Along with just over a minute of gameplay footage, it’s also been confirmed that Yuke’s’ upcoming title will be called AEW: Fight Forever. There’s also a close-up look at Kris Statlander and Nyla Rose’s character models, alongside a demonstration of a few moves, which give a rough feel of what the game is going to be like to play.

Of course, it’s still very brief footage, but it already looks so much different than its immediate competitor, the more simulation-based WWE 2K games. We still don’t have any information on AEW: Fight Forever‘s release platforms or release window, although a recent rumour has suggested a window of September of this year. Until then, stay tuned for more updates on the matter.

newest footage of AEW: Fight Forever featuring Kris Statlander & Nyla Rose pic.twitter.com/Y7ShavH8zE

— Rynge (@Rynge_) May 4, 2022

It was last year when Yuke’s and 2K games parted ways on the WWE license. It was the end of an era as the developer had been part of that license since before 2K held it (back when THQ had exclusive rights) and had been instrumental in creating WWE titles for roughly two decades. It wasn’t too surprising when earlier this year it was announced that Yuke’s was developing a title around AEW, a new rival wrestling promotion, considering that long history. We also got confirmation it’s been worked on in some form since last year as well.

Yuke’s Producer and Senior Vice President Hiromi Furuta last year talked about a new wrestling game they were developing. At the time, they had not left the WWE licenses so it wasn’t clear what they were working on. Now, speaking to VGC, Furuta confirmed that game became the upcoming AEW title they’re working on when asked. It wasn’t always the case it seems, but it seemingly shifted into that once the deal with the new wrestling promotion was made.

“At that time there was the possibility of it becoming something else, but your understanding is correct. However, it was very recently that we began making the game with AEW. Unfortunately, [it’s] too early for us to discuss [details] at this time.”

It’s unclear at this point what the AEW game will look like, though it seems to be going in a more arcade-like, over the top style that WWE/WCW titles had in the late ’90s and early 2000s before they started to lean heavily into simulation. AEW is also much more comedy-focused than WWE, so that approach makes a lot of sense.

Furuta also says she doesn’t look at this new project as a direct competitor to whatever WWE 2K will now look like in their absence, and the developer is more focused on just creating it as an AEW product. There’s no time frame for when to expect this title, but it’ll make the first time in many years there will be more than one wrestling product on the market, so it should be interesting no matter what.

For years, Yuke’s was the sole developer of the WWE licensed video games. That changed abruptly last year when it was announced that the company would part ways with the current publisher of WWE titles, 2K Games. Since then people have wondered where the developer can realistically go, and well, as predictable as it might be it seems they’re staying in their wheelhouse.

If you aren’t aware, there was a new wrestling promotion that started in 2019 called AEW, All Elite Wrestling. It focuses on comedy wrestling and more over the top stunts than WWE tends to, and they had a stream yesterday to reveal they were working on several games for their brand. One of those was a “best in class” console game, which they showed some early footage of. It’s said to be more arcade-like than the more sim-based direction WWE titles have gone in alongside a more cartoony and exaggerated art style. Hideyuki Iwashita, who helmed WWF No Mercy (before WWE had to change its name) and Def Jam Vendetta, will be included in the titles though it’s unclear what his role will be in the end.

There’s no time frame or platforms given other than it will be a “console game.” Last year it was said Yuke’s was working on an alternative wrestling game to rival their own 2K series they were still working on. It’s not clear if this is that game or if they have something else down the pipeline. At the very least, we should be getting another mainstream wrestling game relatively soon.