In an interview with Hardcore Gamer, WWE 2K creative director Lynell Jinks stated that WWE 2K19 would be moving away from the simulation-styled gameplay of the last four WWE games, in favor of faster, more fluid gameplay, saying "[The fans] kind of got turned off by the product we were giving them and we had to think outside the box and they never thought that we'd do it. The core was simulation, and people got turned off by that and we were hearing loud and clear that they weren't buying it anymore and that was the driving force behind all of that." He added "We were hearing from the fanbase that it was too slow, too sluggish and it wasn't any fun anymore."[1]
Game modes[edit]
WWE 2K19 features many different returning and new game modes, including the 2K Showcase Mode, focusing on the career of Daniel Bryan.[2] This is the first Showcase to be featured in the series since WWE 2K17's Hall of Fame Showcase DLC. Players take control of 11 different unique models of Daniel Bryan, in 11 matches, from his Velocity match against John Cena, under his real name, Bryan Danielson, to his WrestleMania 34 matchup with Shane McMahon against Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn, along with a twelveth and final fight, a fictional fight against his past self at WrestleMania 34.[2]
Two new "Tower" modes are present in 2K19. In MyPlayer Towers mode, wrestlers or created superstars can participate in challenges online or offline. Daily, Weekly and Pay-Per-View challenge towers are also introduced.[3] In WWE Towers, There are two types of Towers including the Gauntlet Tower, where players must complete the Tower entirely in one session, in a similar vein to a usual gauntlet match. Losing a match or quitting resets the progress to square one. In the Steps Tower, the players' progress is saved after each match, so they can play at their own pace.[3]
MyCareer mode has been reinvented with the focus of a more linear storyline that centers the player's created character as an aspiring wrestler named Buzz, who rides on his Bug Busters van, working his way up from the independent wrestling promotion, BCW, to the WWE, with the story ending at Wrestlemania 34, with either Barron Blade or Cole Quinn on Buzz's side and "The Game" Triple H as the special referee, winning the WWE Universal Championship from "The Phenominal" AJ Styles, with Finn Bálor on his side. Barron Blade, a fictional character featured in previous MyCareer modes, also returns and acts as Buzz's guide.[4]
The Road to Glory mode returns from previous entries, with the ability to now join one of eight different factions.[5]
