WWE 2K26: 9 Things You Need To Know
Dropping the eighth generation has opened a ton of potential for WWE 2K26.
Abandoning complete renovation has been a growing trend for WWE video games ever since 2K's 2013 takeover of the franchise from THQ, and WWE 2K26 looks to be no different - literally, in some concern-ridden areas.
A week of cryptic teasers ended with a detail-heavy press release hitting inboxes on Friday evening, and a gameplay trailer airing during the Royal Rumble. The game looks and sounds neat, but it'll need a little polishing before 2K and developers Visual Concepts can justifiably ship it come its scheduled 13 March (6 March for early access) release date; the shots of The Undertaker and Kane duking it out in the series-returning 'Inferno Match' look a little out of sorts, while some character models (namely Liv Morgan) could do with some fine-tuning.
The game will build upon what 2K has achieved since they hard relaunched the series in 2022. Showcase Mode, MyGM, MyRISE, Universe Mode, and MyFACTION are all back in, The Island has been expanded upon, and all of the standard incremental tweaks and adjustments to the core gameplay have been implemented.
Keeping gamers busy and invested has always been 2K's primary prerogative with these games, but with so much to offer...where do you start?! Let's get to it!
9. Punked
Confirming a report from Mike Straw of Insider Gaming, CM Punk (who dons the cover for the game's standard edition) will indeed be the focal point for WWE 2K26's Showcase Mode.
A Punk-fronted highlight reel marks his first Showcase appearance since 2K15, which beautifully capsulated his epic 2011-2013 stretch as WWE Champion. That was shared with lowlights from Triple H's 'Reign of Terror' (because of course it was), and sat alongside 3 add-on downloadable Showcases. An entire catalogue of 'ol Punker's milestones has been at the top of many players' wishlists ever since - with his current standing as the World Heavyweight Champion, 2K is finally delivering.
Like the Paul Heyman-narrated 'Bloodline Dynasty' saga in WWE 2K25, Punk will provide voiceover in 2K26. The mode promises "iconic matches" from throughout his tumultuous WWE career and "fantasy warfare" matches, before concluding with the seemingly impossible-to-win Showcase Gauntlet. There are 6 weeks still to go before the game lands on consoles, so no matches have been officially confirmed, but based on featured arenas and era-specific character models fans should expect to take control of the following contests:
- CM Punk vs. Rey Mysterio (Armageddon 2008)
- CM Punk vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 29)
- CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns vs. Seth Rollins (WrestleMania 41)
- CM Punk & AJ Lee vs. Seth Rollins & Becky Lynch (Wrestlepalooza 2025)
- CM Punk vs. circa-ROH CM Punk.