Over the past week, leading into Saturday’s annual Royal Rumble event, WWE has been gradually unveiling covers for the upcoming WWE 2K26. On Friday, 2K Games revealed the standard edition and this year’s cover athlete. After 13 years, World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk is once again gracing the cover of a WWE 2K game.
As a bonus, this year’s game will also take players through some of the biggest moments of Punk’s storied career. WWE 2K26’s 2K Showcase mode for this year is titled **”Punked: CM Punk’s Personal Journey.”** Players will experience some of Punk’s greatest WWE matches and rivalries, recall his most memorable moments in the company, and face off against various WWE Legends in special Fantasy Warfare matches. This feature will be narrated by Punk himself, adding a personal touch to the storytelling.
There’s much more coming to WWE 2K26. In fact, it looks to be one of the biggest games in series history, featuring a roster of over 400 playable characters. This includes superstars from Raw, SmackDown, NXT, as well as WWE Legends and Hall of Famers from the past.
Expect to see four new match types: **I Quit, Inferno, Three Stages of Hell, and Dumpster**. Several existing match types will also receive major additions, such as the option to play Intergender Matches and the ability to add more plunder around the outside of the ring than ever before.
Developer Visual Concepts is introducing new objects, including stackable tables for even harder hits, enhancing the in-ring action. The core gameplay will also receive updates with revamped Reversals and Stamina systems to improve overall combat dynamics.
Several popular game modes will return from previous installments. This includes **The Island**, which debuted in WWE 2K25 and will now be playable on PC. Other modes like **MyGM** and the **Creation Suite** are being expanded significantly to offer greater customization and options. Notably, the Creation Suite will now support up to **200 Create-A-Superstar save slots**, giving players more freedom than ever to craft and save their unique characters.
WWE 2K26 is shaping up to be an exciting release for both longtime fans and newcomers alike, blending nostalgic content with fresh gameplay innovations. Keep an eye out for more updates as the launch approaches!
https://www.shacknews.com/article/147655/wwe-2k26-cm-punk-cover-showcase