“The Best in the World” CM Punk Graces WWE® 2K26 Cover as Four New Match Types, Upgrades to All Game Modes, and Unprecedented Roster Ensure The Show Never Stops

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 30, 2026--

Today, 2K announced WWE® 2K26, the newest installment of the flagship WWE video game franchise developed by Visual Concepts, will be available starting March 6 for PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™ 2, and PC via Steam.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260130185664/en/

The current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk strikes a defiant pose on the Standard Edition cover, a position befitting a Triple Crown Champion. One of the most celebrated and subversive personas in WWE history, CM Punk previously appeared on the cover of WWE ‘13, and also headlines WWE 2K26 ’s 2K Showcase.

The King of Kings Edition celebrates the in-ring career and ongoing behind-the-scenes legacy of WWE Hall of Famer and current WWE Chief Content Officer, Paul “ Triple H ” Levesque.

TheAttitude Era Edition evokes nostalgia for one of the greatest eras in WWE history, and larger-than-life personalities including “ Stone Cold” Steve Austin, The Rock, Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Stephanie McMahon, Undertaker, Kane, Trish Stratus, Lita, Chyna, Kurt Angle, and The Dudley Boyz.

An all-new “super-premium” Monday Night War Edition features content tied to WWE stars of the Attitude Era, as well as a collection of WCW’s biggest names of the era, including “Hollywood” Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, Goldberg, Booker T, and Eric Bischoff.

King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night Wars Edition are scheduled for worldwide release on Friday, March 6, 2026, seven days prior to the Standard Edition, which will be available Friday, March 13, 2026.

“As a kid, I could only dream of being on the cover of a video game. Now I join a very exclusive group of WWE Superstars who have done it twice,” said CM Punk. "I enjoyed the experience of narrating the 2K Showcase, which gave me an opportunity to tell fans the straight, unfiltered story of the moments, matches, and controversies in my career. Players will get to step into my boots, relive some of my proudest WWE moments, and take on challenges I never had the opportunity to face.”

“ WWE 2K26 introduces several new community-requested match types and gameplay features,” said Greg Thomas, President at Visual Concepts. “The team has put a lot of thought into refining the in-ring action and presentation, while also expanding creative options to allow players more freedom than ever before.”

WWE 2K26 features several updates and improvements to existing features throughout the game:

New Motion-Based Nintendo Switch 2 Features

WWE 2K26 on Nintendo Switch 2 will offer several additional features made possible through Nintendo Switch 2's unique hardware, including touchscreen and mouse support, GameShare and GameChat, support for single Joy-Con gameplay, and the ability to use mouse controls in Creation Suite for face and body painting. The Nintendo Switch 2 version of the game will also now support Image Uploader and cross-platform Community Creations.

WWE 2K26Editions

WWE 2K26 features four editions of the game: Standard Edition, King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition:

For more information on WWE 2K26, visit the game’s official website, become a fan on Facebook, follow the game on TikTok, X, Instagram, and subscribe on Twitch and YouTube. Official campaign hashtag #WWE2K26.

Visual Concepts is a 2K studio. 2K is a wholly owned publishing label of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (NASDAQ: TTWO).

Access to online or bonus features, content, or services, including MyFACTION, The Island, and Online Multiplayer, may require Internet connection, online account registration, and/or may not be accessible by accounts registered to users below the age of 13 (minimum age varies). See www.take2games.com/legal and www.take2games.com/privacy for additional details. Game includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Some in-game content may require download and/or online gameplay to unlock. Online console play may require separate paid platform subscription and account registration. Terms apply.

* Pre-order bonus offer available through March 13, 2026. Joe Hendry Pack is included with WWE 2K26 King of Kings Edition, Attitude Era Edition, and Monday Night War Edition. For digital pre-orders, items will be automatically entitled in-game. For physical pre-orders, items will be redeemed in-game via code provided in-box. Terms apply.

**Digital copy of WWE 2K25 Standard Edition not available on Nintendo Switch 2. Digital copy will be automatically entitled to the platform account used to pre-order WWE 2K26 and available to download within 24 hours following pre-order. Offer is non-transferable and not available to platform accounts that already own WWE 2K25 on the same platform. Canceled pre-orders will result in removal of digital copy of WWE 2K25 from platform account. Terms apply.

*** Limited time offer available through February 23, 2026, at 8AM PT for pre-orders of WWE 2K26 Attitude Era or Monday Night War Editions on PlayStation or Xbox. Bonus VC for WWE 2K26 will be automatically entitled in-game to the platform account used to pre-order. See console store pages for bonus WWE 2K25 VC redemption instructions. Offer is non-transferable. Internet connection and 2K Account required. Terms Apply.

