AEW's Fight Forever Game Lost $30M, Delayed by a Year, and Halved Sales

Key points

• Insider Gaming's Mike Straw reports AEW lost at least $30 million on the Fight Forever video game.
• The game was originally scheduled for 2022 but released in summer 2023, extending development costs.
• Sales figures were approximately half of AEW's initial expectations, contributing to the financial loss.
• AEW currently has no active agreement with developer Yuke's but owns the underlying game engine.
• AEW sources deny rumors of a new third-party licensing deal, stating they know nothing about it.
• AEW remains interested in revisiting video game projects in the future, but no immediate plans exist.

Background

AEW previously faced scrutiny over the delayed release of Fight Forever, which was pushed from 2022 to 2023. The company has not announced a new wrestling video game since, with Tony Khan frequently fielding questions about future titles. The broader gaming industry has seen shifts in development strategies, such as Amazon's recent exit from MMOs, highlighting the financial risks of long development cycles.

How outlets are covering it

Cageside Seats, Fightful, Wrestleview, and F4W/WON all cite Mike Straw's report as the primary source for the $30 million loss figure. While all outlets agree on the magnitude of the loss and the sales shortfall, F4W/WON and Wrestleview explicitly note that AEW owns the game engine, allowing them to seek a new developer if desired. Cageside Seats emphasizes the lack of imminent plans for a sequel, while Fightful highlights the denial of third-party licensing rumors. All sources attribute the financial failure to missed deadlines and lower-than-expected sales, with no outlet challenging Straw's core claims.

Why it matters

The significant financial loss explains AEW's cautious approach to future video game ventures. It highlights the risks of extended development timelines in the entertainment industry and may influence how other sports and entertainment brands approach digital media partnerships.

What to watch

AEW may eventually revisit video game development, but no immediate projects are planned. The company could seek a new developer since it owns the game engine, though no such deal is currently in progress. Future announcements would likely depend on resolving the financial and logistical issues that plagued Fight Forever.