The Double-Edged Sword of AEW Fight Forever's Continued Support

Exploring the impact of ongoing updates and DLC support for AEW Fight Forever on the wrestling game's future.
The Double-Edged Sword of AEW Fight Forever's Continued Support

Highlights

  • AEW Fight Forever's mixed reception highlights its strengths in gameplay but also its shortcomings like an outdated roster and missing game modes.
  • Updates and DLC support may address some issues but are unlikely to resolve fundamental flaws, including lack of commentary, brief entrances, and a weak career mode.
  • Continuing support for AEW Fight Forever is crucial for fans, but faster updates and substantial DLC content are needed to justify its longevity and price tag.

Despite the slower rollout of updates, the future of AEW Fight Forever appears promising. AEW founder, Tony Khan, has assured ongoing support and updates for the game, indicating a bright future. While this is positive news on the surface, it poses potential challenges in the long run.

AEW Fight Forever garnered mixed reactions upon release, with praise for its enjoyable gameplay and criticism for various shortcomings. While the focus on fun gameplay is commendable, the game's issues are abundant. Considering this, discontinuing support for AEW Fight Forever in favor of a more modern wrestling experience might have been preferable.

Weighing the Pros and Cons of AEW Fight Forever's Continuation

A Fresh AEW Game Could Address Major Fan Concerns

While updates and enhanced DLC support can mitigate some immediate issues with AEW Fight Forever, they are unlikely to resolve its fundamental flaws. Fans have expressed dissatisfaction with the game's brief entrances, lack of commentary, and the absence of features like a Road to Elite overhaul and a GM mode. Additionally, the dated graphics further compound the game's challenges.

Given these inherent issues, starting afresh could have been the optimal approach for AEW and Yuke’s to address major fan grievances and create a more immersive gaming experience. While incremental improvements can make a difference, transforming the game into an exceptional AEW experience seems improbable.

The Potential of AEW Fight Forever Beyond Its Shortcomings

Despite its shortcomings, abandoning AEW Fight Forever would not align with AEW's strategy of eschewing annual game releases, leaving fans awaiting a new AEW gaming experience. Moreover, some of the game's flaws can be rectified through post-launch support. Adding requested wrestlers, new arenas, and match types can enhance the game. Expanding DLC offerings with more wrestlers or substantial features like a GM mode and enriching the create-a-wrestler feature are also essential.

To justify continued support for AEW Fight Forever, the pace of updates must accelerate, and players should receive content that justifies the game's price tag. Promptly offering additional content, such as Toni Storm’s Timeless attire, and addressing fan criticisms are crucial. While the game's persistence is encouraging, addressing the slow updates, incomplete roster, and limited match types is imperative. Unless significant changes are implemented, transitioning to a new game may be the way forward.