u/RFindlay2K26

While it’s easy to point out the various flaws in the current games, and while it’s easy to vent frustrations, I’ve been thinking about how the intended design of these games could actually perform well, and I’m not claiming that this is the only solution, just one I believe could be developed by 2K.

The main problem I’ve felt playing the games, especially with the current generation starting with 2K22, is that everything feels incomplete. Showcase Mode has lacked depth for many years, and Universe Mode has persistent bugs as reported here often. The Island feels like a separate game, and MyFaction has a similar feeling of belonging on its own. MyRise tends to be the same story told every year, and it’s likely because there’s so many modes to manage, which explains the persistent technical issues and limitations.

The Battle Pass is a symptom of a larger issue, not the cause. I feel like if MyFaction was a standalone mobile game developed for 2K, and if The Island was a free-to-play mobile, console and PC game, then you’d have those environments where a battle pass system is actually supported through seasons and regular updates. This would free up the resources for modes like MyRise, MyGM and Universe Modes to bolster, refine, and improve those modes beyond what we have now. If there’s integration to WWE 2K games, wherein you could still unlock alternate attires/personas and other cosmetics across all games.

If there’s integration, for an example if you play MyFaction and unlock a persona card, it could unlock Creation Suite parts for The Island, and an alternate attire for the current WWE 2K game. If you own WWE 2Kxx, you’ll unlock cards for use in MyFaction and CAS parts for The Island. If you unlock parts in The Island, that could translate to CAS parts for the mainline 2K game and additional cards for MyFaction. You’re designing independent games with interdependent content that creates actual incentives to try each game, and possibly to buy content in one or all three.

I know it’s a stretch, but I’ve just been thinking about ways this could actually work as a constructive creative outlet. Imagine if MyFaction was a Hearthstone style game, and if The Island was an online multiplayer survival game like Fortnite but focused on creating your own character and building your training camp? This would be better than mashing it all into one game on an annual release cycle, in my opinion.

• January: wins Royal Rumble
• February: vs. Chris Jericho
• March: vs. Cody Rhodes
• April: vs. Randy Orton
• May: vs. Daniel Bryan
• June: vs. Edge
• July: vs. CM Punk
• August: vs. The Rock
• September: vs. Brock Lesnar
• October: vs. Vince McMahon
• November: vs. The Ghost of Chris Benoit
• December: vs. WALTER

Something on my mind recently from visiting the fantasy booking subreddit has been the vernacular of professional wrestling, in particular what it means to be a booker, a matchmaker, or a promoter. For this post, I’m focusing on the modern example, AEW, but I don’t approach the topic with any hostility or cynicism, rather just my observations from a lifelong fandom and time in the business myself.

While it was humorous when Randy Orton called Tony Khan “Jacksonville Dixie,” I don’t think that’s accurate to who he is professionally speaking. I do see the comparisons in personality holding up between Khan and Carter, since both came from outside wrestling. If we’re talking strictly in the business sense? He’s not the next Dixie Carter or even Herb Abrams, he’s the next Paul Boesch. Paul wasn’t a booker, he was a matchmaker, and that’s the most honest description for Tony’s current business model.

What was Paul’s biggest proclivity as a matchmaker according to Gary Hart? He wanted big shows with big champions and big names, and he didn’t care if it was Nick Bockwinkle from the AWA, Bruno Sammartino or Andre The Giant from the WWWF, or Dory Funk Jr. or Jack Brisco from the NWA. He loved booking world’s champions, but it would hurt talent in the booking office for Dallas, because it didn’t support long term stories for the territories.

Who would have that same matchmaking philosophy today? That’s Tony and his emphasis of CMLL and NJPW championships and guest stars. At its core, we can differentiate booking and matchmaking in two succinct ways. Booking is the logic, psychology, escalation, and consequence of the stories. Matchmaking is putting together events and hoping that the matches will be enough to sell the show.

This isn’t an indictment on Tony. AEW has never been booked properly, because it’s run by a matchmaker without a booker, a Boesch without a Hart. It explains the inconsistency felt as an older fan, and you start seeing the problem exemplified throughout the industry once you notice it in one company.