AEW Likely Going In A New Direction For Future Video Games

For those following the AEW: Fight Forever video game,  it’s likely no surprise that the parent company, AEW, is reportedly considering a new developer for future video games.

AEW Considering A New Direction For Future Video Games

Insider Gaming reports sources told them AEW is “strongly considering” finding a new developer to partner with for future games. This follows a less than desirable launch as well as the game pulling below average scores across multiple review metrics.

The game was over-budget and it under delivered when it came out. It has AEW strongly considering moving to a new developer for their games.

AEW: Fight Forever released June 29, 2023 for PlayStation, PC, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Despite its accessibility, the game struggled to deliver. At SGO, we reviewed the game giving it a passing 7.75 out of 10 noting the game under delivered on consumer expectations and lacked content key to the game’s longevity. Additionally, the game offered a slim roster at launch and with notable and questionable exclusions. While we can dive further and further into the game’s pitfalls, what you may not know are things that took place behind the scenes.

Development Woes

Before last year’s launch, we reported on issues between the developer, Yuke’s, and AEW. First, AEW: Fight Forever was expected to launch in the fall of 2022. That, of course, did not happen. That said, as early as 2022, the relationship between the two companies had strained. Despite pushing for a long-term deal by Yuke’s, AEW was hesitant to commit to such a deal. The deal would have been a condition for Yuke’s to commit to AEW’s request to increase the roster size via DLC post-launch due to the game not an annual launch. Those close to the story noted AEW executive vice president Kenny Omega, who had a hand in development, found it frustrating to work with Yuke’s on the game. Some even noted it as him “hating” it. This was said to be have been due to butting heads over constraints, limitations, and design choices.

One person even claimed that it has come across at times like Yuke’s was trying to “take advantage” of an inexperienced Omega in this position.

Facing forward

As the game’s lifecycle continued, AEW did get their post-launch roster additions. However, no deal appears to been struck in regards to keeping Yuke’s in the franchise’s future. The interesting wrinkle in the story is that this is not just a matter of licensing. AEW owns the rights to the build for Fight Forever. This means the company could bring the build to a new developer to build on top of already exists. Having the game built in Unreal Engine makes this feat even easier, but it still comes down to a matter of which company AEW partners with.

“There are feelers out to some of the larger developers in the space, including some obvious ones, to see what the interest in wrestling games are,” it was said. “They are doing their due diligence before any decision is made.”

With neither side reportedly happy with the game’s launch nor final result, parting ways seems inevitable. That said, AEW has not yet completely parted ways nor found a new developer. What the future holds for the franchise remains to be seen.

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