On a WWE earnings name this week, chief model officer Stephanie McMahon expressed the corporate’s dedication to videogames, together with its pursuit of a venture “within the roleplaying recreation house.”
The musclebound machismo of the squared circle looks like it might be an ideal match for gaming, however the WWE’s legacy on that entrance has been decidedly combined, with some fondly remembered video games from the arcade and 16-bit days overshadowed by the WWE 2K collection, whose most up-to-date entries McMahon touched on within the name:
“We had been extraordinarily happy with the relaunch of our premium videogame console franchise, WWE 2K,” stated McMahon. “After taking somewhat greater than a 12 months off to enhance the sport engine, we labored hand in glove with our companions at Take-Two Interactive, listened to our prospects and followers, and earned again their belief by delivering a recreation that exceeded their expectations. WWE 2K22 was a industrial and significant success, with the best Metacritic scores on each Xbox and PlayStation platforms in franchise historical past, with over 5.6 million hours considered on Twitch thus far.”
The earlier entry, 2K20, was a notorious flop, with graphical and gameplay glitches making the rounds on YouTube and an costly $90 digital deluxe edition doing little to assist its repute. 2K22 has fared higher, however the “highest Metacritic scores on each Xbox and Ps platforms in franchise historical past” fall in the high 70s, with the PC model down at 72. Respectable numbers, however not precisely encouraging for a series-high water mark.
Persevering with, McMahon will get to the a part of the decision we’re involved in: “We proceed to see energy within the efficiency of our cell video games with 2K and Scopely, SuperCard and Champions, and just lately signed a brand new deal within the roleplaying recreation house that might be introduced quickly.”
So, there is a WWE RPG within the works, apparently. The truth that McMahon mentions this venture in the identical breath as WWE’s cell video games might indicate that this would possibly not be a full-fat console/PC launch, however my thoughts nonetheless boggles on the thought.
Might we see one thing centered on a full profession/story mode, taking a storage health club no one to the heights of Sports activities Leisure superstardom? It may have character constructing and lessons with completely different archetypes, bruisers and speedsters, with skills that have an effect on your efficiency in-and-out of the ring.
Perhaps it may have a BioWare-style morality system, with a Heel/Face meter and get together approval from the opposite wrestlers in your steady. The sport’s potential developer may go in a wholly completely different path as effectively, possibly an alternate, wrestling-themed fantasy world like Brütal Legend’s metal-themed dimension.
We in all probability should not get too forward of ourselves although, particularly given the place McMahon takes the gaming portion of the presentation subsequent:
“We additionally proceed to judge the metaverse, each walled-garden environments that exist already, in addition to decentralized properties,” McMahon stated. “Look to listen to extra within the coming months”
Pack it in people, that is a wrap. It is New Day NFTs from right here on out.
