New information on WWE 2K18 has been released by GameSpot, after a recent “development summit” hosted by 2K Games, and it sounds like Visual Concepts and Yuke’s will finally deliver the sweeping changes the WWE 2K franchise has needed for several years. Few of the aesthetic changes promised at the summit were shown to attendees; however, the mechanical changes revealed this week would be big wins for the WWE 2K18 team if delivered.
The most obvious change should be WWE 2K18’s reworked graphical engine. The game’s executive producer, Mark Little, recently told GameSpot fans can expect new skin shaders, real-time reflections and improved lighting. The lighting changes were the only engine improvements shown to summit attendees, and they were paired with textures from 2K17. But the new engine has apparently been in the works for two-plus years now. And big changes to grappling in WWE 2K18 ostensibly mean we can expect the refreshed attack animations the series has needed for several years. So, at the very least, WWE 2K18 should look very different from its predecessors.
Matches will look, play and sound differently in this year’s WWE game. Visual Concepts and Yuke’s brought in the team behind NBA 2K’s stellar in-game commentary to help ellevate WWE 2K ’s abysmal match accompaniments. GameSpot says the WWE 2K18 commentary team -- Byron Saxton, Corey Graves and Michael Cole -- were also allowed to record together for the first time. So back-and-forth dialogue between members of the commentary team should sound much more natural this year.
MyCareer and Universe Mode will both return in WWE 2K18. 2K says the latter will feature more surprises and one-off moments, not just one four-week sprint to the pay-per-view after another, to better emulate the televised product. MyCareer mode has also been fine-tuned. GameSpot says this year’s story mode is “more concise and narrative-driven than its predecessor” and will also tie into Road to Glory, an online offering that 2K describes as the “end-game” for MyCareer. WWE 2K fans can also look forward to a new promo engine, progression mechanics for 2K18’s expanded roster and reworked wrestler classifications (high flyer, brawler, etc.) intended to give players more structure when creating new wrestlers.
We’ll see up to eight people in the ring this year. That means wilder Royal Rumble and Battle Royale matches than we’ve seen in previous years. Yuke’s and Visual Concepts are also reworking the grappling system this year. Dragging and submissions have both been revamped. Submissions have also been simplified. Longtime WWE fans can also look forward to seeing position feeding, pretending to be downed or groggy to bait an opponent, featured in WWE 2K18 for the first time. So get ready for the tidal wave of “RKO out of nowhere!” videos headed to YouTube later this year.
Head over to GameSpot for more on this year’s addition to the WWE 2K franchise.
WWE 2K18 is in development for PS4 and Xbox One. The game debuts Oct. 17.
Be sure to check back with Player.One and follow Scott on Twitter for additional WWE 2K18 news in 2017 and however long 2K supports WWE 2K18 after launch.
