WWE 2K22 has a lot to prove to make up for the reception WWE 2K20 received when it was released in 2019. Visual Concepts, the developer who worked on WWE 2K20, has spent an extra year developing WWE 2K22 and has claimed that it will "hit differently." WWE Commentator Michael Cole mentioned in an episode of WWE SmackDown this July that WWE 2K22 will feature a rebuilt game engine and smoother controls. This means the engine used by WWE games ever since the PS1 era is finally getting the rework it needs.
WWE 2K22 has showcased superstar entrance animations and moves on its social media, but little else. The animations of how a superstar moves about aren't telling for how much the game engine has been improved, but hopefully this means fewer bugs and faster load times. Whether WWE 2K22 will live up to its hype remains to be seen for now, but one thing fans are curious about is what the roster will look like. After WWE 2K20 launched, many high-profile superstars have left the company under various circumstances, and the roster in WWE 2K22 should be vastly different as a result. This means the roster in WWE 2K22 will likely rely heavily on legendary superstars such as The Undertaker, real name Mark Calaway, more so than ever before.
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WWE 2K22 Legendary Superstars
It didn't take long before the roster in WWE 2K20 became outdated, as many of its superstars left WWE. As yearly sports title releases go, an updated roster is part of the appeal because it allows fans to experience the most up-to-date lineup of athletes, with the inclusion of legendary superstars who have since retired such as The Undertaker. With the extra year of development for WWE 2K22, it stands to reason its roster will be the most jarring yet when compared to its predecessor. Most WWE games include a good amount of WWE Legends and Hall of Fame members like The Rock, Hulk Hogan, or Stone Cold Steve Austin, and there is a good chance that WWE 2K22 will do the same.
One highly notable WWE Legend is The Undertaker, a larger-than-life wrestler with a career that has spanned over three decades and is considered by many to be one of the greatest wrestlers of all time. His inclusion in wrestling games has spanned almost his entire career, going as far back as 1992 with WWF Super WrestleMania. As of now, The Undertaker has officially retired, though this doesn't mean that he won't appear in WWE 2K22. Instead, it likely means that the character will be featured in WWE games now and forever. This is because WWE owns the trademark for many of its characters such as The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and, of course, The Undertaker.
Even if The Undertaker decides to make a name for himself in a different promotion, he would be unable to use his WWE persona verbatim. With how popular The Undertaker is with the likes of other Legends of the past, there is a high probability that The Undertaker will be included as a playable character in WWE 2K22. Because of The Undertaker's long career, he has changed persona and styles throughout in an attempt to keep things fresh. WWE games in the past often include multiple variations of the same characters from different time periods to reflect this, and it would seem unlikely that WWE 2K22 wouldn't follow suit, especially given how limited its roster might end up with current superstars.
Though it's likely that The Undertaker will be featured in WWE 2K22, it's uncertain if this will be the case for other WWE Legends who have since left the company. Ric Flair, one of the most decorated superstars of WWE's history, has recently jumped ship to AEW. The Big Show, another prominent figure of WWE for the last 2 decades also left the company in favor of WWE's competing brand. Both the Big Show and Ric Flair had a long career with WWE and usually have multiple variations of characters to select from in the WWE 2K games. What this means for them is unknown, but with The Undertaker still in good standing with the company, there's a good chance he will be playable in WWE 2K22.
WWE 2K22 is in development for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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