With the release of AEW: Fight Forever nearly upon us, Yuke’s has decided to whet our wrestling appetite by unveiling the full roster of playable characters at launch. The wrestling ring will be a hotbed of legendary heroes, contemporary stars, and a certain individual who’s wandered back to the WWE.
This isn’t your typical simulation-style game like the WWE 2K series – instead, we’re being treated to a more compact roster that sets the stage for a nostalgia-fueled, arcade-style experience, reminiscent of golden oldies such as WWF No Mercy and WCW/nWo Revenge. But hold your wrestling horses, there are some noticeable absentees who are already tipped to join the fray as DLC additions.
Unveiling the Full Roster: Who’s Ready to Fight Forever?
In November 2020, AEW: Fight Forever was first announced, marking the upstart wrestling company’s maiden venture into the world of gaming, with development led by Yuke’s, a veteran of WWE video games. AEW superstar, Kenny Omega, shared his vision of a throwback to the late 90s, offering easy-to-grasp gameplay and a myriad of enjoyable mini-games alongside a robust variety of match-types. After two-and-a-half years of updates and much anticipation, a release date was finally inked in for June 2023, hot on the heels of Forbidden Door, AEW’s crossover pay-per-view event with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
In the lead-up to the launch, AEW has been stoking the hype, teasing the multitude of modes and match-types fans can indulge in. Notably, they’ve highlighted the Casino Battle Royal and the Exploding Barbed-Wire Deathmatch. Until now, however, the final launch roster remained a mystery, with fans getting mere glimpses in gameplay videos and individual showcases. That has changed, with the latest AEW Games’ tweet revealing the 51 wrestlers and one referee ready to rumble at launch.
Future Additions: The Upcoming DLC Stars Set to Join AEW Fight Forever
The roster of Fight Forever presents an exciting medley of homegrown talent, ex-WWE wrestlers, and legends, setting the stage for the addition of more stars via future DLC packs. Former AEW stalwart, Cody Rhodes, features prominently, a decision previously confirmed by Kenny Omega owing to Rhodes’ instrumental role in launching AEW in 2019.
Despite the impressive roster, it’s hard not to notice the missing big names given their star power. Fear not, though, as the first season pass promises to introduce seven notable stars, including FTR, Keith Lee, The Bunny, Hook, and Danhausen. For those who pre-ordered the game, Matt Hardy will also be a playable character, featuring both his Hardys and Broken variants.
RELATED: AEW Fight Forever Charms Wrestling Fans with Its Weapon Choices
Mark your calendars, AEW: Fight Forever is all set to make its grand debut on June 29th, 2023, across Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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Stephen is the proud owner of a popular gaming news website GLN, where he provides the latest updates on everything gaming-related. With a passion for video games that dates back to his childhood, Stephen is dedicated to sharing his knowledge and expertise with fellow gamers around the world.