There was a time when WWE 2K’s showcases were the part of the games I looked forward to most each year. The ability to play through 30 Years Of WrestleMania in WWE 2K14 is still one of the best things ever included in a pro wrestling game, but 2K has gradually been losing its way during its more recent showcases. I’m happy to report it has returned to its prior high standard with WWE 2K25’s Bloodline Dynasty. There’s just one thing missing that, if added, could make next year’s showcase even better, and that’s the incorporation of QTEs.
This year’s showcase is all about The Bloodline, and not just the members who have been labeling themselves that on WWE’s current product. WWE 2K25 pulls from all of the branches of the massive family tree The Rock showed off that one time, with everyone from The Wild Samoans to High Chief Peter Maivia pitching in.
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Utter chaos in the best way imagineable.
Rewriting Wrestling History Would Feel Better If I Had A Little More Input
The biggest upgrade on the Bloodline’s showcase compared to previous offerings is the chance to do more than simply play through key matches in WWE’s history. This year, the mode’s matches have been split into three categories – matches you can play through as they happened, fantasy matches that never happened at all, and my favorite of the three, matches that did happen, but that allow you to change the course of history and make sure whatever Bloodline members are involved come out on top.
2K is clearly listening to fan feedback provided following previous showcases, too. The constant jumping between archive footage and gameplay, referred to as slingshot tech by 2K, has been ditched, and not a moment too soon. If it had been used for this showcase’s opening match, it wouldn’t have been nearly as effective.
The Bloodline showcase throws you into the mixer from day one(ish). It starts with the main event of WrestleMania 40, tasking you with pulling off all of its key moments like John Cena putting Solo Sikoa through the announce desk, and The Undertaker chokeslamming The Rock. As fun as it was to play through the most chaotic ending to a WrestleMania in the event’s 40-year history, the opening moments of WWE 2K25’s showcase immediately highlighted what it is that’s still missing – QTEs.
QTEs, or quick time events, are moments in video games where players are tasked with pressing a button, or a series of buttons, within a short period of time to ensure an action does or doesn’t happen.
In Game Or Not, Those Cutscenes Are Still Just Cutscenes
Even though the slingshot tech has gone, the matches still bounce between you having full control and then having to sit and watch what is effectively a cutscene. While that works for most other video games, it’s not great here. It feels like you’re doing all the hard, less exciting work, only for someone else to step in and do the best parts.
That could easily be remedied with QTEs. Rather than cutting to Roman Reigns hitting a spear and then covering his opponent for the win, put me in The Tribal Chief’s boots and slow down time as he leaves his feet to deliver his high-impact finisher, a prompt or two that I need to hit appearing on the screen. If I do, the match concludes as intended. If not, the move is reversed and the QTE fails.
It’s a minor thing, but I feel like it could make a huge difference. There’s still that ‘bystander watching the wrestling unfold’ feeling to some of 2K25’s biggest showcase moments. Even something as simple as, “Quick, press square now to hit the Samoan Spike,” could potentially fix this. No sitting back and watching moments – many of which you will have watched when they happened in real WWE – pass you by. You’re the one making these moments happen now, from the beginning of the match to the final bell.
A lot of the time when I write articles like this one, I feel like, even if it were to be read by the right developer, there’s very little chance my critique will be taken on board. However, it’s evident from this year’s showcase that the 2K devs are listening. Just because the Bloodline showcase is the best in years, that doesn’t mean the next one can’t be even better. I’m sure 2K already has ideas, and if QTEs aren’t one of them, I hope that changes between now and when work begins on WWE 2K26’s showcase mode.
- Released
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March 14, 2025
- ESRB
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Teen // Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Developer(s)
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Visual Concepts
- Publisher(s)
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2K Sports