{"id":211360,"date":"2026-01-30T17:59:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T23:59:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=211360"},"modified":"2026-01-30T18:00:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T00:00:48","slug":"wwe-2k26-details-announced-including-standard-edition-cover-athlete-new-match-types-and-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/30\/wwe-2k26-details-announced-including-standard-edition-cover-athlete-new-match-types-and-more\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE 2K26 details announced including standard edition cover athlete, new match types, and more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1419319643\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>C.M. Punk is the cover athlete of the standard edition of WWE 2K26.<\/p>\n<p>2K revealed Punk as the cover athlete for the standard edition of the game on Jan. 30 along with other details of the game. The King of Kings, Attitude Era, and Monday Night Wars editions of the game will all be available to play on March 6.<\/p>\n<p>The standard edition of the game featuring Punk on the cover will be released on March 13. Punk will also be the subject of the popular Showcase mode. Punk was quoted in the press release about what it meant to him to be on the cover of the game.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;As a kid, I could only dream of being on the cover of a video game,&#8221; said Punk. &#8220;Now I join a very exclusive group of WWE Superstars who have done it twice. I enjoyed the experience of narrating the 2K Showcase, which gave me an opportunity to tell fans the straight, unfiltered story of the moments, matches, and controversies in my career. Players will get to step into my boots, relive some of my proudest WWE moments, and take on challenges I never had the opportunity to face.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>You can read more details on the game from 2K below:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>New York, NY \u2013 January 30, 2026 \u2013 Today, 2K announced WWE\u00ae 2K26, the newest installment of the flagship WWE video game franchise developed by Visual Concepts, will be available starting March 6 for PlayStation\u00ae5 (PS5\u00ae), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch&#x2122; 2, and PC via Steam.<\/p>\n<p>The current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk strikes a defiant pose on the Standard Edition cover, a position befitting a Triple Crown Champion. One of the most celebrated and subversive personas in WWE history, CM Punk previously appeared on the cover of WWE \u201813, and also headlines WWE 2K26\u2019s 2K Showcase.<\/p>\n<p>The King of Kings Edition celebrates the in-ring career and ongoing behind-the-scenes legacy of WWE Hall of Famer and current WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul \u201cTriple H\u201d Levesque.<\/p>\n<p>The Attitude Era Edition evokes nostalgia for one of the greatest eras in WWE history, and larger-than life personalities including \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Stephanie McMahon, Undertaker, Kane, Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna, Kurt Angle, and The Dudley Boyz.<\/p>\n<p>An all-new \u201csuper-premium\u201d Monday Night War Edition features content tied to WWE stars of the Attitude Era, as well as a collection of WCW\u2019s biggest names of the era, including \u201cHollywood\u201d Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Goldberg, Booker T, and Eric Bischoff.<\/p>\n<p>King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night Wars Edition are scheduled for worldwide release on Friday, March 6, 2026, seven days prior to the Standard Edition, which will be available Friday, March 13, 2026.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a kid, I could only dream of being on the cover of a video game. Now I join a very exclusive group of WWE Superstars who have done it twice,\u201d said CM Punk. \u201cI enjoyed the experience of narrating the 2K Showcase, which gave me an opportunity to tell fans the straight, unfiltered story of the moments, matches, and controversies in my career. Players will get to step into my boots, relive some of my proudest WWE moments, and take on challenges I never had the opportunity to face.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWWE 2K26 introduces several new community-requested match types and gameplay features,\u201d said Greg Thomas, President at Visual Concepts. \u201cThe team has put a lot of thought into refining the in-ring action and presentation, while also expanding creative options to allow players more freedom than ever before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>WWE 2K26 features several updates and improvements to existing features throughout the game:<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf 2K Showcase: Punked \u2013 CM Punk\u2019s Personal Journey: CM Punk jumps through time to relive incredible moments from his career. Narrated by \u201cThe Best in the World\u201d himself, players will relive iconic matches and battle against WWE Legends in Fantasy Warfare. For those who want to truly prove their mettle, the Showcase Gauntlet looks to push players to their limits! CM Punk\u2019s rise, rebellion, and return make this the most personal 2K Showcase yet;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Best in the World Roster of 400+: WWE 2K26 boasts a roster of over 400 playable characters; The biggest in franchise history. A combination of current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, Legends, and WWE Hall of Famers, the massive roster features John Cena, \u201cMacho Man\u201d Randy Savage, Rhea Ripley, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Iyo Sky, Andre the Giant, Drew McIntyre, Bron Breakker, \u201cRowdy\u201d Roddy Piper, Seth Rollins, Logan Paul, Stephanie Vaquer, Eddie Guerrero, Liv Morgan, Bret \u201cHitman\u201d Hart, Penta, Charlotte Flair, Randy Orton, new