Fancy a wrestle? Nicely, you’re extra restricted in selection now, as a result of 2K have eliminated 4 of their previous WWE video games from sale on Steam, leaving simply the current WWE 2K22 and the arcade-style 2K Battlegrounds up. Console your self by watching the 2K22 launch trailer beneath, as you weep into your tasselled and bespangled leotard.
I haven’t performed a wrestling recreation since 2002’s truthful to middling WWE Wrestlemania X8 on the GameCube, so I can’t say I instantly seen the absence of WWE 2K20, 2K19, 2K18 and 2K17 from Valve’s storefront. Redditor Popstasia finally did although, and posted their findings to the pcgaming subreddit. You’ll be able to see the desolation on Steam for your self right here. The elimination of the WWE video games from sale appears to have taken place on July 14th, which maps with information from Steam Tracker.
A few of 2K’s earlier entries within the WWE sequence do nonetheless have Steam retailer pages, however they’re marked with a now acquainted and barely deflating observe: “On the request of the writer, WWE 2K17 is now not out there on the market on Steam.” The video games seem to have been faraway from sale on the Xbox and PlayStation storefronts too. Provided that WWE video games have licensed soundtracks, it is solely doable that the licenses are expiring and this has prompted the takedown – just like how the PC model of Treatment’s Alan Wake was taken off sale again in 2017 on account of its lapsed music rights.
2K took a yr off from releasing their annual wrestlefest in 2020 after the disastrously buggy launch of WWE 2K20. They did get spherical to patching it, although. 2K don’t appear to have been getting any rumblings prepared about after we’ll see WWE 2K23 but, though there have been rumours earlier this yr that WWE had approached EA about taking up the licence.
I’ve reached out to 2K for touch upon why these wrestling video games have been taken down, and I am going to replace this submit after I hear again. Within the meantime, please don’t attempt to supplex me should you spot me on the street. Depart it for the ring.