5 Additions WWE 2K26 Needs To Be The Best Entry Ever

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With the final downloadable content for WWE 2K25 released, attention is turning to WWE 2K26. A recent video featuring Xavier Woods and Tyler Breeze with a WWE 2K26 logo suggests an announcement is coming soon – and typically happens around the time of Royal Rumble. This has us thinking about what improvements we’d like to see in the next game, and we’ve identified five key features that could make WWE 2K26 the best installment yet.

5. The Island 2.0

The Island game mode was introduced in WWE 2K25, and although it shows promise, it didn’t quite live up to expectations. It seems likely The Island will be back, so improvements and significant updates are needed for a successful version 2.0 to really appeal to players.

A major drawback of The Island is how little you can actually do with the environment. It has a large, open world with interesting buildings and shops, but you can’t explore most of them, and when you do, there’s not much to do inside. It doesn’t need to be as detailed as a game like Grand Theft Auto, but adding more things to interact with would significantly improve the experience.

To make the game world feel more engaging, consider adding interactive elements like cooking mini-games at food carts where players can unlock new items by achieving high scores or fast times. The arcade could also feature classic WWE games that reward players with points for unlocking content. These small interactions would make the world feel less empty. Additionally, fully voiced quests with cutscenes, instead of static portraits, would significantly enhance the experience and breathe new life into the game mode.

4. Streamlined Showcase Matches

2K hasn’t announced who the next showcase mode will focus on, but CM Punk would be a perfect choice. His significant WWE career hasn’t been highlighted in the updated showcase mode since his return, and given his current success, featuring him would make a lot of sense.

If improved, Showcase mode has the potential to be truly excellent. The key improvement would be simplifying the objectives within each match. Currently, players often have to pause and check the menu to understand what’s needed to progress, which disrupts the experience. Reducing the number of these objectives would make the matches flow more smoothly. However, it’s also important for the game to clearly show players what they need to do – perhaps with visual cues – so they don’t have to stop and figure things out.

3. More Options in My GM (And One Major Change)

I really enjoy the GM mode in WWE 2K, and WWE 2K25 didn’t disappoint. Adding online multiplayer and new championships made it even better, though there’s still room for improvement to make the mode even more engaging.

Having plenty of wrestlers to choose from makes each show better, and we added a few more in 2K25. For 2K26, we’re planning some additions that will significantly improve your shows and give you even more options for building a strong card. One idea is to let you book celebrities to appear on your show for a limited time. While it would be expensive, a celebrity appearance could boost viewership and create marketing opportunities that benefit your promotion long-term, assuming it’s a success.

Recently, using former WWE stars for special appearances – like Dolph Ziggler and Zack Ryder – has become more popular. Allowing General Managers to book these surprise appearances on major events or the final show before a pay-per-view would give them even more options when planning their TV seasons.

There are two good ways to build storylines: quick wins and open challenges. Using a new or developing wrestler in a series of easy matches can quickly establish them as a dominant force, but it might overshadow other up-and-coming stars. Open challenges, where the champion accepts any contender, are a great way to keep the champion active and potentially discover new rivals. These challenges would only be available to current champions.

I’d like to see the scouting feature simplified or even removed. While I understand the idea of adding depth by letting you find and hire players, the way it currently works is more annoying than engaging. The restrictions and the unpredictable nature of who becomes available as a free agent can be really frustrating.

2. Mixed Match Challenge

Fans have responded positively to the return of intergender wrestling in WWE 2K25, so now would be a great time to revive the Mixed Match Challenge. This tournament previously teamed up male and female wrestlers, and it would be fantastic to have it back as both a single-player and online mode.

When playing offline, the game could create random tag teams, leading to fun and unexpected matchups. As you win, you’d unlock new rewards. Online, you’d compete against other players’ custom tag teams. 2K could also add extra features, like rewards for teaming up certain wrestlers, unlocking special gear colors, unique entrances, and even team finishing moves, though adding all of that would be a big undertaking for a new game mode.

1. TNA Crossover and NXT Roster Spotlights

The list of wrestlers is always a big focus in new WWE 2K games, and this year’s version has some interesting possibilities because of recent events. After the release of WWE 2K25, WWE began a strong partnership with TNA Wrestling. What started as occasional collaborations has become a full-scale relationship, with TNA stars appearing on WWE shows and vice versa – some WWE wrestlers have even won championships in TNA. It would be fantastic to see this reflected in the game.

It’s unlikely that the next WWE 2K game will include the entire roster from TNA, but adding some of the more well-known stars who have appeared in both promotions would be a great addition. Players would likely enjoy seeing Joe Hendry, Leon Slater, Moose, Lei Ying Lee, The Hardys, and Mike Santana as playable characters in WWE 2K26. We’d also love to see Steve Maclin, The IInspiration, and Frankie Kazarian included in the game.

Several popular wrestlers from NXT, Raw, and SmackDown weren’t included in WWE 2K25, and fans are hoping they’ll be added this year. Those missing stars include Rey Fenix, Blake Monroe, Ricky Saints, Rusev, Jordynne Grace, Zaria, and Izzi Dame. Many up-and-coming wrestlers from NXT, like Hank and Tank, Myles Borne, Tavion Heights, Wren Sinclair, Lainey Reid, Kendal Grey, Jasper Troy, and Tyra Mae Steele, also deserve a spot in the game. If even a portion of these wrestlers are added to the roster, it would make WWE 2K25 stand out as having a particularly impressive selection of characters.

WWE 2K26 currently has no release date.

What do you think? Leave a comment below and join the conversation now in the ComicBook Forum!

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2025-11-29 22:11