WWE 2K22is the first new installment for the series in two years. The last game,WWE 2K20, was widely criticized for its technical issues and graphics. Publisher 2K and the developer, Visual Concepts, decided to put the series on hold for a year due to the backlash.WWE 2K22is due to be released at some point in 2021, though its exact release date is unconfirmed.WWE 2K22has been marketed with the motto ‘It Hits Different,’ and fans are hoping it can live up to its tagline.
In place of a traditionalWWE 2Kgame in 2020, Saber Interactive stepped in and releasedWWE 2K Battlegrounds.The title was widely different from theWWE 2Kseries' traditional games, and focused more on over-the-top action and character designs.WWE 2K Battlegroundswasn’t warmly received, with many players and critics feeling the action was too repetitive. With Visual Concepts having a year break from the series, the developer is promising to address the issues that faced the last game.
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Visual Concepts Lifting the Lid on WWE 2K22
One of the biggest changes withWWE 2K22’s development is that Visual Concepts is giving players in-depth, behind-the-scenes looks at its creation. For the last few weeks, there have been severalbehind-the-scenes videos forWWE 2K22posted on the game’s social media channels. These videos have detailed the team’s process for motion capture, creating animations, and entrances. It’s unknown how many more behind-the-scenes videos are planned, but so far fans seem to be impressed with the transparency ofWWE 2K22’s development.
While there hasn’t been new gameplay shown sinceWWE 2K22’s reveal at WrestleMania 37, these videos are giving fans a look under the hood. By focusing on visuals in its first trailer, this suggests the team is aware of the criticism leveled at the last game’s graphics. Similarly, with this series of videos looking at animations and motion capture, it implies the team is aware of the issuesWWE 2K20had. Revealing the development process could be the developer’s way of acknowledging fan feedback, and showing there is extra care going into these important aspects of the game. It might be difficult to judge how it is shaping up until new gameplay footage is revealed, but Visual Concepts has already set the tone by offering fans this insider look.
Visual Concepts and 2K have also let fans' voices be heard in a meaningful way withWWE 2K22.For this year’s game,fans voted for Drew McIntyre and Sasha Banksto be featured as the cover stars. It’s not entirely clear if either of these covers will be used for the game, but it was a worthwhile way to include fans in the game’s development. Hopefully, one or both of the fan-voted covers will be used when the game launches in 2021.
It’s been a difficult time for theWWE 2Kseries. The development of a new game should be challenging enough,but with WWE’s recent releasesit may have added an extra layer of difficulty. Visual Concepts is offering gamers an inside look into the development of the new game. The subjects of the behind-the-scenes videos seem to be addressing some of the common criticisms fromWWE 2K20.While it might a more full look at its gameplay for a lot of players to see how they feel about it,WWE 2K22could wind up being far different from its predecessor.
WWE 2K22is scheduled to be released in 2021.
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