Last Friday marked the release of WWE 2K25, the latest entry in 2K’s long-running wrestling simulation franchise. After a week of superkicks, table spots, and questionable referee AI, we’ve got a comprehensive take on this year’s offering. Is it worth the $70 price tag for PC multiplayer enthusiasts? Let’s break it down.
The Tribal Chief Rules Supreme
This year’s edition features Roman Reigns prominently on the cover of the standard edition, cementing his status as WWE’s top star. It’s a fitting choice given the game’s showcase mode, which celebrates The Bloodline’s dominance in recent years. The Bloodline Showcase mode walks players through pivotal matches in the faction’s rise to power, including some fantasy matchups that never happened in real life.
Unlike previous showcase modes that felt more like nostalgic highlight reels, this year’s offering actually provides meaningful context around one of wrestling’s most compelling storylines. The attention to detail in recreating authentic camera angles and commentary from the original broadcasts is impressive, though some players might find themselves wishing for more classic WWE content instead of such recent history.
Chain Wrestling Returns with a Vengeance
From a gameplay perspective, the most significant addition is the return of chain wrestling, a mechanic last seen in WWE 2K20. This system creates more realistic grappling sequences in one-on-one matches, allowing for smoother transitions between moves. While it takes some getting used to, mastering the timing adds a layer of depth that was missing from recent entries.
The addition of intergender wrestling is perhaps the most noteworthy advancement in this year’s game. For the first time in the franchise, male and female superstars can compete against each other in the ring. This opens up countless dream match possibilities that fans have been requesting for years, and the implementation feels natural rather than gimmicky. Seeing Rhea Ripley go toe-to-toe with Seth Rollins or Jade Cargill taking on Randy Orton adds fresh matchup possibilities that will extend the game’s replay value significantly.
The Island: A Mixed Bag
The most ambitious new feature, “The Island,” attempts to create an interactive open world built around different WWE themes. Players explore various areas while completing quests and challenges to impress Roman Reigns and earn a WWE contract. While the concept sounds promising on paper, the execution falls short in several ways.
Navigation around The Island feels clunky, with long loading screens between areas disrupting the flow of gameplay. Many of the quests are repetitive fetch missions or simplistic wrestling challenges that lack variety. The online integration allows you to see other players, but meaningful interaction is limited, making it feel more like a half-baked MMO than a truly social experience.
The Island represents a bold experiment, but it ultimately feels like resources could have been better allocated to improving core gameplay or enhancing other modes. Still, it’s encouraging to see the developers willing to take risks rather than simply releasing a roster update with minimal changes.
MyGM Goes Global
On the bright side, MyGM mode has received substantial improvements this year. The addition of online multiplayer for up to four players transforms what was previously a single-player experience into a competitive battleground where friends can draft superstars and compete for ratings supremacy.
The expanded options for cross-brand Premium Live Events add strategic depth, forcing players to decide whether to collaborate with rival brands or sabotage their competitors. This year’s iteration also includes more customization options for shows and a wider selection of playable General Managers, including some surprising legends.
Technical Performance: A Tale of Two Platforms
One week after release, the game’s technical performance remains inconsistent across platforms. On next-gen consoles and high-end PCs, matches run smoothly with impressive visual fidelity. Character models are more detailed than ever, and the lighting system creates an authentic broadcast-quality presentation. However, last-gen consoles and lower-spec PCs struggle with frame rate issues during entrances and multi-wrestler matches.
Several bugs have emerged since launch, including occasional clipping issues with championship belts and some unreliable hit detection during weapon-based matches. 2K has already released a small patch addressing some of these issues, with a more comprehensive update promised in early April.
Roster Depth: Extensive But Missing Key Names
WWE 2K25 boasts a roster of over 300 playable characters spanning multiple eras, making it one of the most comprehensive collections of wrestling talent ever assembled in a video game. Current stars like “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and Jade Cargill are all present, alongside legends from past generations.
However, some notable absences stand out. Due to the timing of the game’s development cycle, recent signings like Stephanie Vaquer aren’t included in the base game, and several NXT talents who have since been called up to the main roster appear with outdated gimmicks or ring gear. The previously announced DLC schedule should address some of these omissions, but it’s disappointing that players will need to spend extra for a truly current roster.
For the PC Multiplayer Enthusiast
For readers of our site focused on PC multiplayer gaming, WWE 2K25 offers mixed value. The online stability has improved compared to previous entries, with fewer disconnections during ranked matches. Cross-platform play remains absent, however, limiting the player pool for PC users.
The new barricade diving mechanics and Underground match type add welcome variety to multiplayer encounters, creating more dynamic and unpredictable contests. The Underground matches, in particular, with their no-disqualification rules and unique environments, offer chaotic fun for groups of friends.
MyFACTION mode returns with its card-collecting mechanics, but remains largely isolated from the rest of the game. The mode now features more community events and live updates, but the microtransaction-heavy approach continues to feel at odds with the rest of the package.
Verdict: Three Stars Out of Five
WWE 2K25 represents a solid if unspectacular entry in the franchise. The return of chain wrestling, the addition of intergender matches, and improvements to MyGM mode demonstrate that the developers are listening to community feedback. However, The Island feels like a misfire, and technical issues continue to plague certain aspects of the experience.
For die-hard WWE fans, there’s plenty to enjoy here, especially with the expanded roster and new match types. PC multiplayer enthusiasts might want to wait for a sale or further patches unless they’re particularly invested in the wrestling genre.
The upcoming DLC schedule promises new superstars, arenas, and move-sets that could potentially address some of our criticisms, but the base game as it stands feels caught between genuine innovation and safe iteration. Much like a mid-card wrestler getting a brief main event push, WWE 2K25 shows flashes of championship potential without quite capturing the gold.
Have you picked up WWE 2K25? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!