Summary
The Game Awards is one of the most popular award shows in the gaming industry, often thought of as the industry’s equivalent to the Oscars. The goal of this award event is to provide a platform to recognize some of the biggest and most successful games of that year, thereby further expanding their popularity. Up until 2023,WWEgames had collectively sold over 95 million copies and thanks toWWE 2K, the number has only gone up since then. The next Game Awards are going to be held in December 2024 and at this point, it will be unfair to the WWE community if the stakeholders do not recognize their recent games' massive popularity, much likethe 2023 Game Awards.
Fighting games have played a central role in the history of gaming since its earliest days. Whether it was through games likeStreet Fighter 2finding a home in arcades throughout the world, orMortal Kombatchanging the course of gaming discourse.WWE 2K, on the other hand, is a professional wrestling sports simulation video game and while it has been popular among fans of wrestling and sports games, the franchise has yet to garner significant recognition in the form of high-profile industry awards.
WWE 2K’s Relationship With The Game Awards
The Game Awards is known for lifting up deserving games with its prestigious awards, and that’s exactly why the yearly Game Award for Best Fighting Game has developed such a strong recognition over the years. Since its inception in 2014,the Best Fighting Game Awardhas gone to franchises likeStreet FighterandSmash Bros., series that have played a major role in the growth of the genre, butWWE 2Khas never received as much as a nomination (except for a NAVGTR 2023 nomination).
The series’ strong sales showcase how relevant the brand and series are now, particularly becauseWWE 2K22performed better than its predecessors, and its sequels continued to have a positive reception. However, a variety of factors including the fluctuating quality of some of the games in the series (WWE 2K20) and the niche appeal ofwrestling gamescompared to broader genres that drive other fighting games, could be considered a major reason behind its absence at Game Awards. TheWWEgames have, although, received recognition in more niche or genre-specific awards or from publications and platforms that cater specifically to sports and simulation gaming communities.
A Brief History of The Best Fighting Game Award
The first ever Fighting Game Award went toSuper Smash Bros.forWii U,an immensely popular game that remains widely played since its release. The pattern established by the awards continued in subsequent years, withMortal Kombat 10andStreet Fighter 5winning in consecutive years. This trend persisted up to the most recent awards, with titles likeStreet Fighter 6,Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate, andSuper Smash Bros. Ultimateall securing accolades. Given that these awards partially rely on public voting via the Game Awards’ website, the popularity of these games plays a significant role in their success — although the rest of it ultimately comes down to the jury.
WWE 2K’sRecent History and How That Could Impact Its Future Nominations
TheWWEfranchise has been producing games for over two decades and just likeCall of Duty(which has released a game every year since 2005), the wrestling franchise has released an installment each year since 2000 (except 2021). The rebrand to justWWEfrom theSmackDown vs. Rawinstallmentsstarted withWWE 12,which was released in 2011 before its sequels began donning the 2K moniker. The brand’s recent history has been even more checkered, withWWE 2K20, in particular, getting special negative attention and bad reviews.
However, theWWE 2Kseries recovered quickly after this, the franchise canceledWWE 2K21to go back to the drawing board and created the far more positively reviewedWWE 2K22,WWE 2K23, andthe most recentWWE 2K24, all of which have been generally favorable. Now that the series is back at it with full force, it may be the perfect time for it to make an appearance at future Game Awards. At the same time, realistically speaking, its presence up there partially comes down to how much its fan base wants it!
WWE 2K24
WHERE TO PLAY
FORTY YEARS OF WRESTLEMANIAWrestleMania is the biggest event in sports entertainment, where Superstars become WWE Legends. Experience a gripping retelling of WrestleMania’s greatest moments in 2K Showcase of the Immortals, where you can relive a collection of some of the most unforgettable, career-defining matches.AN ICONIC ROSTERWWE 2K24 boasts a star-studded roster featuring WWE Legends like “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, Undertaker, and Andre the Giant, alongside current WWE Superstars like “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, John Cena, Rhea Ripley, and Roman Reigns, whose larger-than-life entrances and signature moves are heightened by ultra-realistic graphics.NEW MATCH TYPESFrom Guest Referee to Casket, Gauntlet, and Ambulance matches, there are a bevy of new match types to experience in WWE 2K24, including support for multiple Superstars in Backstage Brawl.PROVE YOURSELF IN MyRISEUnleash your raw talent and become the undisputed champ in MyRISE, featuring two thrilling career arcs and original storylines chronicling your ascent to WWE stardom from the men’s and women’s divisions.BUILD YOUR FACTIONAssemble your favorite WWE Superstars and Legends in MyFACTION. Acquire cards, build a dominant faction, compete in online multiplayer and the all-new ranked quickplay. Plus, earn exciting promotional and final rank rewards as you climb the new seasonal leaderboard!
