| WWE 2K | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Developer(s) | Yuke's (2000–2018) Visual Concepts (2019–present) |
| Publisher(s) | THQ (2000–2012) 2K (2013–present) |
| Platform(s) | Android iOS Microsoft Windows Mobile Nintendo DS Nintendo Switch PlayStation PlayStation 2 PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 PlayStation Portable Stadia Wii Xbox 360 Xbox One Xbox Series X |
| First release | WWF SmackDown! March 2, 2000 |
| Latest release | WWE 2K24 March 8, 2024 |
| Parent series | List of WWE video games |
WWE 2K, formerly released as WWF SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown!, WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, WWE SmackDown vs. Raw, WWE, and Exciting Pro Wrestling in Japan, is a series of professional wrestling sports simulation video games that launched in 2000. The premise of the series is to emulate professional wrestling, specifically that of WWE, formerly known as the World Wrestling Federation (WWF). The series began with WWF SmackDown! on the original PlayStation and has continued as an annual release (with the exception of 2021). It was originally exclusive to PlayStation platforms until 2006's WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2007, which expanded the series to other platforms. In 2013, the series was rebranded as WWE 2K, beginning with WWE 2K14.
The games were originally published by THQ and developed by Yuke's under the WWF SmackDown! name—in 2002, the WWF was renamed to WWE. Beginning with WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw in 2004, the series changed its name to WWE SmackDown vs. Raw and then simply WWE with 2011's WWE '12. 2K, previously under the 2K Sports sub-label, took over as publisher following THQ's bankruptcy beginning with 2013's WWE 2K14, changing the series to WWE 2K, and the series was co-developed with Visual Concepts until Yuke's departure in 2018. Visual Concepts would take over lead development of the series beginning with WWE 2K20 in 2019. Due to major technical issues with that installment, the main series took a two-year hiatus with a spin-off, WWE 2K Battlegrounds, released in 2020 before the next main installment, WWE 2K22, released in 2022.