**** Exact release date of the WrestleMania 42 Pack content to be announced post-launch and subject to change.Content will be automatically delivered on release for PC users, available for download in the PlayStation store/Library tile for PS5 users, available for download in Microsoft Store for Xbox users, and available for download in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo Switch 2 users. WrestleMania 42 Pack will also be available for purchase separately.

About Take-Two Interactive Software

Headquartered in New York City, Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. is a leading developer, publisher, and marketer of interactive entertainment for consumers around the globe. We develop and publish products principally through Rockstar Games, 2K, and Zynga. Our strategy is to create hit entertainment experiences, delivered on every platform relevant to our audience through a variety of sound business models. Our pillars - creativity, innovation, and efficiency - guide us as we strive to create the highest quality, most captivating experiences for our consumers. The Company’s common stock is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the symbol TTWO. For more corporate and product information please visit our website at http://www.take2games.com.

All trademarks and copyrights contained herein are the property of their respective holders.

About 2K

Founded in 2005, 2K develops and publishes interactive entertainment for video game consoles, personal computers, and mobile devices, with product availability including physical retail and digital download. The Company is home to many talented development studios, including Visual Concepts, Firaxis Games, Hangar 13, Cat Daddy Games, 31st Union, Cloud Chamber, Gearbox and HB Studios. 2K’s portfolio currently includes several AAA, sports and entertainment brands, including global powerhouse NBA® 2K; renowned BioShock®, Borderlands®, Mafia, Sid Meier’s Civilization® and XCOM® brands; popular WWE® 2K and WWE® SuperCard franchises, TopSpin® as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed PGA TOUR® 2K. Additional information about 2K and its products may be found at 2K.com and on the Company’s official social media channels.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, including statements relating to Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc.'s ("Take-Two," the "Company," "we," "us," or similar pronouns) outlook, are considered forward-looking statements under federal securities laws and may be identified by words such as "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "potential," "predicts," "projects," "seeks," "should," "will," or words of similar meaning and include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the outlook for our future business and financial performance. Such forward-looking statements are based on the current beliefs of our management as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to them, which are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks, and changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict. Actual outcomes and results may vary materially from these forward-looking statements based on a variety of risks and uncertainties including risks relating to the timely release and significant market acceptance of our games; the risks of conducting business internationally, including as a result of unforeseen geopolitical events; the impact of changes in interest rates by the Federal Reserve and other central banks, including on our short-term investment portfolio; the impact of inflation; volatility in foreign currency exchange rates; our dependence on key management and product development personnel; our dependence on our NBA 2K and Grand Theft Auto products and our ability to develop other hit titles; our ability to leverage opportunities on PlayStation®5 and Xbox Series X|S; factors affecting our mobile business, such as player acquisition costs; and the ability to maintain acceptable pricing levels on our games.

Other important factors and information are contained in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the risks summarized in the section entitled "Risk Factors," the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and the Company's other periodic filings with the SEC, which can be accessed at www.take2games.com. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk strikes a defiant pose on the Standard Edition cover, a position befitting a Triple Crown Champion. One of the most celebrated and subversive personas in WWE history, CM Punk previously appeared on the cover of WWE ‘13, and also headlines WWE 2K26’s 2K Showcase.

Today, 2K announced WWE® 2K26, the newest installment of the flagship WWE video game franchise developed by Visual Concepts, will be available starting March 6 for PlayStation®5 (PS5®), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch™ 2, and PC via Steam. The current World Heavyweight Champion CM Punk strikes a defiant pose on the Standard Edition cover, a position befitting a Triple Crown Champion. One of the most celebrated and subversive personas in WWE history, CM Punk previously appeared on the cover of WWE ‘13, and also headlines WWE 2K26’s 2K Showcase.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Journalist Don Lemon and three other people were arrested Friday in connection with an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church and increased tensions between residents and federal officials.

Lemon was arrested by federal agents in Los Angeles, where he had been covering the Grammy Awards, his attorney Abbe Lowell said. It is unclear what charge or charges Lemon and the others are facing in the Jan. 18 protest at the Cities Church in St. Paul where a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor.

Lemon, who was fired from CNN in 2023, has said he has no affiliation to the organization that went into the church and that he was there as a journalist chronicling protesters.

