Unlocking a New Level: AEW's Untapped Potential for Epic Video Game Collaborations

Highlights

AEW's entry into the world of wrestling games with AEW Fight Forever has been a notable competitor to WWE 2K, despite receiving mixed reviews.

AEW's accomplishment creates possibilities for partnering with other franchises in the gaming industry, mirroring WWE's collaborations with popular games like Fortnite.

AEW holds the capability to explore collaborations with unforeseen titles and genres, such as fighting games like Tekken or Mortal Kombat, in order to broaden its influence and presence in the gaming realm.

AEW made its entrance into the world of wrestling games last June with AEW Fight Forever. Alongside traditional features like a career mode and create-a-wrestler, the game presents unique match types exclusive to AEW, including the Casino Battle Royale and Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match. While receiving mixed reviews from players and critics, AEW Fight Forever has still attracted a devoted fan base, positioning AEW as a promising competitor to the long-standing dominance of the WWE 2K series.

This foray into gaming opens up new possibilities for AEW to collaborate with other franchises. WWE has already ventured into crossovers with video games, featuring crossover skins in popular titles such as Rainbow Six Siege, Fall Guys, and Fortnite. Despite being a relatively new player in the wrestling industry, AEW has swiftly cemented itself as a respected brand, capturing the attention and loyalty of countless fans worldwide.

The Possibility of AEW Video Game Collabs

Founded in 2019, AEW is currently the second-largest wrestling promotion in the US, trailing only behind WWE. Wrestlers Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) are the founders of this company and also hold executive vice president positions. AEW has received praise from dedicated viewers for its spontaneous storytelling, distinguishing it from WWE. AEW president and CEO Tony Khan has gained recognition for his willingness to cater to the preferences of wrestling fans when booking events.

AEW's popularity has skyrocketed, occasionally surpassing WWE's viewership numbers. It was inevitable that the company would create a wrestling game, and thus AEW Fight Forever was born. In addition, AEW is currently in the process of developing a mobile game called AEW Figure Fighters, slated for release next year. With the moderate success of AEW Fight Forever, fans are eager to see the company leave a lasting impact in the video game industry. While it may take time before AEW releases another major wrestling game, they can meanwhile explore collaborative video game projects to capitalize on their success.

Given that WWE's presence is widespread in popular games, AEW has an opportunity to explore unexpected titles that align with its storytelling style and the wrestlers' personalities. In a recent episode of AEW Dynamite, Jeff Hardy and Jeff Jarrett participated in a unique Texas Chainsaw Massacre Death Match, which included a surprise appearance by Leatherface and a championship belt adorned with the serial killer's face. This collaboration was made possible through a partnership with the upcoming Texas Chainsaw Massacre game, and Warner Bros. Discovery reportedly expressed great satisfaction with the outcome.

AEW could also consider delving into the realm of fighting games, such as Tekken, particularly due to Omega's significant admiration for the franchise. Additionally, Tekken has previously worked alongside wrestling companies, such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), incorporating Bullet Club shirts and move sets based on its wrestlers, including Omega who used to perform there. Another suitable option could be Mortal Kombat, given that both the game and AEW fall under Warner Bros. Furthermore, the upcoming Mortal Kombat 1 has already confirmed collaborations featuring characters like Peacemaker and Homelander, suggesting that it may accommodate the inclusion of equally intense AEW wrestlers such as Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston. Finally, Fortnite emerges as another potential candidate, having already featured renowned wrestlers like John Cena.

AEW has the potential to consistently astonish fans by forming unexpected partnerships within its programming, as demonstrated by the recent collaboration with Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Looking ahead, Omega's passion for video games could potentially lead to compelling collaborations in the future. While it might currently be premature for AEW to capture the attention of major video game companies, the company's extensive reach and popularity are substantial enough to create a noteworthy presence in the gaming industry.

You can now access AEW Fight Forever on various platforms, including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.