Subhojeet Mukherjee on March 22, 2026
Stevie Richards isn’t holding back when it comes to just how much value fans can get from WWE 2K26 — and he’s calling the entire system a cash grab.
Speaking on the Stevie Richards Show, the former WWE star went off on the game’s pricing model and unlock system, claiming that even paying top dollar doesn’t get you what you should already have. Richards started by explaining his own experience, revealing he bought the premium edition of the game — only to find that key content was still locked behind additional systems.
“I bought the 0 edition, and in this new version of WWE 2K26, they introduced a ringside pass. I have the Monday Night War edition of the game and should just be able to have them right off the jump, which is kind of ridiculous in my opinion.”
He then broke down how specific game modes are designed in a way that pushes players toward spending more money, even after buying the full game. From there, Richards got more direct, calling the system itself exploitative — especially when it comes to how progression is handled.
“Plus, you have things like MyFaction and The Island, which just want your money. And I don’t even play those things because I know how they’re built. They’re built to get the most money out of you by sucking you into this system where it’s like, ‘Oh, I’m going to create my guy and make him the best online,’ or ‘Oh, I need another pack of cards.’ It’s extremely predatory how this game is laid out. And of course, you can buy a booster to get through the ringside pass faster, but if you try to do that on day one when you’re at level one, it costs you an additional .”
He also pointed out how quickly the cost of the game can spiral, arguing that WWE 2K26 goes far beyond the standard price players expect. Richards didn’t limit his criticism to just WWE 2K26, saying this model reflects a wider shift across the gaming industry.
“This isn’t just a game anymore… We’re in very dangerous territory. It’s not just TKO and 2K — every game is doing this now. They release a stripped-down version as the base edition and then push you to buy DLC, season passes, and all this extra stuff.”
He then explained why this approach feels different from traditional DLC, arguing that content is being intentionally held back rather than added later. Richards didn’t mince words when describing what that means to him.
“When you release a game, DLC is supposed to feel like extra content… But this is completely different. It’s very obvious they’re stripping content out of the base game just to charge you more for it later. That’s a bait and switch. The worst kind.”
He also pointed to specific examples, including major names tied to the game’s theme being locked behind paywalls despite being part of the selling point. Finally, Richards pointed out how even features that used to be included for free are now being monetized.
“The Monday Night War edition — the very people on the cover that you’re buying the game for — are locked. Austin, the nWo, and others are locked behind paywalls. Isn’t that a slap in the face? They’ve even taken features that used to be free in previous games and locked them behind battle passes or modes like The Island… trying to squeeze every dollar out of players. It’s a scam.”
This latest reaction taps into a growing frustration among players around microtransactions and paid progression systems — but coming from someone inside the wrestling world, it adds even more weight to the conversation around WWE 2K26.
Do you think Stevie Richards is right about WWE 2K26 going too far with monetization, or is this just the direction modern gaming has taken? Drop your thoughts below and leave your feedback.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
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