The current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk strikes a defiant pose on the Standard Edition cover, a position befitting a Triple Crown Champion. One of the most celebrated and subversive personas in WWE history, CM Punk previously appeared on the cover of WWE ‘13, and also headlines WWE 2K26’s 2K Showcase.

WWE 2K26 on Nintendo Switch 2 will offer several additional features made possible through Nintendo Switch 2's unique hardware, including touchscreen and mouse support, GameShare and GameChat, support for single Joy-Con gameplay, and the ability to use mouse controls in Creation Suite for face and body painting. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game will also now support Image Uploader and cross-platform Community Creations.

The King of Kings Edition celebrates the in-ring career and ongoing behind-the-scenes legacy of WWE Hall of Famer and current WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “Triple H” Levesque.

The Attitude Era Edition evokes nostalgia for one of the greatest eras in WWE history, and larger-than-life personalities including “Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Stephanie McMahon, Undertaker, Kane, Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna, Kurt Angle, and The Dudley Boyz.

An all-new “super-premium” Monday Night War Edition features content tied to WWE stars of the Attitude Era, as well as a collection of WCW’s biggest names of the era, including “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Goldberg, Booker T, and Eric Bischoff.

2K released the latest Ringside Report, narrated by WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes, detailing updates coming to The Island in WWE 2K26.

In The Island’s new storyline, Roman Reigns is no longer the top dog. Three Orders, each with a distinct identity and methodology, are now vying for control: The Order of Tradition, led by Rhodes himself, The Order of Shadows led by Rhea Ripley, and the Order of Anarchy led by WWE 2K26 Standard Edition cover Superstar CM Punk. Players must choose which Order to join, which will influence their viewpoint as the story unfolds.

A new brawl environment, The Scrapyard, is available not only as a centerpiece of The Island, but also selectable for Exhibition matches. The Scrapyard offers interactive environmental elements, including a launch pad, shopping cart and steel beam, and increased verticality, allowing combatants to take their battles to new heights.

New customization options for the MySUPERSTAR builder include the Photo Face feature and World Taunts, which allow players to better express themselves in The Island’s social setting, while the new Prestige System rewards players’ advancement with Prestige Quests, higher OVR levels, and more power, badges, and rewards.

The new Towers repeatable PVE experience offers players the opportunity to choose from small, medium or large tower runs to earn Order Reputation and rewards. Mega-Challenge Tower Events tied to each season’s theme will offer rare rewards for players able to complete them.

Additional updates include the new co-op MyTAG multiplayer feature, allowing two players to form a team and participate in cooperative PvP matches, Seasonal Ranked Play which rewards the top 10 players on weekly leaderboard with a Championship belt, and new match types including Triple Threat, Fatal 4-Way and 2v2 PvP.

WWE 2K26 Ringside Report - The Island

We’re just a few weeks away from Early Access for those who have purchased WWE 2K26 Attitude Era or the Monday Night War Edition and we’re excited to share with you all the updates that are in store for The Island. 

To give you a little more insight, we’re excited to have none other than Cody Rhodes, the leader of the Order of Tradition, give you the scoop himself

Last year, players stepped onto The Island and challenged Roman Reigns for control of the Island of Relevancy. With Roman Reigns gone, so too has the balance of power. Three factions now compete to shape the future of The Island, each with its own philosophy, leadership, and vision. 

In this Ringside Report, we’re breaking down what’s new this year on The Island, including story updates, the different factions, progression systems, and a ton of new features.

THE THREE ORDERS

As mentioned, three factions have emerged, and players must now align themselves with one of these Orders and help lead them to control. Each Order brings a distinct identity and leadership to The Island. Get a rundown of them below:

• Order of Tradition: Forged in the squared circle, The Order of Tradition is a collection of true believers in the heritage and history of the business. Some operate honorably, while some may use more underhanded tricks to achieve their ends - though both methods are tried and tested. The common denominator? All have a vested interest in carrying the old ways forward and seeing them instilled in the next generation, from attention to in-ring skill and technical ability, to a love of spectacle and over-the-top showmanship. Led by Cody Rhodes, they’re fighting to inspire those principles through dominance on The Island.
• Order of Shadows: They found a natural home in the shadow of the former Deadlands. Members of this Order find comfort in the unexplained and all that goes bump in the night. With an unofficial leader in Rhea Ripley, The Shadows has not only become a refuge for the “freaks and the weirdos” but a rallying cry for those who wish to bring that weirdness out from the shadows entirely and reshape The Island in their own image. Tangling with this Order teaches opponents to question their own senses and rethink what they believe is possible.
• Order of Anarchy: This Order is not just for those who want to redefine the rules, it’s for those who want to question the concept of rules entirely. Big, bold, and unapologetic, they see The Island not just as it is, but as what it could be. Under the right leadership, of course. Perhaps one of the most… creative Orders, Anarchy questions the status quo with not just words, but each and every action. Though the words are pretty good, too - helmed by CM Punk, they’ve got some of the boldest mic skills in the biz.

