Video game lovers, brace yourselves. WWE 2K25 is almost here. On 6th January 2025, the Stamford-based promotion began its new era with Netflix. Starting with an explosive first episode on the streaming giant, the show had several exciting moments, including John Cena announcing himself for the 2025 Royal Rumble, and The Rock choosing his side in the Bloodline. It also explored Roman Reigns securing his Ula Fala, CM Punk defeating Seth Rollins in the main event, and Rhea Ripley winning back the Women’s Championship.
Midway through the show, Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman teased a major WWE 2K25 update, set for 27th January. But moments before the show concluded, Xbox shared WWE 2K25’s first look on social media. The new game’s Steam profile also uploaded character models of Bayley, CM Punk, Cody Rhodes, Liv Morgan, and Damian Priest. More intriguingly, their Steam profile appears to have leaked the game’s cover star following the reveal.
Who is this potential WWE 2K25 leaked cover star? Moments after the Steam update, it seemingly leaked and provided an early look at Roman Reigns as the cover star. The Tribal Chief and Paul Heyman were pictured on the game’s page. This post was quickly deleted and replaced with the standard 2K25 logo. While not yet confirmed, it seems 2K25 and Steam may have leaked their cover star nearly 20 days before the official update date.
The hits keep coming. Raw on Netflix provided fans with tons of announcements—from John Cena’s intent to enter and win the Royal Rumble to The Undertaker’s surprise return as the American Bad Ass, and Hulk Hogan's less-than-triumphant return alongside Jimmy “the Mouth of the South” Hart. But perhaps the most significant news came from Roman Reigns during his backstage conversation with Heyman.
Heyman approached Reigns prior to the night’s main event—Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk—to discuss scheduling a proper celebration for Reigns as the undisputed tribal chief. During this exchange, Reigns revealed the magical date of January 27th, right before walking toward the locker room door with '2K25' on it.
This interaction prompts speculation about Reigns being revealed as the cover star for 2K25, which would be part of the same tribal chief celebration. After gracing the cover on 2020’s edition, Reigns had established himself as one of the frontrunners to feature again this year, following one of the most successful runs around.
Expectedly, his Tribal Chief persona has become iconic, and his 1,316-day championship reign marks the longest title run seen for over 35 years. WWE has managed to keep the Bloodline storyline fresh, amplifying Reigns' rise as the company’s champion with unprecedented popularity.
A month ago, WWE announced the release of WWE 2K25 within the WWE Q4 Fiscal 2025; ideally, this places the release date between January 1st and March 31st. While it is unlikely January 27th will mark the game’s release, the date may align with the trailer launch and the cover star reveal. After all, Cody Rhodes was named the cover star on January 23rd for 2K24, with John Cena following suit on January 25th for 2K23.
While it’s not fully confirmed, conversations on the internet suggest January 27th will likely become the day when the world acknowledges the cover of the tribal chief. Earlier tonight, developers 2K Games and Visual Concepts officially announced WWE 2K25, confirming more details would drop on January 28th.
According to their announcement, “WWE 2K returns bigger, bolder, andbetter than ever in a breakthrough year for the franchise!” The announcement highlighted the preparation to charge down the ramp with game-changing features and the iconic Superstars fans love.
Additional promises included graphical improvements over prior versions. The logo for the game appeared during the Raw segment with Roman Reigns and Paul Heyman, rear-ended by Reigns’ announcement of the info drop date. Fans can wishlist WWE 2K25 now on Steam, with upcoming options available soon for PSN and Xbox. Also, first screenshots showcase new models for superstar favorites, including familiar fan favorites with lifelike designs.
WWE 2K25 is anticipated to build on the foundational successes of WWE 2K24, which received acclaim for delivering consistent improvements over its predecessors. Past iterations have added necessary features to keep performances engaging for both new and returning players.
The community is buzzing with excitement, showcasing the ability to wishlist the game across platforms. Anticipation is growing as fan forums share predictions about the cover star, character roster, and gameplay enhancements.
Anticipation may soon reach new heights as WWE gears up for January 27th, when Roman Reigns may take center stage, leading to even bigger announcements on January 28th. The buildup to the official gameplay showcase promises to keep wrestling enthusiasts on the edges of their seats as the franchise continues its legacy of excellence.