WWE 2K26 Developer Reportedly Hit With Layoffs

Layoffs have once again reportedly struck the video games industry, as Visual Concepts, a longtime developer for 2K's sports titles WWE 2K and NBA 2K, has been hit with an unknown number of layoffs, according to a new report from Insider Gaming. More specifically, it's reported that teams working on WWE games were hit the hardest by the layoffs. The layoffs come less than three months after WWE 2K26 was released on consoles, and just months away from the highly-anticipated release of Grand Theft Auto 6, a title under the overarching umbrella of Take-Two. In a follow-up, Mike Straw, a noted insider from Insider Gaming, reported that the Ringside Pass format was "a disaster" that led to finger-pointing among developers. The Ringside Pass, a new introduction for WWE 2K26, was a contentious element that eventually experienced a restructuring following negative backlash. Related Ragdoll Physics Are The Best Thing To Happen To WWE 2K In Decades WWE 2K26 is delightfully violent in the most video game way possible. WWE 2K26's Ringside Pass Might've Been An Idea Best Left On The Table To preface, historically speaking, WWE 2K games have made use of the Season Pass model, with players earning access to all the content that they've paid for when it releases. Similarly, those with "Deluxe" or "Ultimate" editions are often granted an "Accelerator" upgrade that immediately unlocks any unlockable or grindable content. However, 2K26 did away with that in favor of the Ringside Pass, a take on the Battle Pass system that would only grant players access to the DLC that they paid for AFTER they grinded for it. Naturally, players were furious. Elsewhere, others began exploiting the game to try and find the easiest route to meet the necessary requirements for content that they had already paid for. 2K, though, patched that method out, while also simultaneously re-working some of the Ringside Pass to better meet players. Things didn't get much better when a developer accused players of trying to circumvent the system. Now, all DLC characters are unlocked from the get-go. However, the damage had already been done in the eyes of most fans, marring what had otherwise been the best WWE game since the old SmackDown vs. Raw days. Flash forward just several weeks, and some of its developers are reportedly left without work. Released March 12, 2026 ESRB Teen / Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact Developer(s) Visual Concepts Publisher(s) 2K Next 10 Years Later, Triple-A Video Games Haven't Moved On From Uncharted 4: A Thief's End Nathan Drake's swansong is a masterpiece, but it also tells us so much about the state of triple-A gaming.