WWE 2K25's Newest Feature Took 11 Years To Get Here. Is It Worth The Wait?

For more than a decade, fans of wrestling games like WWE 2K25 have been asking for a feature that seems simple but has a big impact — intergender matches. While the WWE 2K series has been around for 11 years, this major part of wrestling game history has been absent throughout that entire period of the franchise's branding. These matches, where male and female wrestlers could face off, were a key part of older games like SmackDown vs. Raw, but they were removed without a clear explanation.

The lack of intergender matches was always disappointing, as it limited their ability to create unique and exciting matchups. There are plenty of reasons why intergender matches could have been removed. For example, intergender matches that read as male violence against women probably wouldn’t be the best look for any institution. Whatever the reason, the absence left a noticeable gap in the games. However, with the new feature and a great season pass, it seems like players will get everything they want in WWE 2K25.

Intergender Wrestling Debuts In WWE 2K25

Intergender Wrestling Comes To WWE 2K After Years

Intergender wrestling in action in wwe 2k25, man hurt by female.

Intergender matches join WWE 2K25 alongside the return of features like chain wrestling, but this exciting decision didn’t happen quickly. According to a GamesHubinterview with Lynell Jinks, the game’s Creative Director, the development team had been pushing for this feature for years but kept facing resistance. Jinks explained that since WWE doesn’t typically show men fighting women on their TV shows, the game, which aims to reflect real WWE programming, had to follow suit.

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However, after the recent success of the WWE 2K games, including back-to-back nominations for Sports Game of the Year, WWEfinally agreed to let the developers add intergender matches. This means players can now create dream matchups, like Bianca Belair vs. Seth Rollins or Rhea Ripley vs. Dominik Mysterio, for the first time in over 15 years. This new feature opens up endless possibilities for matchups across all game modes, giving players more freedom and creativity. It’s not just a technical upgrade but also a shift in how the game approaches representation and player choice.

For players who prefer to keep men’s and women’s wrestling separate, the game includes an option to turn off intergender matches entirely. This allows players to stick to traditional divisions if they choose while still offering the new feature for those who want it. This flexibility is designed to eliminate any feeling of alienation between those who are for or against the matchups.

How Intergender Wrestling Will Work In WWE 2K25

WWE 2K25's Intergender Mechanics Explained

Introducing the intergender match feature to WWE 2K25 is not only big due to its long absence, but also because it comes with a lot of technical changes. Having male and female wrestlers compete against each other requires more than just reskinning, also necessitating design changes to avoid the possibility of the matches offending the audience. To make these matches feel fair and realistic, the developers have made some important adjustments to the game.

Roman Reigns kneeling in ring juxtaposed with the Bloodline family tree from the cover art of WWE 2K25.

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The game’s engine takes into account the size differences between male and female wrestlers to avoid unrealistic results. For example, a smaller wrestler might not be able to overpower a much larger opponent in the same way. However, the game doesn’t change the stats of the wrestlers based on gender — so a top-tier female wrestler like Bianca Belair will still be just as strong and skilled, no matter who she’s facing.

The physics system also plays a big role in how moves play out. A move performed by a smaller wrestler on a bigger opponent might look or feel different than if it were the other way around. This helps prevent situations where a smaller wrestler could unrealistically dominate a much larger one. Basically, while the game lets players create any matchups they want, it still keeps things realistic by adjusting for size differences.

One notable change is that blood has been removed from intergender matches. This might disappoint some players, but it’s a decision made to keep the matches within the boundaries of what WWE and 2K consider appropriate. It also matches how WWE presents intergender matches on TV, where overly violent situations are usually avoided. This doesn’t take away from the fun or competitiveness of the matches — it’s more about presenting them in a way that avoids controversy while still feeling true to wrestling.

Are New Features Enough To Bring WWE 2K Into A New Era?

Will WWE 2K25 Redefine The Wrestling Game Genre?

WWE 2K25 introduces a lot of new features that make it quite different from earlier versions, so it’s not just intergender wrestling that’s been added. While some years have felt like minor iterations at best, or even taken steps backward, the franchise is promising a huge upgrade to the overall experience this generation.

One of the biggest additions is "The Island," which Screen Rant found out more about in our interview with Jinks. As an open-world mode available only on newer consoles, The Island is similar to NBA 2K's "The City" but set in the WWE world. It includes quests, challenges, and live events, which could change how players experience the game solo and make creating a custom wrestler more immersive.

Cody Rhodes and CM Punk during their entrances in WWE 2K25.

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The game also adds more flexibility to Universe Mode by allowing multiple premium live events in the same week, reflecting real-life WWE scheduling. Classic gameplay elements like chain wrestling and updated submission systems have been brought back, which should please long-time fans and make the wrestling simulation feel more authentic. The Creation Suite has also been improved, letting players customize AI behavior in created movesets and adding more depth and replay value to the game.

If future games build on this foundation and player feedback, it could be a turning point for the series.

Whether these changes mark a new era for the series is up for debate. While the new gameplay mechanics and modes are impressive, they might not fully fix some of the issues players have complained about for years. However, there are always going to be issues in every game, and without nitpicking, this does feel like a new era.

Even so, for WWE 2K25 to truly start a new era, The Island needs to be a polished, engaging experience, and intergender matches need to deliver the tricky balance that they promise. If future games build on this foundation and player feedback, it could be a turning point for the series. On the other hand, if these features don’t significantly change how the game feels or are just temporary additions, the claim of the new era might not hold up. The long-term success of the WWE 2K series will depend on whether the developers keep innovating and engaging with players.

Source: GamesHub