WWE 2K Battlegrounds video game set to be released this fall

While there will be no release of WWE’s annual simulation video game in 2020, a different game is set to come out later this year.

In a statement that was issued by WWE Games this morning, it was announced that an arcade-style video game titled WWE 2K Battlegrounds is scheduled to be released this fall. WWE Games wrote:

We’re thrilled to introduce you to WWE 2K Battlegrounds, a completely new WWE gaming experience that will feature arcade-style action and over-the-top Superstar designs, environments and moves. We’re focusing on social pick-up-and-play fun, but with plenty of depth for those who want to get way into it.

Whether you’re a casual gamer just learning the ropes or a passionate fan ready for all the action, WWE 2K Battlegrounds provides another way to enjoy WWE video game action. The game is being developed by Saber Interactive, the studio behind NBA 2K Playgrounds, who have been hard at work on WWE 2K Battlegrounds and are excited to let you smell what they’re cookin’.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds is scheduled to launch this fall and we look forward to sharing more information about the game in the coming months.

WWE 2K Battlegrounds appears to be similar to the arcade-style WWE All Stars game that was released in 2011. A teaser trailer for WWE 2K Battlegrounds was also uploaded with today’s news:

That there wouldn’t be a new version of the annual WWE 2K game released this year was confirmed when a question was asked about it on last week’s WWE earnings call. The latest game in the series came out in October 2019 and received consistently poor reviews.

WWE Games addressed the status of the annual 2K series in their statement today, writing that there will be a “renewed focus on quality and fun” for the next edition of the game and that they’re extending the production timeline for it:

Next, we want to address WWE 2K20. We’ve heard and appreciate your feedback, and continue to listen to you closely. Since launch, we’ve released five title updates, addressing hundreds of reported concerns, and have released four WWE 2K20 Originals DLC expansions to build on and improve the experience. We’ve also heard your requests to keep the WWE 2K19 servers running; they will remain active for the time being.

All of that being said, we hear you and we know you want more from the franchise, so here’s what we’re going to do: we are applying what we’ve learned to the next WWE 2K simulation game with a renewed focus on quality and fun. As part of that commitment, we are extending the production timeline and will not be releasing a WWE 2K simulation game in 2020 (T2 fiscal year 2021). We want to ensure the development team at Visual Concepts can create a great game that will entertain grizzled WWE 2K veterans, as well as newcomers who want to climb through the ropes and step into the ring for the very first time.

We’ve recruited Patrick Gilmore to serve as our new Executive Producer and lead these efforts at Visual Concepts. Patrick has over 25 years of experience in video games, reaching all the way back to Disney’s Aladdin on Sega Genesis, and including franchises like Killer Instinct, Medal of Honor, and, most recently, Amazon’s New World. He will be overseeing WWE 2K development, and you’ll be hearing more from him and the team in the months to come.

We hope you find this news as exciting as we do. We are confident it will lead to better games in the future.