And choose wisely – while each Order member is able to play every main path story, your allegiance will inform the specific viewpoint you have on events as they unfold. Progression is more non-linear than before, allowing players to dive into story missions in the manner they choose.. Additionally, each Order also has a new enterable landmark location and a dedicated PvP arena for players to explore. 

THE SCRAPYARD

At the center of much of The Island dispute and at the very center of The Island itself, sits The Scrapyard. When the arena where Roman Reigns was defeated was demolished following… certain events… those on The Island abandoned it and used it as a space to discard their trash as they moved in and started remaking The Island to fit their needs. But as the legend of that defeat grew, and rumors spread… so did the whispers about what transpired and what had perhaps been left behind on those grounds.

Now? Each Order fights for control of not only The Island, but The Scrapyard, and for what it may hold. Some are true believers in a hidden power, while others are only believers in the power of emerging victorious over an enemy. Whatever you believe, The Scrapyard is a combat zone like no other, to test yourself head-to-head against the best The Island has to offer, and show up and show out for your Order.

In 2K26, the Scrapyard also features increased verticality that allows players to climb scaffolding, fight across elevated platforms, knock opponents off structures, and perform attacks from higher vantage points. All of this introduces new ways to play on The Island!

MySUPERSTAR BUILDER & PROGRESSION

In WWE 2K26, we’ve included additional customization options for your MySUPERSTAR. With the inclusion of the Photo Face feature, players can further customize their MySUPERSTAR just the way they want. World Taunts are also a new inclusion. Want to DX Chop someone on The Island? Now players can express themselves the way they want via emotes, which can also be earned through progression on The Island. 

A new addition to The Island is the Prestige System, which introduces four progression tiers.

• Recruit (OVR 70–85)
• Disruptor (OVR 75–90)
• Blueprint (OVR 80–95)
• Legendary (OVR 85–100)

Each Prestige Level has attribute caps. Upon reaching the cap, players unlock a Prestige Quest to advance to the next tier. Players can reach higher OVR Levels to gain access to more power, badges, and rewards.

TOWERS

Towers introduce a repeatable PvE experience that players can participate in endlessly to earn rewards and increase their reputation in each Order. 

Players can choose their Tower run size (small, medium, large), which determines the total number of stages a Tower run contains. Every time the player starts a new tower run, their stage is randomly generated. Each tower stage contains a dynamic path of different node types consisting of matches, rewards, choices and boss fights. 

The main reward to earn in Towers Mode is “Order Reputation.” By earning “Order Reputation,” players can gain access to a large table of rewards specifically for that Order Tower. 

Up for a challenge? Keep your eyes peeled for Mega-Challenge Tower Events. These are event Towers tied to the season’s theme and offer rare rewards for completion.

MULTIPLAYER UPDATES

Multiplayer on The Island sees a few major additions in WWE 2K26 as well!

With MyTAG, players can form a persistent two-person team and participate in cooperative multiplayer PvP activities across the Island. Start looking for your tag team partner ASAP! 

A few new match types have been added:

• Triple Threat
• Fatal 4-Way
• 2v2 PvP

Seasonal Ranked Play is also now included. So get ready to take on new challenges and claw your way to the top. Ranks reset each Ringside Pass season, so get ready to take on new challenges and claw your way to the top.

Players progress from Bronze 4 to Platinum 1, with seasonal leaderboards for:

• 1v1 PvP
• 2v2 PvP
• Order Reputation
• Championships

If you make it to the top, stay on your toes, because the top 10 players on weekly leaderboards will be awarded a Championship belt. 

With three Orders vying for control, it’s up to you to choose your allegiance and shape what comes next. So gear up and get ready to jump into The Island in WWE 2K26!

