AEW retains Fight Forever engine to lower costs for potential future wrestling game

Key points

• AEW lost at least $30 million on the Fight Forever video game, according to sources cited by Insider Gaming.
• The loss was driven by development delays that pushed the release from 2022 to June 2023, increasing costs, and sales that reached only about half of initial expectations.
• AEW still owns the game engine created for Fight Forever, which could allow a future game to be produced at a significantly lower cost than the original.
• AEW no longer has a development agreement with Yuke's, the studio behind Fight Forever, but could potentially license the engine to another developer.
• Sources indicate AEW remains interested in revisiting video games in the future, but no new console project is currently locked in or imminent.

Background

AEW's Fight Forever was the company's first major foray into video games, originally slated for 2022 but delayed to 2023. The financial loss has prompted internal reevaluation of the franchise, with previous archive coverage noting that while AEW is not rushing into a sequel, the ownership of the engine provides a potential pathway for future projects at a reduced cost.

How outlets are covering it

Insider Gaming, Fightful, and Cageside Seats all report the $30 million loss and the delayed release timeline, citing Mike Straw's sources. Ringside News emphasizes the strategic advantage of retaining the game engine to lower future development costs, while Cageside Seats and Fightful highlight the lack of imminent plans and the dismissal of licensing rumors by AEW sources. All outlets agree that while AEW is interested in future games, no concrete project is currently in development.

Why it matters

The financial outcome of Fight Forever sets a precedent for AEW's approach to video game development. Retaining the engine could make future projects more viable, but the $30 million loss may deter Tony Khan from funding another full-scale game in the near term, impacting the wrestling industry's competitive landscape against WWE's established 2K series.

What to watch

AEW may eventually revisit video game development using the existing engine, but no timeline or specific project has been announced. The company could explore licensing the engine to another developer or wait for a more favorable market, but current sources indicate no imminent plans.