The AEW Video Game was formally revealed in late 2020, with the company looking to make a major push into the video game market and inevitably compete with WWE on this front. The company's first game, AEW Casino: Double or Nothing, was a casino game-themed mobile title. Next on the company's release schedule is AEW Elite GM, a wrestling general manager simulator game for mobile devices. After this, AEW will move into console games with a title that will directly challenge the WWE 2K series.
The AEWVideo Game has started its life in a crowd-pleasing way. Not only is former WWE 2K studio Yuke's developing it, but it's also being headed up by the director of the beloved WWF No Mercy game. No Mercy is one of the most universally adored wrestling games of all time, and this move has earned a lot of goodwill with wrestling fans. For the AEW Video Game to be successful and be considered a true alternative to the WWE 2K series, certain aspects need to reach their fullest potential.
AEW Match Type Variety
A lack of match-type diversity is one of the most common complaints about the modern WWE 2K games. AEW should endeavor to avoid this issue by including a wide variety of match types from the company's young history. Players can expect to see all manner of singles and tag team match exhibitions available, but Yuke's has a deep well to draw from. The likes of the Blood and Guts stipulation, cinematic matches, and the Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch should all be included. This would offer a lot of variety for players to enjoy in the AEW Video Game on day one.
AEW's Roster
AEW has a huge roster of wrestlers, referees, and other on-air personnel. As such, AEW and Yuke's should do their best to include as many personalities as possible in the game. The AEW Video Game has an opportunity to appeal to several different types of wrestling fans. Indie fans, WWE fans, and wrestling fans of a bygone era could find a lot to enjoy in the game's roster if it's made as complete as possible. With the likes of Chris Jericho, Tully Blanchard, and Kenny Omega on the roster, the independent scene, older names, and even former WWE superstars are well-represented in AEW programming. Yuke's should add as much of the roster as possible so that the game can have a broad appeal.
The AEW Game's Creation Suite
In January, Kenny Omega confirmed that the AEW Video Game will have a Create-A-Wrestler mode. This is great news for wrestling fans, as community creations have been consistently popular since wrestling games started supporting online features. To be competitive with WWE 2K22, however, the AEW Video Game will need more than just a Create-A-Wrestler mode as part of its suite. The WWE games tend to boast a variety of creative modes that allow players to make wrestlers, entrances, videos, and a whole lot more. To be competitive, the AEW Video Game should include a similarly in-depth customization mode. This would also allow players to show off their creations online and help build a strong online community for the AEW Video Game.
The AEW Game's Online Support
As confirmed by Kenny Omega, the AEW Video Game will have online play. While he didn't go into further details, he did suggest that it could feature crossplay. Online competitive crossplay is a great start, but a more robust set of online features could really strengthen the game's online presence. Wrestling fans would undoubtedly love being able to team up with friends, participate in tournaments, and even create entire storylines to partake in online. A strong set of online features could be especially important now, considering the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. While AEW fans will love playing online against each other, a variety of online play options could help the game earn long-lasting online popularity.
The AEW Video Game's Gameplay
Recently, some early gameplay footage featuring Darby Allin was revealed. In this short clip, fans get a taste of what can be expected of the AEW Video Game's gameplay. Although brief, the WWF No Mercy influence can clearly be seen. The action seems reasonably fast-paced, and even the camera is similar, as it faces the entrance ramp during the matchup. This could be promising, and Yukes should double down on the No Mercy influence with a large selection of moves, backstage environments, and relative simplicity of the gameplay. This take on gameplay could help the AEW Video Game stand on its own, and feel like a true alternative to WWE 2K22.
With Yuke's and the WWF No Mercy director in tow, there is a strong chance that the AEW Video Game is a success. The game should draw on the company's wide roster, and leverage some of the wilder stipulation matches from the company's history. With a strong set of online functionality and clear gameplay direction, the AEW Video Game could become a terrific wrestling sim.
The AEW Video Game is currently in development.