WWE 2k15

[ViciousPrism 177]

Last year's WWE 2K14 was too far along when 2K Games took on the license from THQ for it to make many big changes, but now there's no holding back.

 

WWE 2K15 will be the new-gen debut of the series on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One (in addition to PS3 and 360). Developer Visual Concepts is taking on a much bigger role this time around alongside longtime developer Yukes. Visual Concepts is incorporating its impressive scanning tech made famous in its NBA 2K games. The team has hounded WWE's roster of wrestlers during their nonstop travel schedule and already has 90 percent of the in-game roster scanned in. Interestingly, I saw a photo of Hulk Hogan getting scanned. While a classic version of him is in the game (alongside announced wrestlers John Cena, Bray Wyatt, Roman Reigns, and Cesaro), it's unclear what role today's older Hulk would serve. Maybe he shows up for a hosting role as he did for the recent Wrestlemania XXX.

 

This new tech is already showing impressive results. I saw side-by-side character models for wrestlers like John Cena, A.J. Lee, and Daniel Bryan, and they all looked leaps and bounds closer to their real-life counterparts. Hair, skin, faces, and ring gear are all majorly upgraded. VC is capturing a variety of facial expressions so that wrestlers will express more realistic emotions in the ring. A John Cena facial rig demo showed off lifelike expressions of pain, excitement, and exertion.

 

The ultimate goal of all this is to closer match WWE's TV presentation. I couldn't get any specifics on actual game mechanic changes, but Visual Concepts is working toward more realistic match pacing and flow. The key to all of this is a new mo-cap studio that contains an actual WWE ring set up by a real WWE ring technician. This will result in five times the number of animations than 2K14. A new months-later cutoff date for inclusion of the latest WWE content will help ensure that the game is that much closer to the latest roster and storylines.

 

Audio is getting a complete overhaul as well, with five times the sound of last year's game. For the very first time announcers Jerry "The King" Lawler and Michael Cole will be recorded in tandem, creating more natural conversation threads. I heard a sample clip of the two discussing Undertaker's Hell's Gate submission and it already sounds much improved. There will be a massive 30 to 35 hours of commentary per announcer to keep things fresh and prevent hearing constant repeats.

 

2K is not discussing what the overall theme of the game is this year (previous years included Wrestlemania and the Attitude Era), nor did it show the full game in action. All of the details I heard sound promising, but it's tough to fully accept without further along footage. WWE 2K15 is set to launch on October 28, which doesn't leave a whole lot of time for all of the ambitious advances the team is planning. Despite these reservations, I'm looking forward to the next 2K15 reveal to see how the total package comes together.

 

GameInformer.

 

No images from said deal. All we have are the typical roster images, which are just photoshopped graphics.

[dsrchris 190]

Everyone getting new scans, and the tandem commentary stuff actually make me feel a little hopeful that we're not just gonna see a polished version of last year's game.

[Guest The Beltster]

A John Cena facial rig demo showed off lifelike expressions of pain, excitement, and exertion.

Not realistic at all then seeing as Cena's facial expressions are fake as f*ck.

[Guest Vanillascooper]

Glad the Audio is finally getting a real upgrade

[DC 536]

Yukes is also working on the game but Visual Concepts is doing most of the work.

This minor update from the news posted by ViciousPrism, this is a quote from the 2K E3 presentation and is probably the best indication that this is not just going to be a minor updating of the previous year like we've been used to. Yukes being reduced to a minor role is a big change for the series.

 

Visual Concepts are the guys behind the motion capture and graphics on the likes of NBA 2K14 and there have been very positive comments coming from the photo comparisons of the wrestlers from WWE 2k14 and now.

 

I also think Sting will be a confirmed playable legend.

[Guest The Beltster]

NBA 2K14 looks amazing on next gen. Sting is the pre-order bonus guy apparently.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

This all sounds positive, hopefully longer development on the game bodes well for the final product

[DC 536]

In case you haven't seen it yet.

 

[video=youtube_share;E3gExu2Mk6o]

 

Officially announced on the roster (from the WWE 2K15 official site's roster page) are -:

 

Sting (Crow)

Sting (Surfer)

John Cena

Cesaro

Bray Wyatt

Roman Reigns

Hulk Hogan (Hulkamania era)

 

I expect there to be a gradual roster reveal leading up to SummerSlam (as they did last year), with entrances and finishers for wrestlers every few days, while SummerSlam's pre-show weekend festivities will have a look at gameplay and whatever innovations are new.

 

Also, a lot of people are hopeful the career mode will return and that you will start in NXT with some members of the NXT roster playable in the game.

[Guest fattyfudge]

RVD also confirmed he was in the game as well via a Tweet, and Darren Young has also been included, which is kind of strange since he hasn't been on TV for months

[ViciousPrism 177]

Darren's injured.

[Maxximus 353]

He's the gay one. They have to put him or or the backlash would be brutal.

[DC 536]

Darren Young was on the official Facebook page, but those are the only ones on the actual website at the moment.

 

I do wonder how Sting will fit in (if he does at all) with any storyline element. I mean, Warrior was the pre-order bonus last year and he slotted right in with the 30 Years of WrestleMania section. Perhaps they will have a WCW-themed part of the game or perhaps he's just there because it's Sting.

[dsrchris 190]

Denton bought up a good point that neither CM Punk or Daniel Bryan were around when WWE were doing the new scans. I don't know if Punk will be included at all, but it will be interesting to see how Daniel Bryan shapes up against everyone else graphically.