additions and returns including Rey F\u00e9nix, Rusev, and Blake Monroe, and many more;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Four New Match Types, Offensive Tools, and Gameplay Upgrades: Four new match types, including I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell and Dumpster, stackable tables, new usable objects including shopping carts and thumbtacks, and larger interactive environments offer new but familiar ways to punish opponents. Intergender Matches are available across core game modes. A revamp of the Reversals and Stamina system adds a layer of strategy and upgraded physics interactions make the action feel more dynamic and dangerous. Interactive entrances and the addition of Booker T and Wade Barrett to the commentary team further refine the audiovisual presentation;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Creation Suite \u2013 2X the CAS and Image Slots, Plus Body Morphing: The best-in-class customization mode now offers 200 Create-A-Superstar save slots, doubling the existing count in response to community demand. Community Creations now features a doubled image capacity of 2,000, deeper body and face morphing tools, and two-tone hair color blending, giving players unprecedented freedom to craft the Superstars, arenas, and other creations of their dreams;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf MyGM \u2013 More Shows, More Superstars Per Match: New Intergender Matches, 5, 6, and 8-man matches, plus support for more match types than ever before, vastly increase the number of possible matches and outcomes. More shows per season pose new management challenges in 2K\u2019s strategic brand management simulation mode;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf MyRISE \u2013 New Theme, Increased Replay Value: Players define their MySUPERSTAR\u2019s journey through two new division-based storylines where villainous or heroic decisions impact MyPLAYERs like never before. Players can now keep playing even after the main stories are complete, with more unlockable content and achievements to earn for increased replayability;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Universe \u2013 The Draft is Here!: The WWE Draft comes to WWE 2K\u2019s sandbox mode where players create their own WWE Universe and control match outcomes. Other new introductions include new Universe Creation Wizard, Watch Show mode, improved Money in the Bank cash ins, and additional Promo types;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf The Island \u2013 New Storyline and Environment, Available on All Platforms: 2K\u2019s WWE-themed world is now bigger and more social than ever, and available for the first time on PC. Players will choose one of three factions and battle for control with a revamped progression system. The new Scrapyard Brawl environment, fresh Towers, new shops and branded gear, an expanded MySUPERSTAR builder with face-photo importing, plus upgraded quests, complete with Superstar voiceovers, cutscenes and dialogue screens, enhance the immersive experience;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf MyFACTION \u2013 Chemistry is Key: The collectible card-battle mode is back with new intergender lineups and Quick Swap matches. Players collect new card designs and boost their performance with the new Faction Chemistry and run-in support. New themed card packs and goals will continue to roll out regularly throughout the year with seasonal content refreshes;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Ringside Passes \u2013 DLC Gets an Upgrade with More Post-Launch Content Than Ever Before: The all-new Ringside Pass offers players additional incentive to play, earning XP across all game modes, excluding online lobbies. 60 free tiers and 40 premium tiers will be available to reward gameplay, with players who can reach tier 40 of the Ringside Pass Premium Season able to unlock Superstars, cosmetic and customization items, VC, MyFACTION and The Island content, and more. The Ringside Pass Premium replaces the previous DLC model, rewarding players with all-new playable characters unavailable on the base game roster, including current Superstars, Legends, Personas, and some unexpected names. Six Ringside Pass Seasons are planned to roll out throughout the year, with Ringside Pass Season 1 available at launch and featuring unlockable Superstars and Legends, previously available in the WWE 2K Supercharger, on the free tier.<\/p>\n<p>New Motion-Based Nintendo Switch 2 Features<\/p>\n<p>WWE 2K26 on Nintendo Switch 2 will offer several additional features made possible through Nintendo Switch 2\u2019s unique hardware, including touchscreen and mouse support, GameShare and GameChat, support for single Joy-Con gameplay, and the ability to use mouse controls in Creation Suite for face and body painting. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game will also now support Image Uploader and cross-platform Community Creations.<\/p>\n<p>WWE 2K26 Editions<\/p>\n<p>WWE 2K26 features four editions of the game: Standard Edition, King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition:<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf The Standard Edition will be available for $69.99;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cb Pre-Order Bonus Offer: Players who pre-order the WWE 2K26 Standard Edition will receive the Joe Hendry Pack*, a bonus pack of content containing playable Superstar Joe Hendry, a Joe Hendry shirt cosmetic item, Joe Hendry MyFACTION EVO card, and Joe Hendry Spin Island Emote. Players who pre-order any edition of WWE 2K26 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC will also receive the WWE 2K25 base game (digital).