Key Features:

• 2K Showcase: Punked - CM Punk’s Personal Journey: CM Punk jumps through time to relive incredible moments from his career. Narrated by "The Best in the World" himself, players will relive iconic matches and battle against WWE Legends in Fantasy Warfare. For those who want to truly prove their mettle, the Showcase Gauntlet looks to push players to their limits! CM Punk’s rise, rebellion, and return make this the most personal 2K Showcase yet;
• Best in the World Roster of 400+: WWE 2K26 boasts a roster of over 400 playable characters; The biggest in franchise history. A combination of current Superstars from RAW, SmackDown, and NXT, Legends, and WWE Hall of Famers, the massive roster features John Cena, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, Rhea Ripley, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Iyo Sky, Andre the Giant, Drew McIntyre, Bron Breakker, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, Seth Rollins, Logan Paul, Stephanie Vaquer, Eddie Guerrero, Liv Morgan, Bret “Hitman” Hart, Penta, Charlotte Flair, Randy Orton, new additions and returns including Rey Fénix, Rusev, and Blake Monroe, and many more;
• Four New Match Types, Offensive Tools, and Gameplay Upgrades: Four new match types, including I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell and Dumpster, stackable tables, new usable objects including shopping carts and thumbtacks, and larger interactive environments offer new but familiar ways to punish opponents. Intergender Matches are available across core game modes. A revamp of the Reversals and Stamina system adds a layer of strategy and upgraded physics interactions make the action feel more dynamic and dangerous. Interactive entrances and the addition of Booker T and Wade Barrett to the commentary team further refine the audiovisual presentation;
• Creation Suite - 2X the CAS and Image Slots, Plus Body Morphing: The best-in-class customization mode now offers 200 Create-A-Superstar save slots, doubling the existing count in response to community demand. Community Creations now features a doubled image capacity of 2,000, deeper body and face morphing tools, and two-tone hair color blending, giving players unprecedented freedom to craft the Superstars, arenas, and other creations of their dreams;
• MyGM - More Shows, More Superstars Per Match: New Intergender Matches, 5, 6, and 8-man matches, plus support for more match types than ever before, vastly increase the number of possible matches and outcomes. More shows per season pose new management challenges in 2K’s strategic brand management simulation mode;
• MyRISE - New Theme, Increased Replay Value: Players define their MySUPERSTAR’s journey through two new division-based storylines where villainous or heroic decisions impact MyPLAYERs like never before. Players can now keep playing even after the main stories are complete, with more unlockable content and achievements to earn for increased replayability;
• Universe - The Draft is Here!: The WWE Draft comes to WWE 2K’s sandbox mode where players create their own WWE Universe and control match outcomes. Other new introductions include new Universe Creation Wizard, Watch Show mode, improved Money in the Bank cash-ins, and additional Promo types;
• The Island - New Storyline and Environment, Available on All Platforms: 2K’s WWE-themed world is now bigger and more social than ever, and available for the first time on PC. Players will choose one of three factions and battle for control with a revamped progression system. The new Scrapyard Brawl environment, fresh Towers, new shops and branded gear, an expanded MySUPERSTAR builder with face-photo importing, plus upgraded quests, complete with Superstar voiceovers, cutscenes and dialogue screens, enhance the immersive experience;
• MyFACTION - Chemistry is Key: The collectible card-battle mode is back with new intergender lineups and Quick Swap matches. Players collect new card designs and boost their performance with the new Faction Chemistry and run-in support. New themed card packs and goals will continue to roll out regularly throughout the year with seasonal content refreshes;
• Ringside Passes - DLC Gets an Upgrade with More Post-Launch Content Than Ever Before: The all-new Ringside Pass offers players additional incentive to play, earning XP across all game modes, excluding online lobbies. 60 free tiers and 40 premium tiers will be available to reward gameplay, with players who can reach tier 40 of the Ringside Pass Premium Season able to unlock Superstars, cosmetic and customization items, VC, MyFACTION and The Island content, and more. The Ringside Pass Premium replaces the previous DLC model, rewarding players with all-new playable characters unavailable on the base game roster, including current Superstars, Legends, Personas, and some unexpected names. Six Ringside Pass Seasons are planned to roll out throughout the year, with Ringside Pass Season 1 available at launch and featuring unlockable Superstars and Legends, previously available in the WWE 2K Supercharger, on the free tier.

