WWE 2K22 is arriving really soon, so it's just about time for us to take a deep dive into WWE 2K22's features, game modes, and everything else you need to know.

WWE 2K22 comes out on March 11, 2022, (three days earlier with the Deluxe Edition) for the PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and the Xbox Series X.

Roster and Returning Features

WWE 2K22 will launch with a roster of 178 different playable wrestlers, managers, and authority figures. This is a far cry from the previous WWE 2K games, which usually had over 200 wrestlers in their rosters on the minimum. Hence, fans will have to rely on the game's 5 upcoming DLCs to fatten up the wrestling line-up. Thankfully, the game will still have the popular CAW or Create-A-Wrestler mode which allows players to create, showcase, and share their creations online. Downloadable characters will no longer be limited to paid DLC packs, but also through free community-generated content. This will definitely help fill some gaps in the game's current roster.

The Creation Suite goes beyond just custom wrestlers – it also allows players to upload custom images, arenas, and brands, among others. The Creation Suite this year will also be cross-platform, letting console players get into the fun as well from the much more robust selection that the PC players tend to create.

Finally, the game also gets a Soundtrack curated by Machine Gun Kelly. The base soundtrack includes songs from artists like YUNGBLUD, Bert McCracken, Wu-Tang Clan, KennyHoopla, Motorhead, Poppy, Royal Blood, Bring Me The Horizon, The Weeknd, Turnstile, Asking Alexandria, and Bad Bunny. We hope that NBA 2K's evolving soundtrack present in 2K22 can also be brought over to WWE 2K22 to keep the game from getting stale, audio-wise.

WWE 2K22 Game Modes

WWE 2K22 will launch with a healthy selection of game modes, a good mix of cinematic, immersive, and simple arcadey fun. All of the game modes will be accessible through the new tile-based menu screen for the game. It is composed of four different tabs: Home, Creations, Online, and Options, which makes moving from one game mode to another more seamless depending on the mood you're having for the day. At the Home Screen we'll see the various play modes available for WWE 2K22, which we outline below:

  • Exhibition / Custom Matches – Get right into the action by selecting your preferred match types with your favorite wrestlers.
  • Showcase – Relive the career of the legendary luchador Rey Mysterio in this narrative-driven and objective-based game mode. Some characters can be unlocked through the completion of levels in Showcase mode, including the debuting Dominik Mysterio.
  • Universe – The classic Universe Mode that lets you book anything you want – right from the show and brand, as well as the rosters and storylines. Universe Mode gives you a sandbox to play around with limitless combinations of wrestlers, match types, championships, arenas, and the like.
  • MyGM – MyGM is 2K Sports' and Visual Concepts' take on Read our comprehensive deep dive here.
  • MyFACTION – A brand-new game mode that takes upon MyTEAM from NBA 2K and Football Ultimate Team in FIFA. MyFACTION lets players build their own wrestling stable through cards depicting WWE Superstars of different rarities and statistics, with regular updates and weekly events. MyFACTION will feature wrestlers from WWE's history, which may see the appearance of some wrestlers not present in the game's playable roster.
  • MyRISE – MyRISE, although not new to 2K, takes the blueprint of NBA 2K's MyPLAYER and MyCAREER game modes, allowing players to take a character they made in the Creation Suite on their own, narrative-heavy game mode. MyRISE will feature separate stories for both male and female superstars, where players can form alliances, start rivalries, and branch into subplots based on the player's career choices.

New Wrestling Game Mechanics

Finally, we'll talk about the new wrestling game mechanics in WWE 2K22.

Players have been divided on the direction 2K Sports takes for the gameplay – more simulation and less arcade. While 2K didn't do a 180 in terms of gameplay for WWE 2K22, it at least embraced a more arcade feel.

  • Combo System – the game features different buttons for grappling, heavy attacks, and light attacks. New to WWE 2K games is the combo system, which lets players string together light and heavy attacks to turn them into signature moves. A moves list is available in the pause menu so players can always check what kind of moves their superstars can execute.
  • Health and Body Damage – wrestlers receive damage and lose health – with a health bar signifying the overall health of a superstar. Specific body parts can also receive sustained damage, which affects the way they wrestle and react to certain maneuvers.
  • Special and Finisher Meters – players can store up to three special charges, which they charge up through a gauge below their health bar and are used to execute signature moves. Some wrestlers can use up to two of their special meters to immediately kick out of a pinfall. A separate finisher bar gets filled below that, which takes longer to fill up. Players can store up to three finisher bars, each one being depleted when using a finishing move.
  • Unlimited Reversals and Counters – balancing the game's combo system is the game's reversals and counters. Reversals can still be executed by hitting the appropriate button depending on the attacker's moves, but players can also counter button-mashing opponents by hitting the same button they're hitting.
  • The invisible Stun Meter – there is also a hidden Stun meter that isn't shown in the game's HUD. Hitting an opponent with a combination of light and heavy attacks can leave them stunned, leaving them open for much more devastating moves.

And that's it for everything you need to know about WWE 2K22. Which game mode are you most excited to try out? What do you think about Visual Concepts' latest WWE 2K iteration? Was the wait worth it? Let us know in the comments below.