** Players who pre order Attitude Era Edition or Monday Night War Edition on PlayStation or Xbox between January 29 and February 23 at 8AM PT will receive 15,000 VC in WWE 2K26 and 67,500 VC in WWE 2K25;***<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf King of Kings Edition will be available for $99.99. King of Kings Edition includes the Standard Edition, Joe Hendry Pack, Ringside Pass Premium Season 1, and 32,500 VC, plus the King of Kings Pack which includes playable Superstars Triple H \u201898 and Stephanie McMahon \u201800, and a \u201cTriple H Signature Taunt\u201d Emote for The Island. King of Kings Edition will be available from March 6, 2026 \u2013 seven days ahead of Standard Edition;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Attitude Era Edition will be available for $129.99. In addition to all content included in the King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition includes access to Ringside Pass Premium Seasons 1-4, plus the Attitude Era Edition Pack, which features playable Superstars The Rock \u201899, Kane \u201898, and Chyna \u201897, \u201cStone Cold\u201d Steve Austin \u201cRattlesnake\u201d and The Rock \u201cPeople\u2019s Champ\u201d MyFACTION EVO cards, the Raw is War \u201898 Arena, and Undertaker \u201cThumb Across the Neck\u201d and Shawn Michaels \u201cDX Crotch Chop\u201d Emotes for The Island. The Superstar Mega-Boost is also included, which grants 200 MySUPERSTAR attribute points for MyRISE plus 100,000 VC. Attitude Era Edition will be available from March 6, 2026 \u2013 seven days ahead of Standard Edition;<\/p>\n<p>\u25cf Monday Night War Edition will be available for $149.99. In addition to all content included in the Attitude Era Edition, Monday Night War Edition includes access to Ringside Pass Premium Seasons 1-6, plus the Monday Night War Edition Pack, which features playable Superstars Shawn Michaels DX, Macho Man Randy Savage \u201898, Rowdy Roddy Piper \u201898, the WCW Thunder \u201898 Arena, and a Diamond Dallas Page \u201cBang!\u201d Emote for The Island. Monday Night War Edition also grants entitlement for the WrestleMania 42 Pack, which includes the WrestleMania 42 Arena and three WrestleMania 42 Superstar Persona Cards to be automatically entitled post launch.**** Monday Night War Edition will be available from March 6, 2026 \u2013 seven days ahead of Standard Edition;<\/p>\n<p>For more information on WWE 2K26, visit the game\u2019s official website, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on TikTok, X, Instagram, and subscribe on Twitch and YouTube. Official campaign hashtag #WWE2K26.<\/p>\n<p>Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).<\/p>\n<p>Access to online or bonus features, content, or services, including MyFACTION, The Island, and Online Multiplayer, may require Internet connection, online account registration, and\/or may not be accessible by accounts registered to users below the age of 13 (minimum age varies). See www.take2games.com\/legal and www.take2games.com\/privacy for additional details. Game includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Some in-game content may require download and\/or online gameplay to unlock. Online console play may require separate paid platform subscription and account registration. Terms apply.<\/p>\n<p>*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2026. Joe Hendry Pack is included with WWE 2K26 King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition. For digital pre-orders, items will be automatically entitled in-game. For physical pre-orders, items will be redeemed in-game via code provided in-box. Terms apply.<\/p>\n<p>**Digital copy of WWE 2K25 Standard Edition not available on Nintendo Switch 2. Digital copy will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K26 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K25 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K25 from platform account. Terms apply.<\/p>\n<p>***Limited time offer available through February 23, 2026, at 8AM PT for pre-orders of WWE 2K26 Attitude Era or Monday Night War Editions on PlayStation or Xbox. Bonus VC for WWE 2K26 will be automatically entitled in-game to the platform account used to pre-order. See console store pages for bonus WWE 2K25 VC redemption instructions. Offer is non-transferable. Internet connection and 2K Account required. Terms Apply.<\/p>\n<p>****Exact release date of the WrestleMania 42 Pack content to be announced post-launch and subject to change. Content will be automatically delivered on release for PC users, available for download in the PlayStation store\/Library tile for PS5 users, available for download in Microsoft Store for Xbox users, and available for download in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 users. WrestleMania 42 Pack will also be available for purchase separately.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2724316199\"><div id=\"pwtor-4136531757\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>C.M. Punk is the cover athlete of the standard edition of WWE 2K26. 2K revealed Punk as the cover athlete for the standard edition of the game on Jan. 30 along with other details of <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/30\/wwe-2k26-details-announced-including-standard-edition-cover-athlete-new-match-types-and-more\/\" title=\"WWE 2K26 details announced including standard edition cover athlete, new match types, and more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":211215,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-211360","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prowrestlingnews","category-news_wwe"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2026\/01\/IMG_4319.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211360","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=211360"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211360\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":211361,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/211360\/revisions\/211361"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/211215"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=211360"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=211360"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=211360"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}