The release of AEW Fight Forever, a highly-anticipated wrestling game, has reportedly been put on hold due to issues with the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB).
According to Wrestle Zone, citing sources familiar with the situation, the amount of gore and violence in the game is said to have prevented it from reaching a Teen rating over multiple attempts.
This is not surprising given that AEW is known for featuring wrestling matches with far more gore and heightened violence than other WWE titles. It is speculated that the virtual representation of this content has prevented the game from achieving the desired rating.
The release date of AEW Fight Forever has been a constant uncertainty. In June 2020, AEW star Kenny Omega had expressed his hope that the game would be slated for a 2022 release. However, as it became clear that this would not be possible, the game was scheduled for release in February 2023.
But now, with Wrestle Zone reporting that the February window is now looking unlikely, and with WWE 2K 23 planned for March, it seems that AEW fans may have to wait longer for the company’s debut game.
The debut video game for All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a rising rival to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), was developed by Yuke’s, a Japanese studio with a long history of creating wrestling games.
Yuke’s has been responsible for the WWE Smackdown/WWE 2K series from 2000 to 2018. The studio has a reputation for crafting high-quality, realistic wrestling games that have been well-received by both fans and critics.
Last year, Yuke’s confirmed that it was working on a new console game for AEW, which it described as “best in class.” The announcement generated a lot of excitement among wrestling fans and gamers alike.
During the announcement of the game, it was revealed that Hideyuki Iwashita, a genre luminary and the director of WWF classic fighting games such as No Mercy and Def Jam Vendetta, would also be involved with the AEW title.
Iwashita has a wealth of experience in the wrestling game genre and is known for his ability to create immersive and engaging gameplay experiences.
The combination of Yuke’s expertise in creating wrestling games and Iwashita’s experience in the genre has led to high expectations for the upcoming AEW game.
Fans are eagerly awaiting the release of the game, which is expected to offer a unique and exciting gaming experience that will rival the best wrestling games on the market.
