The first All Elite Wrestling (AEW) game, titled ‘Fight Forever,’ is now in development, and while it’s still a ways off, we already have a good idea of what to expect. Here’s everything we know.
The pro-wrestling paradigm shift is now in full effect. Just a few short years after the first televised show, AEW is now set to release a fully-fledged multi-platform game to compete with WWE 2K23. AEW Fight Forever will also be developed by Yukes – some of the most experienced wrestling game creators in the business.
Fight Forever may still be in early development, but there’s plenty for wrestling fans to be excited about. From match types, roster, and gameplay details, here’s everything we know about the game from WWE’s biggest rival.
Contents
- Official title: Fight Forever
- Is there a release date?
- Platforms
- Trailers
- Developers
- Gameplay Details
- Match Types
- Roster
AEW game officially titled Fight Forever
Following a live AEW Rampage show in April 2022, owner Tony Khan told a lively Pittsburgh crowd that the name of the AEW game would be ‘AEW Fight Forever.’
According to fans in attendance at #AEWRampage/Rampage in Pittsburgh, the AEW video game was referred to as “Fight Forever” and the fans were asked to provide various chants for it.
— NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW news (@nodqdotcom) April 21, 2022
This name was formally revealed on May 4, 2022, in an AEW livestream and then on Twitter.
IT'S OFFICIAL!! 💥The title of the AEW game in development by Yuke's is #AEWFIGHTFOREVER and will be available on both console and PC.
— AEW Games (@AEWGames) May 4, 2022
Does AEW Fight Forever have a release date?
There is no confirmed release date for AEW Fight Forever as of yet.
Although initially slated for a 2022 launch, the game has since been pushed into 2023. As confirmed through the latest trailer that aired during Full Gear, Fight Forever is on track to release this calendar year.
Exactly when in 2023 we might see the game, still remains a mystery. However, the latest report from wrestling journalist Andrew Zarian claims a Q2 release is the current target. Meaning Fight Forever could hit store shelves anywhere between April-June 2023.
What platforms will AEW Fight Forever be released on?
AEW Fight Forever is set to launch across the following platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, & Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC
AEW has confirmed that crossplay is planned, with Omega stating “there will be cross-platform gameplay,” during an interview with Wrestling Observer Radio.
Reports in early November 2022 suggested that the game would be coming to Xbox Game Pass on day one of release. However, this has since been shot down by AEW in a statement saying:
“We don’t anticipate AEW: Fight Forever being part of any monthly gaming subscription services.”
AEW Fight Forever: Trailers
Check out the various trailers below:
Teaser Trailer
Darby Allin Reveal trailer
Jungle Boy Reveal
Kris Statlander Reveal
Nyla Rose Reveal
Moxley Spotlight
MJF Spotlight
Gamescom stream
Gameplay trailer
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AEW Fight Forever: Developers
Renowned Japanese studio Yuke’s is developing AEW Fight Forever. The company is best known for its work in the genre and has over 25 years of experience making wrestling games.
Their prior work includes the WWE Smackdown titles on PlayStation, the popular Smackdown vs Raw series, and most of the more recent WWE 2K games.
Gameplay Details
Kenny Omega explained, that AEW is not going to try and “compete with the production values of WWE’s games.” Instead, AEW Fight Forever aims to revisit the classic wrestling game style. “We just want the wrestling to feel how it used to feel,” he said.
As confirmed through the Gamescom stream, we know for certain each wrestler will have their own entrance. Better yet, players can manually trigger pyro and special effects during these animations too. While it’s not the full walk to the ring as we’d see on TV, the brief opening does appear to include some official AEW themes like Adam Cole’s and Kenny Omega’s.
In moment-to-moment gameplay, players have access to all the familiar strikes, grappling moves, and counters you’d expect. Each wrestler also comes with their own set of finishers and signatures that require special inputs to execute. While not entirely confirmed, it appears we may be able to select our own powerful moves in the future and assign them to certain wrestlers.
As you damage your opponent with various moves, a momentum bar will fill on screen. With a full bar, you’re then able to trigger one of the aforementioned signature moves.
When it comes to game modes, not much is known at present. While a ‘Create a Wrestler’ mode has been discussed, and we know a range of minigames are set to be included, we’re yet to hear about game modes like General Manager, or a multiplayer ranking system.
A Story/Career Mode is reportedly in the works, however, according to Fightful Select. This storyline supposedly includes input from multiple wrestlers and could already have some unique music locked in, made by none other than AEW’s Mikey Rukus.
The likes of Orange Cassidy and John Silver reportedly did some voiceover work for the story mode, with MJF also writing a promo just for the game.
On top of this, we also know Fight Forever will come with a number of quirky minigames completely different to the in-ring style. From Simon Says (Penta Says)-style modes to a baseball game, there’s plenty to look forward to here.
We do know for certain the game will additionally come with an extensive online offering as well. While fans can expect the usual mix of game modes and playlists for online play, early intel spotted on the PlayStation Store also hinted at something much bigger. According to the game’s description on the PS Store, Fight Forever supports up to 30 players online at once.
This means we could see an epic battle royal mode or perhaps even rival leagues with players assuming control of their favorites over the course of a season. We’ll have to wait and see how it plays out but thus far, no wrestling game has managed to involve 30 players online all at the same time.
AEW Fight Forever: Match Types
Official match types to be featured in the AEW console game haven’t yet been confirmed through official channels, although Kenny Omega has said: “We have a lot of match types,” without going into any specifics.
Below are the confirmed match types we will see in AEW Fight Forever, along with various match types that leaked through the Amazon UK store listing:
- Singles match
- Intergender singles match
- Tag team
- Triple Threat
- Fatal Four Way
- Casino Battle Royale
- Falls Count Anywhere
- Unsanctioned Lights Out
- Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match
There’s currently no telling if we’ll see others joining the list closer to launch or even as DLC down the line. From a steel cage option to the iconic Mimosa Mayhem match type, there’s still plenty left on the table.
AEW Fight Forever: Roster
The AEW Fight Forever roster is already stacked full of top talent. Many of the promotion’s biggest stars like CM Punk, Jade Cargill, Jon Moxley, and plenty more, have been confirmed months out from launch.
Obviously, we imagine many more will be revealed in time. AEW has a roster of over 100 wrestlers, with the possibility of even more when we consider their ownership of former rival Ring of Honor (ROH).
This could also see ROH wrestlers appearing in AEW Fight Forever, as several have already appeared on AEW’s TV shows. A handful of AEW roster members now hold ROH titles too, so this is likely to factor into content in the future, such as roster updates and DLC.
However, the developers have said that the game will include 50 wrestlers when it launches.
This means the game is only likely to include performers who appear on the main roster (AEW Dynamite and Rampage) at first, although more could be added in DLC expansions.
While many new wrestlers are being announced to join AEW Fight Forever, some stars will not be making an appearance. For instance, FTR will not be present when the game launches. While the issue is under a lot of speculation, FTR has said in an interview that their removal from the game “made a lot of sense” and it seems the departure was under good terms. For now, it seems likely the seven-star tag champs will join as DLC down the line.
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