2K Cancels WWE 2K21, Announces WWE 2K Battlegrounds

The last time many of us saw of WWE 2K20, Charlotte Flair was spinning around the ring like she was on a turntable and Ronda Rousey was literally forcing objects in the ring to dematerialize.

IGN should give this game a 5 star review. pic.twitter.com/OYzhQfsUfL

— Shaq Ketchum (@NotThatShaq_) October 22, 2019

#WWE2K20 #XboxShare pic.twitter.com/DyhU2QIgXH

— Marcos Bravo (@MrMacho419) October 22, 2019

The game was an objective failure due in part to the fact the 2K series has maintained a strict yearly release schedule and the reins were handed to a new development team midway through development. After getting annihilated by critics and fans, the 2K team will not release a WWE 2K21 this year and instead focus on improving for a 2K22 game.

The team made the announcement in an open letter to fans on the WWE 2K page.

We are applying what we’ve learned to the next WWE 2K simulation game with a renewed focus on quality and fun. As part of that commitment, we are extending the production timeline and will not be releasing a WWE 2K simulation game in 2020 (T2 fiscal year 2021). We want to ensure the development team at Visual Concepts can create a great game that will entertain grizzled WWE 2K veterans, as well as newcomers who want to climb through the ropes and step into the ring for the very first time.

This is likely a wise decision considering how far the WWE 2K stock has fallen in the eyes of fans. While that would have likely been enough to assuage fears of another disaster of a WWE video game this year, 2K stoked them again by announcing WWE 2K Battlegrounds, an arcade-style wrestling game that has not exactly riled fans up.

The teaser for the game, set to release later this year, currently has an abysmal 6-4 dislike-to-like ratio on YouTube and commenters were clearly dreading the game. "That looks like hot garbage," said one commenter. "Just when you thought that nothing could be worse than 2k20….. Please, don't even release It."

Things weren't much better on Twitter, where fans were equally tepid on the announcement.

“2k20 sucks! We want a fun arcade wrasslin game!”#WWE2KBattlegrounds trailer drops

“Not THAT type of fun arcade game” pic.twitter.com/a1tlBP5wOJ

— New Year, Same Zilch (@y2stump) April 27, 2020

Bruh the people at 2K were like "let's make Charlotte thicc."#WWE2KBattlegrounds pic.twitter.com/NiPuLnTrZO

— Captain Ferg (@CaptainFerg) April 27, 2020

Let's just make the chibis realistic looking because that's a great idea right? #WWE2KBattlegrounds pic.twitter.com/lL9Nm9uLEA

— Gravity | Joshua (@GravityBoosted) April 27, 2020

2k: We have exciting news about the 2k series.
Us: excited
2K drops #WWE2KBattlegrounds
Us: pic.twitter.com/343DyXLzvs

— Jonny Hats (@jonnyhats_22) April 28, 2020

This game looks horrible #WWE2KBattlegrounds pic.twitter.com/vRV0Pxhpf9

— Isaiah (@isaiassuazo223) April 27, 2020

Well… it can't possibly be worst than WWE 2K20. Can it…?