One game wrestling fans have been waiting for is the long-awaited collaboration between AEW and YUKE'S for a video game. Today, we finally get an extended first look.
YUKE'S is the video game company behind the most revered wrestling video games, WWF No Mercy. The director of that game, Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita, is also responsible for overseeing this game. Kenny Omega was the AEW liaison on the game, and he is known for his love of gaming. They are teasing they are bringing back simple controls and fun side games to make this an easy game to get into.
“One of the first things I did after signing with AEW was to ask Tony Khan to let me help assemble the best gaming team on the planet, to make the best wrestling game ever,” said Kenny Omega, EVP of AEW and former AEW World Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion. “Well, we just landed the perfect finisher by partnering with global publishing and distribution powerhouse THQ Nordic for AEW: Fight Forever. The THQ brand has long been synonymous with wrestling games – there is simply no more qualified partner to bring AEW: Fight Forever to the millions of wrestling fans the world over.”
While there is no release date yet for the game, confirmed systems include PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. There are 50 wrestlers expected on the final roster, with eventual DLC expansions. Confirmed for the game so far, based on gameplay footage and screenshots are:
- Kenny Omega
- Chris Jericho
- Hikaru Shida
- Darby Allin
- Jungle Boy
- Owen Hart
- Sting
- CM Punk
- Bryan Danielson
- Adam Cole
- Ruby Soho
The types of matches include Tag-Team, 3-way, 4-way, Ladder, Casino Battle Royale, Falls Count Anywhere, Unsanctioned Lights-Out and Exploding Barbed Wire Death. There will be an online co-op mode, where you can do tag team sequences, as well as a career mode, where you can create a wrestler.
According to the official documents, "Players can create and develop their own wrestler who joins the AEW roster and appears in matches and stories over an event schedule. Points are earned by winning matches and fulfilling certain objectives which can then be used to enhance their wrestler’s stats." The create a wrestler section allows you to customize "wrestler attire and appearance, move sets, entrances, teams and arenas."
Here is the cover and first teaser for the video game:
Here are some official screenshots from the game:
An extended trailer featuring Tony Schiavone and Britt Baker has also surfaced:
Are you as excited as I am to see what's in store for us with the AEW video game?
AEW will likely spend some more time talking about the game on tonight's edition of Dynamite at 8pm on TBS. Here are all the scheduled segments tonight:
- The Undisputed Elite return
- Orange Cassidy vs. Jay Lethal
- Thunder Rosa & Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker & Jamie Hayter
- Christian Cage vs. Matt Hardy
- Chris Jericho vs. Wheeler Yuta
- Jon Moxley speaks talks
- Dumpster match: The Acclaimed vs. The Gunn Club
- Powerhouse Hobbs in action
