WWE 2K23, the latest edition of the annual wrestling video game franchise, is set to launch on March 17, 2023, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC via Steam. This year’s installment will focus on the impressive career of 16-time world champion John Cena, with the 2K Showcase mode highlighting his journey through the industry.
John Cena To Be Featured Heavily On WWE 2K23
The game will feature a range of modes, including General Manager, MyRISE career mode, and the franchise’s first-ever twist in the 2K Showcase mode. Players will not be playing as Cena, but instead, work to defeat him in 14 matches inspired by iconic moments in Cena’s career in which he was defeated.
“John Cena loses all of the historical matches in Showcase,” said Dino Zucconi, Showcase Lead Designer at Visual Concepts. “That’s the kind of idea – never give up. It’s easy to say when you’re winning all the time, and you’re preaching it to other people…we wanted John Cena to talk about what that meant, when he’s lost a match, or he’s lost a championship.”
This past year marked Cena’s 20th anniversary of wrestling for WWE, making him the perfect cover star for WWE 2K23. While Cena has recently become a part-time star on Raw and Smackdown, only appearing for one-off shows and special events like WrestleMania, there’s no doubt that he has earned his place as the cover star of the game.
In addition to the 2K Showcase mode, the game will also feature new modes and wrestlers, including the debut of WarGames. While details on the 14 included matches in the Showcase mode have yet to be released, fans can expect to see many veteran wrestlers included.
Those interested in purchasing WWE 2K23 will have several options to choose from, as outlined by 2K Games. The game is set to launch on March 17, 2023, with the following major editions:
Standard Edition: Available for current and previous-gen consoles in physical and digital format.
Cross-Gen Edition: Available digitally between PlayStation and Xbox consoles.
Deluxe Edition: Includes Bad Bunny Bonus Pack, Season Pass, MyRISE Mega-Boost, Super Charger, and various MyFACTION cards (Available early, from March 14, 2023)
Icon Edition: Includes all content from Standard and Deluxe Editions, as well as the Ruthless Aggression Pack, John Cena Legacy Championship, WrestleMania 22 Arena and more. Also includes MyFACTION Manager Card, and three Deluxe Premium Launch MyFACTION Card Packs. (Available early, from March 14, 2023)
WWE 2K23 will be available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC on March 17, 2023.