Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick is in WWE 2K26. Fans are already reacting, many asking why he’s in the game in the first place.
The new WWE 2K26 Ringside Pass was released today. Despite that, fans are talking about Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick being added to the game.
According to newsroom.2K.com, Ringside Pass Season 3 introduces a host of new WWE Superstars to the WWE 2K26 roster. This includes Matt Cardona, LA Parka, Torrie Wilson, and Brian Pillman joining the fray.
Season 3 also features persona cards for Kane, Rey Mysterio, Asuka, and Solo Sikoa, along with new creation parts, movesets, MyFACTION content, World Taunts, and more. That said, fans aren’t quite thrilled about the addition of Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick as a playable character in WWE 2K26.
Fans react to Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick as WWE 2K26 playable character
“Take-Two CEO Strauss Zelnick has been added to the game as a playable character. What’s going on exactly?” a user who posts as SmackDown Hotel wrote on X.
Another user shared screenshots from the game showing Zelnick with an overall rating of 77. This rating is higher than former nWo member Syxx (also known as X-Pac).
The inclusion of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” as Zelnick’s entrance theme has also sparked discussion on Reddit. One fan suggested the choice could be viewed as a playful nod to complaints about WWE 2K’s microtransaction-heavy MyFACTION mode, interpreting the song’s message as “buy into the system or miss out.” The poster ultimately noted that the reference was probably not intentional. In turn, it was more likely a humorous choice by the developers.
Four editions of WWE 2K26 are currently available: the Standard Edition, King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition. Ringside Pass Premium Season 3 is included with the Attitude Era Edition and Monday Night War Edition as part of the Season Pass. Ringside Pass is also available for individual purchase.
Zelnick recently said that while the company is happy with the game’s success, there’s still room for improvement. That said, this probably isn’t what most fans were asking for.
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