THQ (Nordic) and Yukes are back in the wrestling biz with AEW: Fight Forever

All Elite Wrestling has exploded within the pro-wrestling world over the last few years, and now it’s getting a video game with Fight Forever.

One-winged angel

“One of the first things I did after signing with AEW was to ask Tony Khan to let me help assemble the best gaming team on the planet, to make the best wrestling game ever,” said Kenny Omega, EVP of AEW and former AEW World Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion. “Well, we just landed the perfect finisher by partnering with global publishing and distribution powerhouse THQ Nordic for AEW: Fight Forever. The THQ brand has long been synonymous with wrestling games – there is simply no more qualified partner to bring AEW: Fight Forever to the millions of wrestling fans the world over.”

Kenny Omega, EVP of AEW and former AEW World Champion and AEW World Tag Team Champion

Yep, they’re back. It’s definitely exciting to get a game based on AEW, wrestling’s smash-hit new company. But it might be even more exciting to get a new game from the tandem of THQ Nordic and Yukes.

After all, many a fan-favorite WWE title was published under the name THQ (no “Nordic” then), and developed at Yukes. That was before a whole roller-coaster of closings and dev-changes led to that company’s current arrangement. But to see the original pairing together again, well it’s pretty slick.

And as you can see from the teaser for Fight Forever, it’s not lost on the parties involved.

A bit of the ol’ nostalgia

YUKE’S president and CEO Yukinori Taniguchi said “I am both gratified and excited to have the opportunity to work with AEW – who is breathing new life into the pro wrestling industry – and the THQ Brand, with whom we have created an entire era of pro wrestling games. Using the expertise we have cultivated over the years, we are taking on this project with the ultimate staff from the YUKE’S Development Team in order to recreate AEW’s appeal within a video game to the highest degree. We hope that fans will enjoy experiencing the most cutting-edge technology, and the next evolution, in pro wrestling gaming.”

“Kenny’s incredible vision for AEW: Fight Forever is informed by his wrestling pedigree both inside the ring and on the controller,” said Executive Producer Reinhard Pollice, THQ Nordic. “Combine that vision with YUKES’ unparalleled wrestling game development history is resulting in an AEW experience that draws heavily on the arcade feel that first won wrestling gamer hearts more than two decades ago.”

Yukinori Taniguchi, YUKE’S president and CEO

While this is all great news, as you can see it’s also a little light on the details. THQ Nordic hasn’t released very much yet in terms of what players can expect when they finally get the game.

What we do know though, is that Fight Forever will offer up “A long roster of the most popular AEW wrestlers, deep career mode, create-a-wrestler, signature AEW arenas, multiple match types and even some good ol’ fashioned, unsanctioned fun…”. And that’s on top of what sounds like a pretty interesting focus on tag team wrestling.

Not that it’s the point of the whole game, but the press release made special mention of online tag bouts. AEW: Fight Forever will include a spotlight on those, with “Tag Team matches that feature sequences of team maneuvers performed with simple commands”. Could be very interesting indeed.

For now, here’s what’s been confirmed as goes the rest of the experience:

• Match Types
  • Single Matches
  • Tag-Team
  • 3-Way
  • 4-Way
  • Ladder Matches
  • Casino Battle Royale
  • Falls Count Anywhere
  • Unsanctioned Lights-Out (allows use of weapons)
  • Exploding Barbed Wire Death Matches
• Career Mode
• Wide Range of Customization Modes
  • Custom Wrestlers (attire and appearance)
  • Custom Move-Sets
  • Custom Entrances
  • Custom Teams
  • Custom Arenas
• Online Multiplayer
• Leaderboards

There’s no release date yet for AEW: Fight Forever, though when it does hit retail, you can expect to see it arrive for the Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, PC… and Nintendo Switch. Yes, handheld grappling is indeed back.