While the secret surrounding the open world in WWE 2K25 has been well kept so far, 2K has now announced the first information about The Island. Together with visual impressions.
It is one of the most, if not the most important new feature in WWE 2K25: the open world. For years, it has been part of the player career in NBA 2K – now the wrestling spin-off is following suit. So far, there has been no information or visual impressions – not even at the hands-on event in Munich.
With just under four weeks to go before the game’s release, 2K is lifting the curtain. In the Ringside Report, the publisher explains what there is to discover on The Island – and what challenges await.
Mysterious information about the districts
Unlike in NBA 2K, the open world is not integrated into the career mode, but offered as a separate mode. According to the report, there are four districts: the Hero Headquarters, the Arcade of Tomorrow, the Temple of Ancestors and the Deadlands.
The publisher is reluctant to provide details about these districts. The Hero HQ, for example, is described as a “radiant bastion of good” where you can celebrate the WWE top stars – “who overcome all adversity and stand up for the little guy”. But be careful: “WWE villains” could attack at any time and try to take control of the island.
Pay-to-win invasion of The Island?
As known from NBA 2K, there are also shops in The Island where you can buy clothes – presumably with the in-game currency VC. This can either be purchased for real money or earned by completing quests, challenges, live events, and matches. In addition, there are experience points that can be used to unlock badges, customize your appearance, or improve the attributes of the character you create.
What initially sounds like progress over NBA 2K25 is relativized, however, by a crucial mechanic. That’s because the publisher confirms that VC can be used to “improve individual attributes to increase your OVR.” This could mean that those who pay will become stronger. The deciding factor here will be how much higher attributes will cost and how much coins you can earn.
In the PvP ranking system, you level up with every win – but if you lose a match, you go down a level. This could lead to paying players having a significant advantage over free-to-play gamers.
WWE 2K25 will be released on March 14, 2025 – pre-orders are already possible. However, if you want to explore the island, you will need a next-gen version: the feature is not available on older consoles and on PC.
