Annual sports games generally operate on a very predictable calendar, and as the cycle winds down, the flaws become more apparent. Such is the case with WWE 2K25. As the development team shifts its resources to the next title, WWE 2K26, players are tired of pretending that the Universe Mode was actually any good to begin with. At least, that seems to be the sentiment on a popular Reddit post in the r/WWEGames subreddit.
The major complaint people have right now is the fact that the Universe Mode feels “soulless.” Players state that while it has the barebones structure to build a fun experience, it feels like it never actually does anything to make that experience fun. Some are even stating that they plan to skip the next entry unless Universe Mode gets a revamp
The Failure Of Fantasy Booking
Universe Mode is fundamentally “God Mode” of the series, giving you the tools for the ultimate fantasy booking. The actual groundwork for customizing matches and shows is decent, but the moment you step away and let the game generate spontaneous drama, the entire experience becomes hollow. This Reddit comment summarizes this statement perfectly:
“The best way I can describe it is it feels like it’s designed by a team that watches one show a year, Wrestlemania, and that’s it. All of their lessons are taken from that one show and so it feels like a game that values pyrotechnics and the spectacle of fighting over everything else. Storytelling , drama, character development, etc. are all notably absent.”
Another fan echoes that statement that playing the mode feels like repeating the same cycle over and over again. The experience consists of the same cutscenes, random rivalries, and stories that barely move. This is especially awful when the game fails to recognize the difference between a championship match versus a grudge match.
Ultimately, the disappointment is not that Universe Mode is inherently bad; it’s that its untapped potential is incredibly wasted. It also doesn’t help that player consensus is that the developer’s focus is more toward modes that drive microtransaction revenue. As the WWE 2K25 cycle closes, it merely confirms a frustrating annual pattern, leaving fans to rely on their own “headcanon.” Interestingly, another player states this entire headcannon might actually be the problem, instead of the developer’s focus:
This is a common problem. When you’re setting everything up you feel like this is going to be the greatest Universe ever but when you start playing you’re like, this isn’t the story I envisioned. That’s not what’s supposed to happen. That disconnect is what’s killing the immersion.
You love the idea more than the execution. Universe is a sandbox, not a true story mode. The burnout happens during gameplay not planning because you realize you have to play 40+ matches, sit through entrances, and deal with AI nonsense so you just go let me just start a new save instead.
