Wrestlemania 42 is quickly approaching as WWE’s biggest show of the year, and the promotion is also gearing up for another edition of their video game with WWE 2K26. Made by developer Visual Concepts and published by 2K Games, this year’s entry boasts a roster of over 400 playable characters that features a combination of current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, Legends, and WWE Hall of Famers. WWE 2K26 Gameplay Designer Cornell Gunter goes through the journey of introducing new ideas and concepts without angering the fanbase, introducing CM Punk in this year’s showcase mode, the most underrated mode fans should check out, and the process of introducing inferno matches as a new match type.

WWE 2K developers push the limits of innovation and fan feedback to keep each edition fresh

When asked about how to keep each year’s edition of WWE 2K fresh and different, Gunter says his team is very passionate and wants to make the best game possible and wants to introduce new ideas, but sometimes they may have to wait until next year to fully flesh out the concept to make it the best possible. 

“Everybody has an idea,” said Gunter. “Everybody wants to do something [wants to go bigger]. So for us, it’s kind of like when it comes to ideas, I’m pretty sure like our producers are like, this is a fun part. Everybody comes with documents, decks, just everything you could think of, just being able to throw ideas at the board.”

“[W]e have an amazing relationship with WWE and 2K to where they kind of let us do our own thing in that way”

Despite being a wrestling game centered around the WWE universe, the game always makes room to create wrestlers from other organizations. Gunter doesn’t take for granted the partnership the developers have with the WWE to push the limits on innovation of the game.

“So we’re actually very privileged and we have an amazing relationship with WWE and 2K to where they kind of let us do our own thing in that way,” said Gunter. “As long as it’s like nothing too crazy to where we’re not doing anything that’s like outside of the boundaries, which we understand, which we know that we identify what they are. We’re able to just be able to be wrestling fans. And that’s one of the things that I do love about working here and being here is the fact that I get to always be a wrestling fan.”

This year’s game includes four new match types, including I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell, and Dumpster with stackable tables, new usable objects including shopping carts and thumbtacks, and larger interactive environments. There’s also been a refresh of their reversals, and the stamina system adds a layer of strategy. Fans will also be able to interact with entrances and notice the addition of Booker T and Wade Barrett to the commentary team. 

“We’re not scared of trying something different, even if something worked for a while”

Gunter explains how the development team always takes the community’s feedback into account and, with the ability to add new performers after the game is published, makes sure the game keeps up with every evolving world of WWE.

“But they also are very vocal about the changes that they would like,” said Gunter. “But I think for us, again, like we’re not scared of making changes. We’re not scared of trying something different, even if something worked for a while. For example, our DLC model worked for a very, very long time. We introduced the ringside pass, right? So for us, it’s like, we’re not scared of making risks and making changes. And I think the biggest thing for us,  we never want to feel stagnant or stale in a way, right? We’re just stuck in the same mode, and we’re not accelerating.”

WWE 2K Showcase lets players relive CM Punk’s iconic career with narrated moments and indie-era nostalgia

CM Punk is one of the most iconic and influential professional wrestlers of the 21st century, with a career spanning multiple wrestling organizations. In this year’s showcase mode, players can go through the most important WWE moments of CM Punk’s career narrated by Punk himself. A first for the game: players who want to slip into showcase mode can go through the Showcase Gauntlet, which, if successful, unlocks multiple items in the game. But CM Punk’s career doesn’t just span WWE as he’s had memorable matches and moments in Ring of Honor, TNA Wrestling, and as recently in AEW. But when asked how they would balance telling a complete story about CM Punk’s career with including some of his most memorable traits outside of WWE, Gunter explained how they were able to bring his theme that he used earlier in his career.

“And I think one of the coolest things about like the retro Punk was like being able to bring in his theme that he used on the independent circuit,” said Gunter. “Which was definitely something that we felt was a very, very must have for our community because we know how much they love wrestling, but we also know how much a lot of our communities grew up watching that version of Punk be able to evolve into what he is today. A lot of small things we try to do very, very well, especially when it comes to superstars. So I think with CM Punk, I think me personally, I feel like we got that right. And I think definitely with the theme song and being able to trigger certain core childhood memories, like nostalgia memories of people.”

The Scrapyard makes its debut and brings chaotic, over-the-top wrestling action

The Island returns as the game’s online world in which players can battle in online multiplayer match types, including Triple Threat, Fatal 4-Way, and 2v2 matches. New features include choosing between three rival factions fighting for supremacy of the Island: the Order of Anarchy, led by CM Punk; the Order of Shadows, led by Rhea Ripley; and the Order of Tradition, led by Cody Rhodes. 

The Scrapyard is also a new location in The Island, as well as an offline match type to have over-the-top matches filled with interactive hazards, breakable objects, launch pads, climbable structures, and unique match conditions, and Gunter says players should jump into this most immediately when checking out the game for the first time

“I think in my opinion, if you pick up WWE 2K26 and the first thing you wanna do with some friends or even against AI to go have some fun, I would say go directly to the Scrapyard,” said Gunter. “The Scrapyard offers the most insane experience in my opinion, than we’ve ever had in any wrestling game that we’ve ever put out.”

WWE 2K26 is out now on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, Switch 2, and PC.