WWE 2K23 is set to release on March 17, and it is bringing with it several improvements. Developer Visual Concepts is adding the highly requested WarGames match type, making major adjustments like adding multiple seasons to MyGM Mode, and featuring a 2K Showcase mode about a Superstar's failures—that is, some of John Cena's toughest fights in his career.
Game ZXC was recently able to spend a few hours playing an in-development build of WWE 2K23 and during that time, we were able to complete two matches of John Cena's 2K Showcase, play several matches of WarGames, play a few 10-man Royal Rumble matches as well as some one-on-one matches, and check out some of the changes like the new pinning system. All in all, WWE 2K23 seems to continue building on the solid structure laid out by WWE 2K22, which bodes well for the franchise's continued growth in the future.
WWE 2K23's WarGames is a chaotic new addition, one that is tons of fun but not without its challenges. For those unfamiliar, WarGames is a 3v3 or 4v4 (we were only able to play 3v3 matches) match type that sees two rings surrounded by a steel cage. The match doesn't officially begin until every competitor is in the ring, as the first two enter the ring and everyone else enters at alternative intervals thereafter, meaning players cannot get an early victory. At first, the match plays a lot like a Steel Cage match just with two rings, as the existence of the steel cage allows for some great high-flying action. However, other players and AI wrestlers can grab weapons from under the ring before entering it, adding some serious Extreme Rules vibes.
One WWE 2K23 team has an advantage in WarGames, meaning the order by which they enter the ring. Players can take that advantage, give it to the opposing team, or allow it to be random, but this quickly makes the match feel like a handicap match that turns into a tag team match that turns into a 3v2 handicap match and so on, bringing a lot of chaos into the ring. Once every competitor is within the cage, players must remain aware of all submissions, pinfalls, and the like, as that's all it takes to win or lose. This means players must keep an eye on what's happening in both rings, and they can switch between members of the team to help out where necessary. The double rings add a nice "management" element to the gameplay, and regardless of how many times we played it, it was a lot of fun.
WarGames is a chaotic match type, one that Visual Concepts said required some adjustments to the AI to take advantage of both rings. While this seems true and the match fundamentally works, that chaos does have a few drawbacks. For example, the camera can be pulled back pretty far when someone is entering and WWE 2K23 wrestlers are in both rings, sometimes making prompts a little hard to see. There were also times when the wrestling seemed to suffer slightly, as it was difficult to perform a charged finisher or conduct a spear as Edge. Overall, though, the drawbacks we encountered during this match type were not a huge deal, and it definitely didn't hold the fun back. It's hard to imagine how the 4v4 mode makes WarGames even more chaotic, but it almost certainly will.
As far as John Cena's 2K Showcase mode goes, it was a bit surprising to learn with its initial announcement that fans wouldn't play John Cena, but his opponents. However, Visual Concepts said Cena was pretty excited about it and is a humble guy, so showing his losses to emphasize his "Never Give Up" mantra worked well. From a gameplay standpoint, it also adds some variety to the game mode instead of just playing one character the entire time, like with Rey Mysterio in WWE 2K22's Showcase mode. The best elements fans saw in it are alive and well in WWE 2K23's version, where we were able to play his match-ups against Rob Van Dam and Kurt Angle. Completing the tasks in each match was fun and varied, since both of these superstars are fundamentally different wrestlers.
However, there should be no mistaking it: the 2K Showcase mode emphasizes John Cena through and through. Thanks to the Slipshot technology, these matches will seamlessly transition from gameplay to televised moments, each of which focuses on Cena trying to overcome his opponents. Its focus shines through, especially when coupled with Cena's commentary on the matter. Not only was this 2K Showcase a great showing for Cena, but also a great showing into the technology and storytelling nature of WWE 2K23's Showcase mode.
Meanwhile, one-on-one match types play out exactly as WWE 2K22 and so did the 10-man Royal Rumble. They retain the same level of fun and quality as WWE 2K22, though we did find ourselves wishing the Royal Rumble matches were more challenging. More than once, we were able to keep the ring clear of opponents by dealing damage quickly, tossing them out of the ring, and tackling them off the apron. With the recent Royal Rumble at the Alamodome showing some wrestlers getting creative by performing some actions outside the ring and on the apron, it stands to reason that Royal Rumble modes could get some renewed attention in the future. It was kept to the basics this year, but the basics are solid at least.
As far as the new pinning mechanic goes, it involves players flicking up on the right analog stick when a meter of variable sizes lines up with the escape indicator. Instead of showing a struggle with button mashing, this involves a certain level of finesse and timing to break out of a pin. It's relatively basic and not necessarily "new," given past WWE games have featured pin mechanics where timing was key and this is just a different input, but it works well given that pinning requires players to flick down on the right stick.
Regardless, WWE 2K23 had a lot to offer during the hours we spent with it, and the fact that it wasn't even the full, finalized game says something. If other game modes in WWE 2K23 like MyRise are as detailed and fundamental as WarGames and the 2K Showcase, fans could be in for a real treat this year.
WWE 2K23 release for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on March 17.
