After the massive disappointment that was WWE 2k20, the news made the rounds that there would not be another installment in the WWE 2k series that had been running since 2013. After teasing that the next annual WWE game would be revealed today, this year’s game was announced as WWE 2k Battlegrounds.

2k Battlegrounds is, as you can obviously see, an arcade-style wrestling game developed by Saber Interactive in the style of Saber’s other 2k sports game NBA Playgrounds. The trailer showcases the polar opposite between 2k Battlegrounds and 2k20.

As reported by IGN, the mainline 2k game series has NOT been canceled and with 2k Battlegrounds taking the fall release of a hypothetical 2k21, this means the series will get more time dedicated to it and production on the next game will be extended. 2K said the following:

“We are applying what we’ve learned to the next WWE 2K simulation with a renewed focus on quality and fun,” 2K says in a press release. “As part of that commitment, we are extending the production timeline and will not be releasing a WWE 2K simulation game in fiscal year 2021.”

My general reaction/feelings to this turn of events is that of shock. As someone who has been buying the WWE games since Here Comes The Pain I never expected the WWE 2k series out of any other to get the Assassins Creed treatment (longer development cycle to focus on a better product). While I’m sure that 2k Battlegrounds will surely sell for those who have the itch to play a WWE game, it looks a little too much like Saber’s other sports series NBA Playgrounds in terms of its art style. When it comes to what most people would have wanted from 2k was a game closer to the look and feel of WWE All-Stars. However, it all boils down to whether the game is fun and how it is received by both critics and the average consumer.

You can find my review for WWE 2k20 here.