WWE 2K18: New Gameplay, Modes & Everything We Know So Far

Having to produce WWE games on an annual basis is no easy feat, having to make them each seem fresh and different from the last year’s installment. With 2K18 fast approaching, needless to say that it’s crucial that this year’s game moves with the times and adapts to the new era of the ever-changing landscape of the WWE.

2K Games hosted a special developers conference in an effort to address and reveal some of their biggest prospects going into the release window. Some of the goodies have been a long time coming, whereas others may be slightly less better received.

In order to keep track of all the new features and tweaks that have been made to the ever-popular franchise, we’ve collated all that we know so far for WWE 2K18.

 

Graphics

First up are updated visuals, with the aim to create a more realistic and comprehensive wrestling game. This can come across like somewhat of an empty promise, after all, most of the character models look like they’re as good as they can get. Although there are still plenty that could do with an overhaul, images have already done the rounds of the model for AJ Styles, which looks fantastic.

It seems that the reworked graphics engine is going to focus more on the backdrops and environments, as opposed to the wrestlers themselves. With lighting, pyrotechnics and real-time reflections and physics to be at the forefront of their improvements. A comparison video was apparently on display during the conference, so hopefully that will eventually find its way online so we can all judge for ourselves whether or not the graphics have dramatically changed.

 

New/Improved Game Modes

Universe mode is set to return – which does unfortunately mean no GM mode – but the goal is to build upon the individual experience of Universe mode with new storylines and simulated events which take place on the weekly shows. They intend for Universe mode to feel more fluid and organic, mimicking the recent changes to WWE television with the increase in PPVs as well as a split roster. Even though the default draft will be that of the current product, there’s nothing stopping the player from manually editing their preferred blue and red brands, as well as throwing some love to the cruiserweights on 205 Live and of course NXT.

And as if you couldn’t get one without the other, MyCareer is also tagging along for the ride. I’ll go on record here and say that MyCareer is a crock of shite. Some sports-simulation games manage to pull them off quite well, but somehow, 2K just can’t seem to get what they want their version to be. Perhaps WWE is too much of a soap-drama for MyCareer to truly fit in, having to build your characters stats and ranking amongst the rest of the roster seems like it could work, yet the focus is more upon role-playing elements and storyline nonsense. It would make more sense for 2K to put their efforts into creating a story/season mode instead of a career mode knock -ff. Save that for NBA, FIFA, dare I use the word ‘proper’ sports games.

But enough slander, here’s what’s new.

The MO is to create a more linear story for your character to go on, as opposed to the sporadic nature of last year’s career narrative. MyCareer will for the first time feature female characters for you to take through the ranks (which may become slightly tedious considering the lack of female competitors on each brand), and will also branch into the online world with the brand new ‘Road to Glory’ mode. Details are fairly hush right now, but what was revealed was that this is to act as the endgame of MyCareer, so the safe assumption would be that once you’ve steamrolled the AI a bunch of times, you now must go and murder all the other parallel universe WWE champions until you are the only one remaining – actually that sounds pretty damn cool.

MyCareer and Universe Mode will both feature a revamped Promo Engine, aptly named Promo 2.0 – an upgraded way to talk smack to your opponent prior to a match. Successfully completing these challenges will reward you with perks during the match. Players can also have the chance to free roam about the arenas, a la Smackdown: Shut Your Mouth. I for one am quite looking forward to seeing how they pull this off, and how much interaction your superstar will actually be granted with other wrestlers and the backstage world. Again, it seems more appropriate for this to be included in a story-based season mode as opposed to a Career rankings game, but hey, I’ll give it a chance.
Referring back to the online modes, not only will the servers once again be overhauled to improve playability and navigation, but players can now fight backstage online too. The backstage brawl mode has undergone some changes, with new environments added to make those fights seem a little less samey.

 

Gameplay

Outside of the game modes, a few tweaks have been made to the gameplay experience, some which shall be taken very well I’m sure. For starters, the commentary table has been completely revised. No more cringey Jerry Lawler quips, no more nasally JBL remarks, no more Maggle being Maggle. Well, actually, that last one was a lie, Michael Cole shall be returning alongside newcomers Byron Saxton and Corey Graves to deliver a much more organic commentary to the matches, having had more time to work with the three to produce more audio for the game, hopefully it’ll seem less like they were thrown in a recording studio and told “just say stuff”. My only concern here is that once again there will be just ONE commentary team for all brands of WWE. So there will be nothing to distinguish between Raw, Smackdown, NXT or 205 Live like in previous games (way back with JR/King, Tazz/Maggle).

