Imagine a world where your wrestling booking isn’t limited by a lack of deeper rivalries or dragged down with predictable cutscenes. This is what many hope for in every WWE 2K installment, but many fans can’t help but feel that Universe Mode has been soulless for a while now. For dedicated players, the Universe Mode isn’t just a menu, but a living, breathing storytelling tool that currently feels like it’s getting nowhere.
Everyone wants the chaos of the Golden Era, the unpredictability of the Attitude Era, and the polish of the modern product. It’s been years since there’s been a true overhaul for the mode, and fans are starting to lose hope. However, there is a chance that WWE 2K26 can change all of that. We’re already getting massive updates in the form of AAA talent, but a Universe Mode overhaul would be the cherry on top.
Things Wrong With The Universe Mode In 2K25
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Universe Mode is regarded as a core feature for WWE games, but it hasn’t lived up to those standards in recent years, especially in 2K25. The mode was decent when it came to customizing matches and shows, but once you let the game generate spontaneous drama, your whole experience becomes soulless.
The rivalry system, for example, was broken. The mode was intended to give players control, but ended up feeling broken because of the logic of the mode. Universe Mode’s major drawback was the limited rivalry slots per show, despite the game having such a huge roster. The AI was broken as well, booking similar wrestlers against each other every week, leading to player burnout.
WWE 2K25 saw the return of Promos, but not exactly the way fans imagined it. Players couldn’t have the wrestlers say custom text, making the promos feel like filler. Forget custom dialogues; a lot of wrestlers didn’t even have any dialogues to begin with. They just gesticulated while the commentators talked over them.
As if this wasn’t enough, developers managed to mess up arguably the most exciting part of a wrestling sandbox, Money In The Bank. It was so buggy that often the Cash In button wouldn’t appear, and even when it did, once triggered, the game would crash. Once again, AI problems made this mode feel unplayable, as it would automatically cash in, and the game would either not recognise it or the wrong wrestler would walk out with the belt.
The Draft
The Draft primarily handled roster shakeups after major events like WrestleMania, with mechanics evolving from automatic drafts to more involved GM-led trades and deals. It’s safe to say that it was a hit in previous WWE games, and rumors are in favor of its return this time around.
Not much has been released regarding the Universe Mode as of yet, but the Draft looks to make a return, and players are definitely hyped. It’s a major addition to the mode. If it functions correctly, then it will be extremely helpful to switch things up and prevent the game from booking the same match over and over again.
This addition would lead to more integration of scene elements as well. While this would be great, the mode needs more story integration. The Draft could improve the Universe Mode, but it needs more than that. The mode needs to be totally revamped with new features, so that it feels like it went through a true overhaul.
What We Want To See
The wishlist for what fans want to see is never-ending, but it includes some really cool features that could help out in improving Universe Mode. At the top of the list are more slots for Universe Mode. Three independent save slots aren’t cutting it for players who really want to get into this mode and enjoy it fully.
Currently, for each save file, you only get 100 Create-A-Wrestler slots. Hardcore fans often use Universe Mode to create wrestlers outside of the main WWE roster, and when alternate attires count toward the slot limit, it feels more restrictive. It’s also likely that you hit the custom image limit first. There are whispers that 2K26 will be increasing CAW slots to 200, and if that’s true, that will allow for much-needed freedom.
Fans want to be able to change the order of matches on the card without needing to delete the matches and add them again. It has been reported that by deleting matches and adding them to a different part of the card, the match is often not recognized as a rivalry match anymore. These little faults lead players to stay away from the game, and that is definitely not desirable. 2K can finally address this with an overhauled match card editor.
We also want the ability to have legends or alternate versions of stars return from injury or long hiatus with a bigger crowd reaction. A surprise return rivalry action that interrupts a promo would send the crowd into a frenzy and increase player engagement.
Another simple thing that can be added is the ability to revisit past weeks and take a look at what you achieved. This would be incredibly resourceful for players returning from a hiatus who don’t remember their current storylines.
Are Things Looking Up For WWE 2K26?
As we build up to the official launch, we have a lot of leaks and rumors to talk about. For example, a recent tease points toward new NXT additions. The rumors pointing to the return of the Draft are less concrete, and there are no official details yet either. However, the fact that these rumors exist at all is positive, and we just hope they can overhaul some of the Universe Mode cutscenes, promos, and rivalry actions so the mode feels “alive.” Will it be perfect? Probably not. But it has the potential to be much better with WWE 2K26.
