WWE 2K23 has made a few key changes that have elevated the overall game, including better Universe Mode options, WarGames, and, of course, plenty of new and old wrestlers to try out. However, even with all the additions and changes, WWE 2K23 is still missing out on certain key features that would not only add to the experience, but could also provide players with a sense of realism. Whether if it is the weapon options available beneath the ring, or the inclusion of more backstage areas, future WWE 2K games should consider having these features in the game to give fans a true WWE experience.
WWE 2K23 has certainly improved on last year’s game in nearly every way, yet there are still things that have been left out. While these missing features do not ruin the game, they definitely steal from the WWE experience these games are trying to emulate, and sometimes even make the overall gameplay a bit stale. So, whether they are included in the next game or added in one by one to expand upon the current one, the following missing features from WWE 2K23 seem essential to get a realistic WWE experience.
In-match Features
There are several options and features that are currently missing in WWE 2K23 matches, one of the most noticeable ones being the absence of weapon variety. In most normal matches, players will only be able to access kendo sticks and steel chairs, meaning that tables, ladders, garbage cans, sledgehammers, and many more iconic weapons have been removed from these match types. Further, weapon grapples and weapon finishers, such as steel chair finishers, which were included in older WWE titles, have not been included in WWE 2K23.
Another big omission is double-title matches, especially since the WWE currently has Roman Reigns as WWE Champion and the Universal Champion. Not having a match where Roman has to defend both his titles not only hinders the fights but also prevents players from having iconic double-title matches in both Universe and MyGM game modes. Further, WWE 2K23 seems to omit certain match types, the most notable of which are Lumberjack matches, I-Quit fights, and Inferno matches. Each of them is a legendary match type that has been included in some of the biggest PPV events in the WWE and deserves to be represented.
Customization Features
WWE 2K games have hosted some of the most in-depth character creation suites in gaming, giving players the chance to create any superstar they can imagine, from former WWE wrestlers to characters from movies and other games. Unfortunately, WWE 2K23 lacks the in-depth Create-An-Entrance feature that gives players control of every aspect of the entrances of their created superstars. While players can customize the entrance, they are forced to use a single template which is a stark difference from some older WWE games which allowed for nearly every detail of the entrance to be customized.
Another big omission in WWE 2K23’s character creation suite is the Create-A-Finisher option that was first introduced in WWE Smackdown vs RAW 2009. This feature not only allowed players to create the finisher they desired, but it was also a great tool to add in finishers from past or existing superstars that did not make the game’s roster. Both of these features are especially important for character creation, especially in WWE 2K23 since past games have prided themselves on the fact that they allow their players to customize nearly every aspect of a WWE 2K created superstar.
Minor Features
Along with these missing features, WWE 2K23 also missed out on including some more minor features that were used in previous WWE games. One of these features is not being able to include created tag teams into a new faction, which means that if players want to create a faction with superstars such as The Usos, who are tag team champions, they will first need to disband the tag team. This makes it tricky to create a super faction in WWE 2K23 and does not allow for custom entrances within the faction. For example, in a created faction with RK-Bro, either the player will need to set everyone’s entrance to RK-Bro’s or would need to give the team of Randy Orton and Matt Riddle a new entrance.
Another minor feature missing from WWE 2K23 is being able to place steel chairs on an opponent’s head, legs, or hands. This was a popular move in WWE and older titles of WWE 2K included this feature that would allow players to target certain areas of the body. Finally, while WWE 2K23 does have backstage brawls, the game currently only has one location, which can grow extremely stale very quickly, especially since multiple missions in MyRise have the player fighting in these areas.
While WWE 2K23 did a great job capturing the momentum created by WWE 2K22, the features that are missing are things that could have further improved the game. While some of these features do not seem too big, others like the missing match types, double title matches, and lack of in-depth entrance and finisher creators steal from the realism the game is seemingly attempting to emulate. Future WWE 2K games should try and include these features to give players greater control over the game.
WWE 2K23 is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X\S.
