WWE 2K22is an important release for the wrestling franchise. The developer, Visual Concepts, looks set to address the issues with the last game while bringing the series forward. The footage ofWWE 2K22so far has seemed promising on a technical level, and fans are hoping that the new game can deliver. While fans anxiously await a proper gameplay reveal, there has been more information about the game drip-fed to fans. The latest piece of news is about the cover stars of the games, and it’s been stirring nostalgia for a lot of WWE fans.
The new WWE game seemingly looks set to have two different covers. The WWEonFOX Twitter account polled fans back in February on who the WWE Universe would choose as their cover stars. The officialWWE on FOX Twitter has revealedWWE 2K22’s cover stars, and the choices aren’t too surprising for most fans. Adorning the covers are Drew McIntyre and Sasha Banks, representing Raw and SmackDown, respectively. The cover stars make sense as they’re both huge stars on their respective brands, and the covers seem to resemble theSmackDown vs. Rawcovers from years ago.
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The SmackDown vs. Raw Resemblance
TheWWE SmackDown vs. Rawseries spawned from the originalSmackDownseries of games. The games were rebranded to reflect that WWE had divided its roster into two, with superstars appearing exclusively on the Raw or SmackDown TV shows. TheSmackDown vs. Rawseries had some great entriesthat many consider to hold up well today. The marketing for these games emphasized the brand warfare concept that WWE used on television. The covers forWWE 2K22seem to harken back to this time of inter-promotional competition.
The similarities can be seen in the wrestlers chosen and the color palettes used.Sasha Banks graces one of theWWE 2K22covers, and she is a member of SmackDown. Suitably, this cover uses blue as the dominant color. The former WWE Champion, Drew McIntyre, is featured on the second cover, which is primarily red and represents him being a Raw superstar. TheWWE 2Kgames have been pretty universally branded for years, and this is the first time since theSmackDown vs. Rawgames where there is an element of brand competition.
Though the likes ofthe legendary Undertaker were voted for highly, current stars Drew McIntyre and Sasha Banks came out on top in the vote. Though it could be coincidental, the new cover art conjures up memories of the olderSmackDown vs. Rawgames, which could be exciting for some gamers.
What the SmackDown vs. Raw Similarity Could Indicate
There hasn’t been enough in-game footage shown off to tell with any certainty if this new branding will be reflected in the gameplay. WWE does have the brand extension in place currently in its programming, so it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that it might affect gameplay and game modes. WhileVisual Concepts will address the shortcomings ofWWE 2K20, many fans are hoping that it will also bring something fresh withWWE 2K22.
WWE 2K22coulddraw a lot from theSmackDown vs. Rawgames, including its General Manager Mode and the idea of brand vs. brand wrestling. With WWE’s brand extension in effect on television, it remains a possibility, but purely speculative, thatWWE 2K22will be influenced bySmackDown vs. Raw.Visual Concepts has stated that the game will be influenced by fan-favorite gamesWWF No MercyandSmackDown! Here Comes the Pain,but time will tell if there is room forSmackDown vs. Raw’s influence to be felt.
WWE 2K22will have behind-the-scenes video diariesreleased, and perhaps then fans will get an idea of if the gameplay is being changed. The new covers are a throwback to older, beloved wrestling games with their stark red vs. blue designs. For some fans, this could indicate a return to brand warfare being the focus, but it’s purely speculative until there is more gameplay shown off.
WWE 2K22is planned to release at some point in 2021.
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