The promise of an even bigger roster has once again been thrown out, with numbers reaching up to 200 overall. That’s a pretty tall order, but considering the sheer amount of signings they’ve had since 2K17’s cut-off point (just before Bobby Roode’s debut, if that gives you an idea), we’re in for a pretty big debut list. Thinking about all the newer NXT stars, the entire cruiserweight division, and new HOF inductees, this year is bound to deliver on the new playable characters. One of my personal criticisms of 2K17 was that aside from a select few newcomers, there was nobody to be excited about. 2K quite literally disguised 2K16’s DLC as ‘new roster additions’, cheeky buggers.

Each member of the roster is going to be designated one of the new fighting styles, to help provide them with some unique individuality not found in WWE games since Smackdown vs Raw 2008. So far, they have hinted towards High-Flyers, Giants and ‘Arts’ being three of the new styles, each with their own specific skills and attributes that reflects their physical abilities and movesets. This not only compliments exhibition matches in local multiplayer but also creates a more defined customisation experience for created superstars – making them more streamlined, should someone wish to create a luchador or a MMA-based fighter.

Gameplay itself has been overhauled somewhat with a new core grappling and submissions system. It seems that almost every year that a new grappling system is thrown about, with the aim of making it easier to use than the last year’s. A new dragging and carrying system has been introduced, which allows players to pick up and move their opponents before executing a move such as a powerbomb or cradle. Interested to see how this actually changes a match.

 

Creation Suite

A new create-a-match feature has been introduced to the Creation Suite to provide the player with even more power over the ring. You can pretty much customise everything now, it’s hard to think where they can really go from here, but create-a-match is something that has been desperately needed considering the lack of match types available in the base game. I certainly see the return of the Inferno match and such in the coming months.

Also, YouTubers rejoice! New video recording features are on their way to allow for better productions and realistic videos for entrances and highlight reels.

 

Pre-Order Bonuses

As per usual, 2K have unveiled several different editions of 2K18 for gamers to pre-order leading up to October. With each of those comes specific bonuses, some which seem somewhat more necessary than others.

The most notable is the inclusion of current Raw GM Kurt Angle as a playable character. As many had predicted, the olympic hero has finally made his way back into WWE video games, and players will be able to use two versions of him, highlighting the most prolific points of his storied career. Promotional material suggests that the ‘Team Angle’ attire from his WWE Championship run in 2003 will be available, as well as the WWE ECW ‘Wrestling Machine’ singlet that fans saw him use in his final matches prior to leaving in 2007. Angle remains the standard pre-order bonus, despite variation in edition.

The biggest difference seems to come from the typical season pass bonus and accompanying early access code to this year’s game. Those who purchase the deluxe edition will be granted 4 extra days to start honing their skills and getting to grips with the new gameplay systems before the standard edition unlocks on the 17th. Never have I seen a pre-order allow this on a franchised game before, so I’m personally debating whether or not it’s worth the extra 25 quid to upgrade. The season pass alone will probably be worth it, considering the amount of DLC 2K manage to pump out for these games each, getting to play it a little early and have your custom creations at the top of the list first is just a bonus,

 

The Cover Star

As we previously covered, Seth Rollins is gracing the cover of this year’s 2K release. An appropriate choice, considering the push towards ‘a new era’ of wrestling. It seems that Rollins is sick of being compared to the likes of Triple H, Stone Cold and other such Attitude Era legends, so he’s taking it into his own hands to destroy their legacies, and be like no one.

Or something.

 

Other cool stuff

Finally, the gritty changes. As I’ve already mentioned, the backstage brawl has been enhanced to include new areas and interactables – but more importantly, 8-Man matches are now a thing. FINALLY. After so many years of waiting for 4 on 4 tag matches and bigger Royal Rumbles/Battle Royals, we can finally get our grubby hands on two extra characters getting involved. Mixed-gender matches are also going to be worked upon, should players wish to mix it up with the women’s division as well. The new model of the Elimination Chamber is also set to make its first game appearance as well.

So what do you think guys? Is this more of the same from 2K? Or are you impressed with the prospects? Let us know in the comments section below, and get pumped for 2K18’s release on October 17th.