Take-Two sees growth potential for WWE 2K franchise

Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has said that 2K’s WWE video games could be much more successful than they are today. That criticism is notable, since 2K’s WWE franchise is often overshadowed by the far more lucrative NBA series from the same company. Both game series are developed by California-based studio Visual Concepts.

Current status of WWE 2K26

The latest release, WWE 2K26, received a 7/10 review from IGN, with praise for its strong foundation. However, there are also signs that some changes do more harm than good. Despite that criticism, WWE 2K26 has posted notable performance figures. Recurring consumer spending rose by 20% compared with the previous year. In addition, more than 85 million matches have been played in WWE 2K26, up 7% compared with WWE 2K25.

Future releases: WWE 2K27

The follow-up, WWE 2K27, has been confirmed for a March 2027 release window. Zelnick said there are ongoing opportunities to improve the game’s quality. That includes offering more of what consumers want and adjusting the game so it meets player expectations. Visual Concepts continues to show a desire to do better and avoid complacency.

Criticism and adjustments

Monetization remains a sensitive topic among players. Recently, 2K adjusted how the Ringside Pass works for WWE 2K26 after community criticism. At first, players had to grind to unlock content through a system that required dozens of hours of gameplay, which was not well received. Since Season 2, players can, for example, unlock the four characters on the premium track immediately in Tier 1, and the amount of XP needed to progress through the tiers has been reduced from 800 to 625.

With all eyes on WWE 2K27, the question remains how Visual Concepts will adapt and improve the game to attract a broader audience. The franchise’s next iteration has the potential not only to satisfy players, but also to add to the growing success of WWE games within the industry.