WWE 2K24, the latest installment in the wrestling game franchise from 2K Sports, has been out for a few days now and has received mostly positive reviews so far from both fans and critics. But it hasn’t all been good, as many Deluxe Edition players reported that they faced several bugs and technical issues, such as sudden crashes that almost left the game unplayable.
However, before all these problems, the Vince McMahon controversy had already marred the player’s excitement about the game, and WWE has tried to distance him from its history. It was reported that he has been removed from the game and will not be seen, but despite that, the game hasn’t managed to fully escape his shadow.
Vince McMahon Controversy Casts a Shadow Over WWE 2K24
Back in January this year, the former chairman and CEO, McMahon, was accused of sex trafficking and sexual assault by a former employee. McMahon resigned from his position as Executive Chairman and denied all allegations against him, but since then he has taken off from everything of the brand, be it websites, shows, or general discussions.
The allegations against him surfaced very close to the game, as the game celebrates 40 years of WrestleMania. McMahon has been an important figure in those years, making it difficult for him to be completely removed. Although it was reported that he had been removed, McMahon is still in the game and appears normally, but his face has also been blurred in some scenes.
McMahon is properly seen in the 2K Showcase mode but is censored in IRL scenes where his presence was unavoidable for the recreation of the matches in the history of WrestleMania. The game where his face is blurred is from WrestleMania 35‘s all-women main event between Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey, and Charlotte Flair. McMahon was at the ramp, announcing Flair’s entry.
The McMahon Controversy Also Makes the Game Downplay One Popular Star
However, he is not blurred in one of the best matches of WrestleMania history, Steve Austin vs. The Rock, where he is seen properly and is referred to as Mr. McMahon. McMahon is not playable nor appears in any other game mode than the Showcase, but he is still fairly seen in the game.
McMahon’s recent lawsuit and the controversy surrounding him have left WWE trying to distance his otherwise important role from its history, and it has also led to downplaying Brock Lesnar. Lesnar has also been implicated in the lawsuit, and that has led to his removal from the game’s 40 Years of WrestleMania Edition cover and the SuperCard mobile game.
Moreover, Lesnar also cannot be selected as a playable character in the game, but his WrestleMania match against The Undertaker is still available in the Showcase mode. This might not mean much to the sole fans of the video games, but some enthusiasts who have been following the shows and the rest of the wrestling sport may want to skip the game.
Have you played WWE 2K24 yet? Let us know in the comments.
