How to figure out which version of WWE 2K22 you should buy

Steven Rondina Published 13/04/2022

With the game now launched and reviews posted, the only question remaining for pro wrestling fans is which version of WWE 2K22 should you buy if you’re interested in getting into the new game.

For the last few years, the WWE 2K series has looked to upsell players by offering early access to the game. For WWE 2K22, the Deluxe Edition and nWo 4-Life Edition launched four days before the release of the standard version of the game.

But with the official release of all versions now in the rear-view mirror, what incentive is there for players to get the more expensive versions of the game? And are they worth it? Here’s how you should approach buying WWE 2K22 and what the value proposition of each version of the game is.

https://youtu.be/uc9Fig_tKyU

Which version of WWE 2K22 should you buy?

Each version of WWE 2K22 offers something to players, but that something comes at an extra cost. Deciding which version players should buy ultimately comes down to how much they care about some of the extra features offered. The biggest question is whether players care about getting the WWE 2K22 Season Pass, which includes all the planned DLC packs, and whether they’re playing on past-gen consoles with the intent of upgrading to a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S.

Most of the DLC is available for players after the initial purchase, but there is one bit of extra content behind the upsold versions.

1. WWE 2K22 standard edition

The standard version of WWE 2K22 is the basic version of the game. It is currently available for $60 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC and $70 on Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5. It contains none of the extra DLC but comes at the lowest cost of the available versions. Players can ultimately get all the DLC offered by the different versions of WWE 2K22, but getting all of the game’s DLC content is part of a better deal if you’re buying one of the bundle editions.

2. WWE 2K22 Deluxe Edition

WWE 2K22 Deluxe Edition is effectively the same price as the base game combined with the season pass. Anyone that was planning to get the season pass should pull the trigger on getting it, as it effectively offers four extra DLC characters for free alongside an extra bonus for console players.

WWE 2K22 Deluxe Edition includes the following items:

WWE 2K22 standard edition
Undertaker Immortal Pack
WWE 2K22 Season Pass
Starrcade 1996 Rey Mysterio Pack
PS4+PS5 or Xbox One+Xbox Series X/S versions

The WWE 2K22 Deluxe Edition offers the two major DLC offerings of the game with the season pass and Undertaker Immortal Pack. The season pass is effectively a preorder for all upcoming DLC packs, while the Undertaker Immortal Pack contains three alternate versions of Undertaker.

The Starrcade 1996 Rey Mysterio Pack is the one bit of DLC that isn’t currently available for purchase individually. It features an alternate version of Rey Mysterio based on his match against Jushin “Thunder” Liger in WCW.

The other major bonus of WWE 2K22’s Deluxe Edition is that it allows players to get both the PS4 and PS5, or Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game. This is valuable for anyone that wants to have both versions of the game in anticipation of upgrading their console, but it’s irrelevant to PC players.

In all, getting the base game at full price on Steam with the Undertaker pack and season pass costs $110. WWE 2K22 Deluxe Edition costs $100, effectively offering up the Undertaker Immortal Pack for free with the added bonus of the 1996 Rey Mysterio character.

3. WWE 2K22 nWo 4-Life Edition

The WWE 2K22 nWo 4-Life Edition is effectively the Deluxe Edition with an extra nWo-themed DLC pack.

This DLC pack includes the following items:

nWo versions of Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Hulk Hogan, and Syxx
Eric Bischoff as a playable wrestler
MyFACTION cards of each of those characters
Arenas based on Souled Out 1997 and Bash at the Beach 1996
nWo Wolfpac Championship as an in-game title

The nWo-themed characters are all alternate versions of characters that are already available in the base version of the game. Eric Bischoff is a DLC character exclusive to this pack.

The DLC pack on its own costs $25, which is quite steep given its relatively light content. WWE 2K22 Deluxe Edition with the nWo 4-Life Bonus Pack costs $125 in total, while getting the nWo 4-Life Edition of the game costs $120. Only those who are deeply interested in having the nWo versions of these characters ought to consider this most expensive upgrade.

Steven Rondina

About Steven Rondina

Steven Rondina is a true lifelong gamer. His earliest memories are of playing video games, and he has continued playing them throughout his life with no plans to stop any time soon. Steven’s favorite franchises in gaming include Pokemon, Dark Souls, and Counter-Strike. He has previously published with Bleacher Report and other gaming outlets.

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