The WWE 2K franchise has had its ups and downs, providing wrestling fans with some great moments, but also frustrating experiences due to game-breaking bugs and glitches. Since the series transitioned to 2K Sports, it has seen numerous technical issues that have sometimes rendered the games unplayable. Here, we take a look at some of the worst bugs and glitches in WWE 2K history that left players frustrated and amused in equal measure.
1. WWE 2K20 – A Glitchy Disaster
Arguably the most infamous entry in the series, WWE 2K20 was riddled with glitches from day one. The game launched in an almost unplayable state, leading to widespread criticism and even prompting Sony to issue refunds to PlayStation users. Some of the most hilarious and horrifying bugs included:
- Character models deform mid-match, causing wrestlers’ limbs to stretch unnaturally or heads to disappear.
- The game crashes when changing attires or accessing certain menus, making customization a nightmare.
- Referees floating around the ring or getting stuck in odd positions.
- The infamous New Year’s glitch, where the game stopped working properly as soon as the calendar hit 2020.
2. WWE 2K18 – Invisible Wrestlers and Physics Chaos
WWE 2K18 introduced enhanced graphics and more refined gameplay mechanics, but it also came with its own share of glitches. Some of the worst included:
- Invisible wrestlers, where character models wouldn’t load properly, resulting in matches featuring floating weapons being used by unseen opponents.
- Broken physics leads to ladders, tables, and chairs behaving erratically, flying around the ring uncontrollably.
- AI issues, with referees failing to count pinfalls or wrestlers failing to climb ladders correctly during Money in the Bank matches.
WWE 2K18 – Invisible Wrestlers (image via Getty)3. WWE 2K15 – The Deadly Rope Glitch
WWE 2K15 was the first game in the series to debut on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, but it suffered from serious gameplay issues. One of the most notorious glitches involved the ring ropes:
- Wrestlers would often get tangled in the ropes, leading to physics-breaking moments where they would spin uncontrollably or get catapulted across the ring.
- Some players encountered a freeze bug during career mode, forcing them to restart their progress.
- AI wrestlers would sometimes get stuck in corners, refusing to engage in combat, leaving players to just stare at their unresponsive opponent.
4. WWE 2K17 – Breaking Out of the Arena
WWE 2K17 was well-received in some aspects, but it still had its share of bizarre bugs. Some of the most entertaining included:
- Wrestlers glitched out of the arena, where they would fall through the floor or walk through solid walls, making for surreal moments.
- Broken animations, with some finishing moves leading to wrestlers floating in the air or getting stuck in a never-ending loop.
- Commentary bugs, where the announcers would repeat the same lines excessively or call incorrect moves.
5. WWE 2K Battlegrounds – The Over-the-Top Glitches
Though WWE 2K Battlegrounds was designed as an arcade-style experience, it still had its fair share of strange glitches:
- Characters randomly fly into the sky, disappearing from the ring altogether.
- Game-breaking AI issues, with some matches failing to progress because the AI refused to attack.
- Online connectivity problems, make multiplayer matches unplayable for some players.
The WWE 2K series has had its highs and lows, but its history of glitches is undeniable. While some are humorous and make for great viral clips, others have genuinely ruined the experience for players. After the debacle of WWE 2K20, 2K Sports took a year off to refine WWE 2K22, which resulted in a more polished experience. However, fans remain wary, hoping future games will avoid the embarrassing pitfalls that have plagued the series in the past.