WWE 2K24: The Final Roster and the Absence of Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar

WWE 2K24, the latest installment in the popular wrestling video game series, has recently revealed its final roster, boasting an impressive lineup of over 204 superstars. However, two notable absences from the playable roster have sparked controversy among fans: former WWE chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and 7-time WWE Champion and 3-time WWE Universal Champion Brock Lesnar.

The removal of these two figures from the game is not entirely unexpected. Lesnar had previously been removed from the cover of the Forty Years of Wrestlemania edition of the game. This version of the cover features several superstars from across WWE’s history. Lesnar’s absence from the cover was likely a result of his connection to allegations of sexual misconduct against McMahon. These allegations came to light after a former WWE employee filed a lawsuit against McMahon, accusing him of, among other things, sexual assault and sex trafficking. Lesnar was also implicated in the report.

In the wake of these allegations, Lesnar was reportedly removed from January’s men’s Royal Rumble and hasn’t been seen on WWE television since the lawsuit was filed. McMahon’s removal from the game, on the other hand, is a more recent development.

While McMahon and Lesnar will not be playable in WWE 2K24, that doesn’t mean that they are entirely absent from the game. A major selling point of WWE 2K24 is the Showcase of the Immortals, which will allow players to recreate 21 of the biggest matches in Wrestlemania history. Given his appearance on the Forty Years of Wrestlemania edition, it would make sense that at least one of those matches was set to feature Lesnar. He famously ended the Undertaker’s legendary winning streak at Wrestlemania 30. It’s not clear if any Showcase of the Immortals matches featuring Lesnar have been removed from the final game, or if he will simply not be playable.

The absence of McMahon and Lesnar from WWE 2K24 has sparked a heated debate among fans. Some argue that their removal is a necessary step in light of the allegations against them. Others believe that the game developers are caving to pressure from outside sources and that the two figures should be included in the game regardless.

Regardless of one’s stance on the issue, it’s clear that the removal of McMahon and Lesnar from WWE 2K24 is a significant development. It marks a departure from the way that the video game industry has traditionally handled allegations of misconduct against high-profile figures. Whether this trend continues remains to be seen.

WWE 2K24 will be released on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4/5, and PC on March 8.

Will Borger is a freelance writer for IGN. You can find him on Twitter @bywillborger.

In this article, we will delve deeper into the reasons behind the removal of Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar from WWE 2K24, explore the reactions of fans, and discuss the implications of this development for the video game industry as a whole.

First, let’s examine the allegations against McMahon and Lesnar that led to their removal from the game. The lawsuit filed against McMahon by a former WWE employee accused him of sexual assault and sex trafficking. McMahon has denied these allegations, but the fallout from the lawsuit has been significant. Lesnar, who was also implicated in the report, was reportedly removed from January’s men’s Royal Rumble and hasn’t been seen on WWE television since the lawsuit was filed.

The removal of McMahon and Lesnar from WWE 2K24 was not a surprise to many fans. The two figures had previously been removed from the cover of the Forty Years of Wrestlemania edition of the game. However, the final roster reveal sparked a heated debate among fans. Some argued that their removal was a necessary step in light of the allegations against them. Others believed that the game developers were caving to pressure from outside sources and that the two figures should be included in the game regardless.

The reactions of fans to the removal of McMahon and Lesnar from WWE 2K24 were varied. Some expressed disappointment and frustration, while others expressed support for the decision. Some fans argued that the allegations against McMahon and Lesnar were unproven and that they should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Others argued that the removal of these figures from the game was a necessary step in light of the serious nature of the allegations.

The implications of the removal of McMahon and Lesnar from WWE 2K24 for the video game industry as a whole are significant. It marks a departure from the way that the industry has traditionally handled allegations of misconduct against high-profile figures. In the past, video game developers have often chosen to include controversial figures in their games, citing artistic freedom and the importance of historical accuracy. However, the #MeToo movement and increasing public pressure to hold individuals accountable for their actions have led to a shift in this approach.

The removal of McMahon and Lesnar from WWE 2K24 is not an isolated incident. Other video games have also faced pressure to remove controversial figures from their games. For example, Grand Theft Auto V was criticized for including a character based on real-life gangster James “Jimmy” Fratianno. The game’s developers eventually removed the character from future releases. Similarly, the game Red Dead Redemption 2 was criticized for including a character based on real-life outlaw Bill Dauterman. The game’s developers eventually apologized and removed the character from the game.

The trend of removing controversial figures from video games is likely to continue. As public pressure to hold individuals accountable for their actions increases, video game developers are under increasing pressure to ensure that their games do not glorify or promote harmful behavior. This trend is likely to have a significant impact on the video game industry as a whole, particularly in the areas of sports and historical simulations.

In conclusion, the removal of Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar from WWE 2K24 is a significant development that marks a departure from the way that the video game industry has traditionally handled allegations of misconduct against high-profile figures. The reactions of fans to this development have been varied, with some expressing disappointment and frustration, while others expressing support for the decision. The implications of this development for the video game industry as a whole are significant, and it is likely to have a major impact on the way that controversial figures are treated in future video games. WWE 2K24 will be released on Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, PlayStation 4/5, and PC on March 8.