AEW: Fight Forever – Everything You Need to Know

After its initial announcement in November 2020, All Elite Wrestling’s first official licensed video game, AEW: Fight Forever, is set to release on June 29th. Published by THQ Nordic, it’s coming to Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PS5, PC, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. Let’s look at 14 things you should know before jumping in.

Roster

In terms of wrestlers, the roster for AEW: Fight Forever is pretty packed with the likes of Adam Cole, Jon Moxley, Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, Christian Cage, Brodie Lee, Brian Cage, Bryan Danielson, Kenny Omega, Sting, Riho, Nyla Rose, Miro, Ruby Soho, Ricky Starks, CM Punk, Powerhouse Hobbs, Kris Statlander – the list goes on. There’s even Cody Rhodes, complete with his Codyvator entrance, and William Regal, who pops up in tutorial messages, even though both are no longer in AEW. Notable omissions also include Toni Storm, Saraya, Daniel Garcia and Jeff Jarrett (yes, that Jeff Jarrett), so it should be interesting to see if there are plans to add them in the future.

Gameplay

Instead of realism, AEW: Fight Forever leans more into arcade-heavy gameplay. It’s developed by Yuke’s, which worked on the WWE 2K series, its last major title being WWE 2K19 and is heavily inspired by WWF No Mercy, which was released for the Nintendo 64 in 2000. Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita, who directed No Mercy and Def Jam Vendetta, is even on board as the director.

Unique Moves

In addition to various wrestling moves, some wrestlers have unique nuances to help distinguish them. IGN’s Final Preview revealed that while many can evade attacks, MJF will instead beg for forgiveness before taking the chance to sucker-punch his opponent. Then there’s Orange Cassidy, who can assume his signature “hands-in-pockets” stance, which grants some new moves.

Match Types

While it’s not going to have the sheer range of match types as a WWE 2K title, Fight Forever does offer a healthy selection. You have the usual Singles and Tag Team matches; 3-Way and 4-Way matches; and the brutal types like Ladder, Falls Count Anywhere, and Unsanctioned Lights Out. The Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch and the Battle Royale are also here.

Weapons

Weapons are a big part of any wrestling title, but Yuke’s is upping the ante by having more than 40 weapons available in Fight Forever. There are the standard Bats, Barbed Wire Bats and tables, but there are also glass bottles, Lacrosse Sticks, Tennis Rackets, and so on. Darby Allin is known for his skateboarding antics, but anyone can pick a skateboard up and ride around, assaulting everyone with sick tricks. It’s even possible to throw Propane Tanks at opponents and blow them up.

Online Modes and Tag Team Moves

Online support is also included, with up to four players able to fight it out. Players can also team together in tag matches and execute double-team maneuvers using “simple commands.” Said maneuvers include double Superkicks, double Back Body Drops, and more. While the online features seem pretty standard, the sheer hijinks that can ensue should make for even more entertaining fights.

Road to Elite

For those keen on a meaty single-player experience, there’s Road to the Elite, the Career Mode. After creating a custom wrestler, players are invited to Double or Nothing and fight to make their mark in the promotion. Various cutscenes advance the story, and there are branching paths based on whether you win or lose. It remains to be seen how deep the narrative goes, and the ultimate end goal.

Character Upgrades

As you compete in matches in Road to Elite, you’ll also have choices on how to upgrade your character. Work out and earn skill points, with tougher workouts carrying the risk of injury, or take part in mini-games (more on that in a bit) for money and skill points. Press conferences will increase your energy and momentum, but you can also eat and take in the local sights, as per IGN’s preview. Based on how players want to spend their days, there are benefits for each activity.

Mini-Games

Perhaps the most bizarre yet intriguing part of AEW: Fight Forever is the mini-games. This isn’t usually something you see in a wrestling game, but you can take part in baseball, memory games, hogging the spotlight, rhythm games, quizzes, card games, spotting the differences between two images, what seems to be Minesweeper – the list goes on. Some mini-games seemingly defy description, with explosives raining from the sky, skateboarding competitions, etc. It’s unique and surreal if nothing else.

Customization

In addition to creating a wrestler and customizing their appearance and outfit, you can also create custom entrances, arenas, teams and move sets. The depth of these creation suites remains to be seen, and whether players can share their creations online is unknown.

Daily and Weekly Challenges

Another part of the game that requires more information is the daily and weekly challenges. It’s assumed that you complete tasks, perhaps winning a certain number of matches or performing certain moves, to earn money. Perhaps that money is spent on unlocking new customization options. Of course, none of this is confirmed, and whether challenges can provide other kinds of rewards – like new outfits and such – is also unknown.

PC Requirements

In terms of PC requirements, Fight Forever isn’t a super-demanding game. All configurations require Windows 10 64-bit, DirectX 12, and 25 GB of installation space. Minimum requirements include an Intel Core i5-3550 or AMD FX 8150, 8 GB Ram, and a GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 480. Recommended requirements are an Intel Core i7-4790 or AMD FX 8350, 16 GB RAM and a GTX 1070, Radeon RX 580 or Intel Arc A380. The resolution, performance and graphics quality that these deliver is unknown, sadly.

4K Ultra HD on Xbox Series X

Another relative unknown is the resolution and frame rate on consoles. According to its Xbox Store listing, Fight Forever supports 4K Ultra HD on Xbox Series X/S. Different graphics modes and their performance on previous-gen platforms are yet to be revealed. At least there’s Smart Delivery on Xbox, and purchasing the PlayStation version entitles you to the PS4 and PS5 versions at no extra cost.

Season Pass

Purchasing the Elite Edition for $79.99 grants access to 24 hours early access, meaning one can start playing on June 28th. However, it also grants the Season Pass with three DLC packs. You get FTR’s Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler in one pack; The Bunny and Keith Lee in the second; and Hook and Danhausen in the third. New mini-games like JoinUs, Deth Race-X, MJF Car Thrash and Sloth Sling are also included. Pre-order either version of the game also grants access to Matt Hardy and his Broken iteration.

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