“Don has been a journalist for 30 years, and his constitutionally protected work in Minneapolis was no different than what he has always done,” Lowell said in a statement. “The First Amendment exists to protect journalists whose role it is to shine light on the truth and hold those in power accountable.”

Attorney General Pam Bondi posted on social media Friday morning confirming the arrest of Lemon and the others who were present during the protest.

“At my direction, early this morning federal agents arrested Don Lemon, Trahern Jeen Crews, Georgia Fort, and Jamael Lydell Lundy, in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota,” Bondi said.

Since he left CNN, Lemon has joined the legion of journalists who have gone into business for himself, posting regularly on YouTube. He hasn’t hidden his disdain for President Donald Trump. Yet during his online show from the church, he said repeatedly: “I’m not here as an activist. I’m here as a journalist.” He described the scene before him, and interviewed churchgoers and demonstrators.

A magistrate judge last week rejected prosecutors’ initial bid to charge the veteran journalist. Shortly after, he predicted on his show that the administration would try again.

“And guess what,” he said. “Here I am. Keep trying. That’s not going to stop me from being a journalist. That’s not going to diminish my voice. Go ahead, make me into the new Jimmy Kimmel, if you want. Just do it. Because I’m not going anywhere.”

Fort, an independent journalist, livestreamed the moments before her arrest Friday on Facebook Live.

“I don’t feel like I have my First Amendment right as a member of the press because now the federal agents are at my door arresting me for filming the church protest a few weeks ago,” Fort said.

It was not immediately clear if Fort and the two other Minnesotans who were arrested have attorneys.

The arrests brought sharp criticism from news media advocates and civil rights activists. The Rev. Al Sharpton said the Trump administration was taking a “sledge hammer” to “the knees of the First Amendment.”

Kelly McBride, a senior vice president at the Poynter Institute, said the arrests and the recent search of a Washington Post journalist’s home were intended to intimidate journalists documenting opposition to the president's policies.

In an Instagram post, the National Association of Black Journalists said it was “outraged and deeply alarmed" by Lemon's arrest. The group called it an effort to "criminalize and threaten press freedom under the guise of law enforcement.”

Crews is a leader of Black Lives Matter Minnesota who has led many protests and actions for racial justice, particularly following George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis in 2020.

After Trump administration officials said earlier this month that arrests would be coming in the church protest, Crews told The Associated Press there’s a “tradition” of Black activists and leaders being targeted or subjected to violence.

“Just as being a Black person, you always have to have that in mind,” Crews said.

A prominent civil rights attorney and two other people involved in the protest were arrested last week. Prosecutors have accused them of civil rights violations for disrupting the Cities Church service.

The Justice Department launched a civil rights investigation after the group interrupted services by chanting “ICE out” and “Justice for Renee Good,” referring to the 37-year-old mother of three who was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis.

Jordan Kushner, an attorney for Nekima Levy Armstrong, who was in the first group arrested, said the latest prosecutions "are beyond the pale."

"Nonviolent protest is not a federal felony,” Kushner said.

Lundy is an intergovernmental affairs manager in the office of Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty, and is married to St. Paul City Council Member Anika Bowie. Bowie and Moriarty could not be reached for comment.

Lemon briefly interviewed Lundy, who is also a candidate for state senate, as they gathered with protesters preparing to drive to the church.

“I feel like it’s important that if you’re going to be representing people in office that you are out here with the people,” he told Lemon, adding he believed in “direct action, certainly within the lines of the law.”

Cities Church belongs to the Southern Baptist Convention and lists one of its pastors as David Easterwood, who leads ICE's St. Paul field office.

“We are grateful that the Department of Justice acted swiftly to protect Cities Church so that we can continue to faithfully live out the church’s mission to worship Jesus and make him known,” lead pastor Jonathan Parnell said Friday in a statement.

“Make no mistake. Under President Trump’s leadership and this administration, you have the right to worship freely and safely,” Bondi said in a video posted to social media on Friday. “And if I haven’t been clear already, if you violate that sacred right, we are coming after you.”

Associated Press reporters Dave Bauder and Aaron Morrison in New York City; Giovanna Dell'Orto, Tim Sullivan, Steve Karnowski and Jack Brook in Minneapolis; and Josh Funk in Omaha, Nebraska, contributed.

FILE - Don Lemon arrives at THR's Empowerment in Entertainment Gala at Milk Studios, April 30, 2019, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, FILE)

FILE - Don Lemon attends the 15th annual CNN Heroes All-Star Tribute at the American Museum of Natural History, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2021, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)