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WWE 2K
WWE 2K, formerly released as WWF SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, WWE, and Exciting Pro Wrestling in Japan, is a series of professional wrestling sports simulation video games that launched in 2000. The premise of the series is to emulate professional wrestling, specifically that of WWE, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The series began with WWF SmackDown! on the original PlayStation and has continued as an annual release (with the exception of 2021). It was originally exclusive to PlayStation platforms until 2006's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, which expanded the series to other platforms. In 2013, the series was rebranded as WWE 2K, beginning with WWE 2K14.
The games were originally published by THQ and developed by Yuke's under the WWF SmackDown! name—in 2002, the WWF was renamed to WWE. Beginning with WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw in 2004, the series changed its name to WWE SmackDown vs. Raw and then simply WWE with 2011's WWE '12. 2K, previously under the 2K Sports sub-label, took over as publisher following THQ's bankruptcy beginning with 2013's WWE 2K14, changing the series to WWE 2K, and the series was co-developed with Visual Concepts until Yuke's departure in 2018. Visual Concepts would take over lead development of the series beginning with WWE 2K20 in 2019. Due to major technical issues with that installment, the main series took a two-year hiatus with a spin-off, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, released in 2020 before the next main installment, WWE 2K22, released in 2022.
The first game, WWF SmackDown!, was developed by Yuke's, published by THQ, and released on March 2, 2000; this arrangement would continue until 2012. The series was originally named after one of WWE's weekly television programs, SmackDown, and was initially exclusive to Sony's PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2. The series engine was originally based on the one used by the Japanese Toukon Retsuden, which was also developed by Yuke's.
The series rebranded with 2004's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, following the introduction of the brand extension, which saw WWE's roster divided between the SmackDown and Raw brands; the latter named after WWE's two flagship programs, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown. After using subtitles in previous installments, voice overs were introduced to the game's "Season Mode". With the exception of 2003's WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, pre-recorded commentary by WWE commentators has been included in each game since the release of WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It in 2001.
Yuke's studios in Yokohama, Japan worked with WWE writers to create storylines for the "Season" modes of each game since 2005's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006. Up until the release of SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, Yuke's had released previous entries of the series in Japan under the title of Exciting Pro Wrestling. That year, THQ took over as the Japanese publisher and rebranded the Exciting Pro Wrestling series under the licensed name.
2006's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 was the first game in the series to be released for multiple game consoles. The series continued to expand to various seventh-generation consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. Yuke's revealed they had to port their original game codes that make up each game mode and graphic designs to a new game engine that supported the new consoles. When new features are added to future games, the developers had to create new gaming codes for these features. The developers also had to test the game for any errors. While there were no errors, the game received a lot of reports for overheating in the earlier releases.
The series relaunched in 2011 with the release of WWE '12. However, after THQ's bankruptcy, liquidation, and eventual dissolution in January 2013, publishing rights for the WWE video games were acquired by Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two confirmed the acquisition in February, saying that it would also retain the services of Yuke's and the THQ staff that worked on the WWE series.
2013's WWE 2K14 was the first game to be released under the 2K Sports branding. In 2015, a mobile-only spin-off was released for Android and iOS. 2K's license of the series extended in early 2016. 2018's WWE 2K19 was the last game in the series to be developed by Yuke's.[citation needed]
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WWE 2K
WWE 2K, formerly released as WWF SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, WWE, and Exciting Pro Wrestling in Japan, is a series of professional wrestling sports simulation video games that launched in 2000. The premise of the series is to emulate professional wrestling, specifically that of WWE, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The series began with WWF SmackDown! on the original PlayStation and has continued as an annual release (with the exception of 2021). It was originally exclusive to PlayStation platforms until 2006's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, which expanded the series to other platforms. In 2013, the series was rebranded as WWE 2K, beginning with WWE 2K14.
The games were originally published by THQ and developed by Yuke's under the WWF SmackDown! name—in 2002, the WWF was renamed to WWE. Beginning with WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw in 2004, the series changed its name to WWE SmackDown vs. Raw and then simply WWE with 2011's WWE '12. 2K, previously under the 2K Sports sub-label, took over as publisher following THQ's bankruptcy beginning with 2013's WWE 2K14, changing the series to WWE 2K, and the series was co-developed with Visual Concepts until Yuke's departure in 2018. Visual Concepts would take over lead development of the series beginning with WWE 2K20 in 2019. Due to major technical issues with that installment, the main series took a two-year hiatus with a spin-off, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, released in 2020 before the next main installment, WWE 2K22, released in 2022.
The first game, WWF SmackDown!, was developed by Yuke's, published by THQ, and released on March 2, 2000; this arrangement would continue until 2012. The series was originally named after one of WWE's weekly television programs, SmackDown, and was initially exclusive to Sony's PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2. The series engine was originally based on the one used by the Japanese Toukon Retsuden, which was also developed by Yuke's.
The series rebranded with 2004's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, following the introduction of the brand extension, which saw WWE's roster divided between the SmackDown and Raw brands; the latter named after WWE's two flagship programs, Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown. After using subtitles in previous installments, voice overs were introduced to the game's "Season Mode". With the exception of 2003's WWE SmackDown! Here Comes the Pain, pre-recorded commentary by WWE commentators has been included in each game since the release of WWF SmackDown! Just Bring It in 2001.
Yuke's studios in Yokohama, Japan worked with WWE writers to create storylines for the "Season" modes of each game since 2005's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006. Up until the release of SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, Yuke's had released previous entries of the series in Japan under the title of Exciting Pro Wrestling. That year, THQ took over as the Japanese publisher and rebranded the Exciting Pro Wrestling series under the licensed name.
2006's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007 was the first game in the series to be released for multiple game consoles. The series continued to expand to various seventh-generation consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices. Yuke's revealed they had to port their original game codes that make up each game mode and graphic designs to a new game engine that supported the new consoles. When new features are added to future games, the developers had to create new gaming codes for these features. The developers also had to test the game for any errors. While there were no errors, the game received a lot of reports for overheating in the earlier releases.
The series relaunched in 2011 with the release of WWE '12. However, after THQ's bankruptcy, liquidation, and eventual dissolution in January 2013, publishing rights for the WWE video games were acquired by Take-Two Interactive. Take-Two confirmed the acquisition in February, saying that it would also retain the services of Yuke's and the THQ staff that worked on the WWE series.
2013's WWE 2K14 was the first game to be released under the 2K Sports branding. In 2015, a mobile-only spin-off was released for Android and iOS. 2K's license of the series extended in early 2016. 2018's WWE 2K19 was the last game in the series to be developed by Yuke's.[citation needed]