[DC 536]

Denton bought up a good point that neither CM Punk or Daniel Bryan were around when WWE were doing the new scans.

Shawn Michaels has said in an interview that he had a scanning session, so he's going to be in the game (possibly as a version from his last run), while Xavier Woods and RVD have also said they will be in the game.

 

Of course, none of these should really be a surprise. In fact, I don't think (outside of Sting), anyone is going to cause a stir unless NXT wrestlers are announced.

[DC 536]

It's been confirmed that the roster will be revealed the Saturday before SummerSlam (August 16th).

 

Members of the WWE Universe can get closer to their favorite Superstars and Hall of Famers than ever before this summer when Club Nokia at LA LIVE in Los Angeles hosts the live SummerSlam Panel series Aug. 15-17. Tickets for the interactive events go on sale at AXS.com starting this Saturday, July 26, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT.

 

Visit AXS.com | Full SummerSlam coverage

 

The panels give the WWE Universe the opportunity to ask questions directly to their favorite WWE Superstars and Hall of Famers including:

 

• Hulk Hogan on Friday, August 15 at 7 PM PT. The WWE Hall of Famer and pop-culture icon will talk about his legendary career in and out of the ring, as well as his recent return to WWE.
  .
  
• "WWE 2K15" Roster Reveal hosted by Stone Cold Steve Austin featuring John Cena, Hulk Hogan, Roman Reigns, Sheamus and Cesaro on Saturday, August 16 at 10 AM PT. In addition to speaking about their respective WWE careers, the panelists will reveal the official roster for 2K’s upcoming WWE 2K15 video game, which is available October 28. VIP Ticket holders will receive their photo opportunity with Roman Reigns for this SummerSlam Panel.
  .
  
• D-Generation X, featuring Triple H and Shawn Michaels on Saturday, August 16 at 7 PM PT. One of the most popular and controversial groups in WWE history will address their rebellious exploits and discuss their lasting legacy.
  .
  
• Stone Cold Steve Austin on Sunday, August 17 at 12 Noon PT. The WWE Hall of Famer will discuss his monumental rise to become one of the biggest stars in WWE history.

Each panel will feature a two hour discussion and Q&A with fans in attendance. VIP experiences will follow. Ticket prices per panel are $50 for lower balcony seating; $100 for floor seating, which includes an exclusive SummerSlam Panels collectible pre-signed poster; and $200 for a VIP experience, which includes priority floor seating, a professional photo with select panel Superstars and an exclusive SummerSlam Panels collectible pre-signed poster. For more information on the SummerSlam Panels, please visit http://www.SummerSlam.com.

Credit: WWE.COM

[Guest The Beltster]

Hogan and Austin together on a panel sounds good to me.

[Guest Jack]

I haven't bought a wrestling game in years but I'm intrigued to see what 2K will do now that they have full control. The gameplay needs a massive overhaul and hopefully they'll do that.

[Guest Ciaran The King]

No Flair or JR!!!!!!

[DC 536]

It seems like IGN is going to have gameplay footage on their site on Monday.

[ViciousPrism 177]

 

Oh. My. Fucking. God.

 

EDIT: More details

 

Year on year, Yuke's has consistently found ways to make their WWE games more dense and feature complete, and from the first details we've gotten on WWE 2K15, that trend is going to continue. Let’s take a broad overview of just what you can expect from this year's outing in the squared circle – both on last-gen and current gen – starting with the new story mode, 2K Showcase.

 

Last year, WWE 2K14 electrified with its sprawling campaign mode, 30 Years of Wrestlemania. 2K15 is looking to tell a more focused, up-close-and-personal story than the broad historic view offered in 2K14. 2K Showcase will be broken up into two episodes, each one focusing in tightly on an epic rivalry from the WWE’s past. Think of them as mini-documentaries of a sort. Could it be Rock vs Austin? Undertaker vs Kane? 2K hasn't spilled the beans just yet, but rest assured we'll be the first to know, and when we do, so will you. If the excellent 30 Years of Wrestlemania was any indication, though, the authenticity of the presentation will make these rivalries a treat to play through.

 

In addition to reliving these golden WWE memories, you'll finally have a true, discreet career mode for your created wrestlers in MyCareer. This mode has been lifted from NBA 2K14 and adapted to the WWE environment. While I didn't think the mode had the right synergy with the NBA, the WWE seems like a logical place to apply it. Imagine replacing all those cheese-ball, amateur hour characters and cutscenes with authentically voiced and mo-capped WWE Superstars. You get the picture. Exact details of the mode are still forthcoming, but we do know that it will be on the current-gen version only. Sorry, 360/PS3 stalwarts.

 

No matter what version you play, though, you'll get to enjoy the fruits of Visual Concepts' involvement. Over 50 days worth of motion capture sessions went on at 2K's state-of-the-art mo-cap facility, where WWE Superstars spent hours getting their signature moves digitally recreated. All told, WWE 2K15 features five times (FIVE TIMES! FIVE TIMES!) the animation data of 2K14. Thankfully, just as much effort has gone into improving the way the game sounds, the color commentary in particular. Over four times as many lines were recorded this time around, which should go a long way towards spicing up what has consistently been one of the franchise's presentational low points.

 

So that's what you can expect in terms of new features and modes. As we get more face time with the game, we'll be diving in deeper on many of these additions, and of course, bringing you footage and detailed impressions of how things differ once you're actually in the ring. Be sure to head here regularly for a steady stream of new IGN First content on WWE 2K15 throughout the month.