WWE 2K19: 10 Ways To Save Universe Mode

9. Include Brand-Specific Incentives

Aside from the obvious things like set design, logo and roster, there's little to differentiate Raw and SmackDown in 2K18. Shows play out the same way without any uniqueness, and that's an issue. There's so much more 2K could do to make playing each brand's schedule feel less uniform.

Brand-specific incentives sounds like something the developers would slap on the back of the box to sell the old GM Mode or tout in media interviews pre-release. Put into practice though, having different goals for Monday and Tuesday night programming is the sort of thing fans lust for in Universe Mode.

In order for this to work, WWE would need to let 2K use real-world concerns like TV ratings or merchandise sales in-game. Perhaps Raw's main goal would be to put on marquee matches that keep viewers hooked every week. SmackDown's could be something more modest, like trying to lure one of the red brand's top stars over with a better contract.

Why not? It's this level of immersion that Universe needs.