access-date=April 11, 2021 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411021427/https://www.gameinformer.com/2021/04/10/wwe-2k22-teaser-trailer-promises-to-hit-different |url-status=livedead }}</ref> The announcement came nearly a year after the cancellation of ''WWE 2K21''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=April 14, 2022 |title=WWE 2K21 reportedly cancelled in favour of new game |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-04-14-wwe-2k21-reportedly-cancelled-in-favour-of-new-game |access-date=March 14, 2022 |website=GamesIndustry |archive-date=February 24, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220224161232/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2020-04-14-wwe-2k21-reportedly-cancelled-in-favour-of-new-game |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Gilliam|first=Ryan|date=April 12, 2021|title=WWE 2K22 announced during WrestleMania|url=https://www.polygon.com/2021/4/12/22379903/wwe-2k22-wrestlemania-gameplay-trailer|access-date=June 27, 2021|website=Polygon|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121164116/https://www.polygon.com/2021/4/12/22379903/wwe-2k22-wrestlemania-gameplay-trailer|url-status=live}}</ref>

On November 18, 2021, a "Hit List" trailer was released, highlighting ten specific features emphasizing the game's tagline. In the trailer, it was revealed that GM Mode (called MyGM) would be making a return to the series for the first time since 2007's ''[[WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2008]]'', and that the game would feature redesigned gameplay controls.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Wilson|first1=Ben|date=18 November 2021|title=How WWE 2K22 is reinventing itself after the disaster of WWE 2K20|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/wwe-2k22-preview/|access-date=20 November 2021|website=[[GamesRadar+]]|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118165550/https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/wwe-2k22-preview/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Purslow|first1=Matt|date=18 November 2021|title=WWE 2K22 Sees Return of General Manager Mode, Plus New Faction Mode|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k22-general-manager-mode-new-features|access-date=20 November 2021|website=[[IGN]]|archive-date=November 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211118162604/https://www.ign.com/articles/wwe-2k22-general-manager-mode-new-features|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite tweet|user=WWE|number=1461366014256553985|title=The #WWE2K22 Hit List reveals 10 new features and innovations that will make WWE 2K22 hit different in March 2022! @WWEgames|date=November 18, 2021|access-date=November 20, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref>

| MC = (PC) 72/100<ref name="MCPC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/wwe-2k22/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=WWE 2K22 for PC Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=April 29, 2022 |archive-date=May 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220507114339/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/wwe-2k22 |url-status=live }}</ref><br>(PS4) 76/100<ref name="MCPS4">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/wwe-2k22/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=WWE 2K22 for PlayStation 4 Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=April 29, 2022 |archive-date=June 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220607033531/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-4/wwe-2k22 |url-status=live }}</ref><br>(PS5) 77/100<ref name="MCPS5">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/wwe-2k22/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |title=WWE 2K22 for PlayStation 5 Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=April 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220408084456/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-5/wwe-2k22 |url-status=live }}</ref><br>(XBSX) 78/100<ref name="MCXBSX">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/wwe-2k22/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x/wwe-2k22 |title=WWE 2K22 for Xbox Series X Reviews |publisher=[[Metacritic]] |accessdate=April 29, 2022 |archive-date=April 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220418212101/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox-series-x/wwe-2k22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

| GI = 8/10<ref name="GI">{{cite web |last=Steward |first=Marcus |date=March 11, 2022 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/review/wwe-2k22/a-big-step-in-the-right-direction |title=WWE 2K22 Review - A Big Step In The Right Direction |publisher=[[Game Informer]] |accessdateaccess-date=March 11, 2022 |archive-date=April 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220414082450/https://www.gameinformer.com/review/wwe-2k22/a-big-step-in-the-right-direction |url-status=livedead }}</ref>