Summary
- WWE 2K25 won't feature show intro cutscenes in MyUniverse mode, disappointing series fans.
- The game will include intergender matches, chain wrestling, and The Island multiplayer mode.
- A Visual Concepts developer left the door open for show intros to return in the future if demanded.
In a sad development for series fans, WWE 2K25 won’t be bringing back the popular show intro cutscenes from MyUniverse mode. Over the past month or so, more details about the next entry in the long-running WWE 2K franchise have been unveiled, sometimes as announcements on WWE programs. Bloodline manager Paul Heyman revealed the official WWE 2K25 cover art on an episode of Raw, while playable character stats have been popping up on screen during matches.
WWE 2K25 is adding or restoring many things to the standard wrestling simulation formula, with both intergender matches and chain wrestling making their long-awaited return after being missing from the series for so long. WWE 2K25 is also introducing The Island, a free-roaming multiplayer mode where up to 50 wrestling fans can challenge each other and explore locations inspired by in-ring WWE performers like WWE 2K25 cover stars Roman Reigns and The Undertaker.
WWE 2K25 Fans Are Worried About The Island
WWE 2K25's The Island mode has fans worried about microtransactions and paywalls with its similarities to another 2K series' game mode.
However, it looks like WWE 2K25 is leaving out features as well. Visual Concepts developer Bryan Williams recently spoke with WrestleZone about WWE 2K25 and the many changes coming to help make the game feel more authentic to actual WWE programming. When asked about the show introduction scenes that would play out at the start of a new card in Universe mode in past installments, Williams said that they won’t be returning this year, but left the possibility open for “further down the line.”
Universe Mode Show Intros Won’t Be Coming Back in WWE 2K25
Bryan Williams explained that he and his team at Visual Concepts have weighed the pros and cons of bringing old fan-favorite features back, stating that some players might find them tedious. Fans on Reddit’s r/WWEGames subreddit argue that seeing the pre-show pyro sequences and music play out at the start of every new WWE 2K Universe Mode card added authenticity and helped the mode feel like more than “a glorified exhibition mode.” Others point out that it would be easy to simply make the intros optional in the settings menu and give players the choice to see them if they wish.
WWE 2K24’s MyUniverse mode didn’t have these show intros either, much to the frustration of gamers who enjoyed them in older installments. Of course, new features and technical updates will likely be added through future WWE 2K25 DLC, so Visual Concepts could bring them back if enough fans demand their return. In the meantime, WWE 2K25 will hit the ring across all major platforms on March 14, right as the WWE Universe is getting ready for WrestleMania 41 in Las Vegas.
WWE 2K25
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 80 /100 Critics Rec: 87%
- Released
- March 14, 2025
- ESRB
- Teen // Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Visual Concepts
- Publisher(s)
- 2K Sports
WHERE TO PLAY
Celebrate The Bloodline in Showcase. Compete online in MyGM. Expanded gameplay includes intergender wrestling, chain wrestling, barricade diving, the return of Promos + much more!
A ROSTER FOR THE AGES
WWE 2K25 brings you an unparalleled lineup of current Superstars, Legends and Hall of Famers. The 300+ stacked roster spans multiple generations and features Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Undertaker, "The American Nightmare" Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, Jade Cargill, and more.
2K SHOWCASE: THE BLOODLINE'S DYNASTY
The all-new Showcase, hosted by “The Wiseman” Paul Heyman, celebrates one of the most historic family dynasties in wrestling. Relive legendary showdowns or dream matches between The Bloodline and WWE Superstars and Legends.
A UNIFIED MyRISE
Your Superstar takes center stage in an all-new intergender storyline with new brawl environments, unlockable arenas, characters, objects and more.
MyGM GOES WORLDWIDE
Take your show on the road with MyGM 4-player online multiplayer! Draft WWE Superstars and Legends to your show’s roster and lead your brand through multi-week seasons.
YOUR UNIVERSE, YOUR WAY
New upgrades give greater control over your Universe experience. Promos are back with multiple types and outcomes featuring new cutscenes and branching choices.
EXPANDED GAMEPLAY
Intergender wrestling makes its long-awaited debut in the WWE 2K franchise! Additional features include the return of chain wrestling, the Underground and Bloodline Rules match types, barricade diving, plus much more.
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op, Local Multiplayer, Local Co-Op
- Prequel(s)
- WWE 2K24
- Franchise
- WWE 2K
- Number of Players
- 1-8
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- PS5 Release Date
- March 14, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC
- Genre(s)
- Wrestling, Sports
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- Local Co-Op Support
- Yes
