Technical limitations had occurred through the series which lead the developers to adjust custom characters while loading. An improvement done yearly by Yuke's with each release of a WWE 2K game is the polygon count for the 3D models of the superstars in each game. Along with the features, the developers have to test the game for any errors. When new features are added to WWE 2K games, developers have to create new gaming codes for the features. Raw 2007 was released for more than one console, Yuke's had to port their original game codes that make up each game mode and graphic designs to a new game engine that supported the new consoles. Yuke's studios in Yokohama, Japan, worked with WWE writers to create storylines for the season modes of each game. With the exception of WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, pre-recorded commentary by WWE commentators has been included in each game since the release of WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It. WWE superstars record a script, which is then assigned to the voice of the corresponding superstar in the game.
Voice over, however, was included in season mode with the release of WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, the only communication possible in season mode was through subtitles.
The game engine was originally based on the one used by the Japanese professional wrestling video game series Toukon Retsuden, which was also developed by Yuke's. From 2000 to 2012, the publisher was THQ. The games feature WWE match types, storylines and wrestlers.Įvery game produced in the WWE 2K series until 2019 was developed by Yuke's and Visual Concepts, and published by 2K Sports.
The premise of each game in the series is to emulate the sport of professional wrestling, more specifically that of WWE, and present improvements over the previous installments. It was then co-developed by Yuke's and Visual Concepts from WWE 2K14 until WWE 2K20, when Yuke's had left the development team. Yuke's was the sole developer of the games prior to 2K14. Raw, or simply the WWE series, is a series of professional wrestling sports video games developed and released annually since 2000. WWE 2K, formerly known as the WWF/E SmackDown! series, SmackDown vs. Thousands of new moves and animations have been added to the game.Visual Concepts (Supporting developers: 2013–2018 Sole developer: 2019–present) Raw 2007), allowing players to pick up or drag their opponent and place them in a specific spot. A carry system was introduced (which is similar to the Ultimate Control Grapple system introduced in WWE SmackDown vs. The Royal Rumble match has been retooled, with new mechanics, finishers and elimination sequences. Similar to its predecessors, WWE 2k19 is a professional wrestling game and for the first time since WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It, eight wrestlers are able to be in a match at once, instead of six (the Nintendo Switch version only supports six wrestlers in the ring). A sequel, WWE 2K19, will be released in October 2018. Critical response to the game was mixed, with particular criticism levied at the Switch version and its various technical issues. A Nintendo Switch version followed on December 6, 2018, the inaugural release of the series for the Switch and the first WWE game to be released for a Nintendo platform since WWE '13.Īmong the features 2K promoted were enhanced graphics and the return of Kurt Angle to the series as a playable character.
With its release, WWE 2k19 became the first in the series to be exclusively released on eighth generation hardware and also the first in the series to be released for PC and consoles simultaneously. It was released worldwide on Octofor PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows. It is the nineteenth installment in the WWE game series (fifth under the WWE 2K banner) and a follow-up to WWE 2K18. WWE 2k19 is a professional wrestling video game developed by Yuke's and Visual Concepts, and published by 2K Sports.