Developer Visual Concepts, known for its work on the NBA 2K and WWE 2K franchises, has been hit by layoffs. According to Insider Gaming, these layoffs were company-wide. However, the teams working on the WWE 2K games have apparently been harder hit by these layoffs than the team working on NBA 2K. Along with the main team working on WWE 2K games, the ones working on WWE 2K25: Netflix Edition have also been hit.
While no details about how many employees were affected by this round of layoffs have been revealed, according to the report, sources have said that “it wasn’t insignificant”. It also makes a note of the sources, not mentioning a precise number due to fears of underestimating the true number of workers affected.
WWE 2K25: Netflix Edition is noted as having not met the expectations of those at Netflix, which was likely one of the reasons for the layoffs. “They expected it to be something it was never designed to be: a mobile game,” said the sources about the title. Another source said that the leadership at Take-Two Interactive hadn’t been honest with the development team about how well the title had been doing. “Leadership lied the whole time, saying the game was fine and great,” they said. Ultimately, the poor performance of the game led to Netflix skipping out on Netflix Editions of WWE 2K26 and even WWE 2K27, which meant that the team behind WWE 2K25: Netflix Edition was left without anything to work on.
The latest entry in the franchise, WWE 2K26, was released just a few months ago and featured CM Punk as the cover star for its base edition. This would mark the first time that the wrestler has been the cover star for the franchise since 2012’s WWE ’13. The professional wrestler also serves as the focus of the game’s 2K Showcase mode, dubbed “Punked”, which gives players a tour of his career throughout the ages. Much like last year’s entry, it also includes dream matches with WWE Legends through the Fantasy Warfare option.
WWE 2K26 features more than 400 wrestlers in its roster, ranging from Legends from eras in the past to up-and-coming newer wrestlers, like Blake Munroe and Rey Fenix. When it comes to game modes, it includes a few new match types, including Three Stages of Hell, Inferno, I Quit, and Dumpster matches.
The title is available on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch 2. For more details, take a look at our review of the PS5 version, which we gave a score of 8 out of 10 thanks to its weightier physics, slick 2K Showcase mode, and overhauled presentation. However, we found the damage realism, AI, and pacing of the Showcase mode to be quite underwhelming.
At the end of March, 2K Sports and Visual Concepts addressed player feedback on how WWE Superstars are unlocked through the Ringside Pass system, bringing in a major change. Going forward, the companies have confirmed that all four DLC characters part of Ringside Pass Premium Seasons will be available in Tier 1 and be automatically unlocked for all Premium Pass owners.