WWE 2K26 Editions

WWE 2K26 features four editions of the game: Standard Edition, King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition:

• The Standard Edition will be available for $69.99;
  • Pre-Order Bonus Offer: Players who pre-order the WWE 2K26 Standard Edition will receive the Joe Hendry Pack*, a bonus pack of content containing playable Superstar Joe Hendry, a Joe Hendry shirt cosmetic item, Joe Hendry MyFACTION EVO card, and Joe Hendry Spin Island Emote. Players who pre-order any edition of WWE 2K26 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, or PC will also receive the WWE 2K25 base game (digital).** Players who pre-order Attitude Era Edition or Monday Night War Edition on PlayStation or Xboxbetween January 29 and February 23 at 8AM PT will receive 15,000 VC in WWE 2K26 and 67,500 VC in WWE 2K25;***
• King of Kings Edition will be available for $99.99. King of Kings Edition includes the Standard Edition, Joe Hendry Pack, Ringside Pass Premium Season 1, and 32,500 VC, plus the King of Kings Pack which includes playable Superstars Triple H ‘98 and Stephanie McMahon ‘00, and a “Triple H Signature Taunt” Emote for The Island. King of Kings Edition will be available from March 6, 2026 – seven days ahead of Standard Edition;
• Attitude Era Edition will be available for $129.99. In addition to all content included in the King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition includes access to Ringside Pass Premium Seasons 1-4, plus the Attitude Era Edition Pack, which features playable Superstars The Rock ‘99, Kane ‘98, and Chyna ‘97, “Stone Cold” Steve Austin “Rattlesnake” and The Rock “People’s Champ” MyFACTION EVO cards, the Raw is War ‘98 Arena, and Undertaker “Thumb Across the Neck” and Shawn Michaels “DX Crotch Chop” Emotes for The Island. The Superstar Mega-Boost is also included, which grants 200 MySUPERSTAR attribute points for MyRISE plus 100,000 VC. Attitude Era Edition will be available from March 6, 2026 – seven days ahead of Standard Edition;
• Monday Night War Edition will be available for $149.99. In addition to all content included in the Attitude Era Edition, Monday Night War Edition includes access to Ringside Pass Premium Seasons 1-6, plus the Monday Night War Edition Pack, which features playable Superstars Shawn Michaels DX, Macho Man Randy Savage ‘98, Rowdy Roddy Piper ‘98, the WCW Thunder ‘98 Arena, and a Diamond Dallas Page “Bang!” Emote for The Island. Monday Night War Edition also grants entitlement for the WrestleMania 42 Pack, which includes the WrestleMania 42 Arena and three WrestleMania 42 Superstar Persona Cards to be automatically entitled post-launch.**** Monday Night War Edition will be available from March 6, 2026 – seven days ahead of Standard Edition.

WWE 2K26 is coming to PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC (Steam) on March 13, 2026, with seven days early access for the King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night Wars Edition.

Access to online or bonus features, content, or services, including MyFACTION, The Island, and Online Multiplayer, may require Internet connection, online account registration, and/or may not be accessible by accounts registered to users below the age of 13 (minimum age varies). See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. Game includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Some in-game content may require download and/or online gameplay to unlock. Online console play may require separate paid platform subscription and account registration. Terms apply.

*Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2026. Joe Hendry Pack is included with WWE 2K26 King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition. For digital pre-orders, items will be automatically entitled in-game. For physical pre-orders, items will be redeemed in-game via code provided in-box. Terms apply.

**Digital copy of WWE 2K25 Standard Edition not available on Nintendo Switch 2. Digital copy will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K26 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K25 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K25 from platform account. Terms apply.

***Limited time offer available through February 23, 2026, at 8AM PT for pre-orders of WWE 2K26 Attitude Era or Monday Night War Editions on PlayStation or Xbox. Bonus VC for WWE 2K26 will be automatically entitled in-game to the platform account used to pre-order. See console store pages for bonus WWE 2K25 VC redemption instructions. Offer is non-transferable. Internet connection and 2K Account required. Terms Apply.

****Exact release date of the WrestleMania 42 Pack content to be announced post-launch and subject to change. Content will be automatically delivered on release for PC users, available for download in the PlayStation store/Library tile for PS5 users, available for download in Microsoft Store for Xbox users, and available for download in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 users. WrestleMania 42 Pack will also be available for purchase separately.