For decades, WWE has gone relatively unopposed in the mainstream wrestling video game space, but that will change later this year.AEW Fight Foreveris set to launch for various platforms later in 2022, withpublisher THQ Nordicreleasing a brand-new teaser for the game that reveals the box art at the same time a Microsoft Store leak has revealed the first gameplay, mini-games, and a lot more.
Starting with the official teaser, the upcoming THQ Nordic Showcase on August 12 at 12pm PT will feature the official gameplay debut ofAEW Fight Forever. The short teaser released today confirms that, while also revealing the cover athletes. As previously leaked, theAEW Fight Foreverbox artfeatures CM Punk in the middle, flanked by Britt Baker and Kenny Omega, with Chris Jericho, Jade Cargill, and Jon Moxley in the back. These six are some of AEW’s biggest stars, so it makes sense for them to grace the cover of the first-ever AEW console game.
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Besides releasing a teaser, THQ Nordic also officially confirmed the previously-leaked gameplay details.AEW Fight Foreverwill feature a variety of unique match types, including an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch, along with customization options standard for the genre, with players able to create their own wrestlers, move sets, arenas, and more. It also confirmed that therumored Switch version ofAEW Fight Foreveris indeed on the way.
TheAEW Fight Foreverleaks have been coming at a steady pace, and yet another leak has happened in the wake of the game being confirmed for the THQ Nordic Showcase. The Microsoft Store has leakedAEW Fight Forevergameplay footage meant to debut at the THQ Nordic Showcase. The gameplay reveal is hosted byBritt Bakerand Tony Schiavone, with the gameplay definitely giving offWWF No Mercyvibes.
It makes sense for theAEW Fight Forevervideo game to be reminiscent ofWWF No Mercy. After all, theWWF No Mercydirectorwas actually involved in the game’s development. But what may surprise some fans is thatAEW Fight Forevermay be taking some inspiration from another Nintendo 64 game in the form ofPokemon Stadium. The Microsoft Store leak has revealedPokemon Stadium-style mini-games that players will be able to play inAEW Fight Forever, including one where players run around a ring collecting casino chips that are raining from the sky and another that looks like a homerun derby on a football field.
AEW Fight Forevercan’t compete withWWE 2Kin terms of production value, but that’s not really what it’s trying to do anyway. It’s clear from the leaked footage thatAEW Fight Foreveris focused squarely on delivering a wrestling video game that caters to nostalgic gamers who grew up on games likeWWF No Mercy, and it will be exciting to see if it manages to live up to the high bar set by that game.
AEW Fight Foreverlaunches in 2022 for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
