WWE 2K26 Release Date, Cover and Details for CM Punk, Attitude Era and More Special Editions

The hotly anticipated pro wrestling video game release, WWE 2K26, arrives in March, featuring a laundry list of modes, Superstars, and match types for the die-hard WWE fans to participate in and utilize to create the ultimate gaming experience.

Reigning world champion CM Punk is featured on the cover of the standard edition of this year's release while Triple H is front and center on the King of Kings Edition and also features on the Attitude Era and Monday Night Wars editions, joining other prominent stars from the late 1990s.

Dive deeper into this year's special editions and learn more about the always popular Showcase feature with this preview.

Release Information

Release Date: March 6 (early release for premium editions), March 13 (standard edition)

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, Nintendo Switch 2

Pricing: $69.99 (Standard), $99.99 (King of Kings Edition), $129.99 (Attitude Era Edition), $149.99 (Monday Night War Edition)

Rating: ESRB T

Pre-Order Bonus: The Joe Hendry Pack (Joe Hendry, Joe Hendry My Faction EVO card, MySuperstar CAS Part: Joe Hendry T-Shirt, MySuperstar Island emote: Joe Hendry spin), early access, and virtual currency

Special Edition Information

King of Kings Edition

7-day early access

Full base game

Pre-order bonus

Joe Hendry pack

32,500 VC

Ringside press premium

King of Kings Edition pack

Attitude Era Edition

All of the King of Kings Edition perks

Superstar Mega Boost (100,000 VC and MyRise Mega-Boost)

Attitude Edition pack

Monday Night War Edition

All of the King of Kings Edition perks

All of the Attitude Edition perks

WrestleMania 42 pack (coming Summer of 2026)

Monday Night War Edition pack

Showcase Mode Featuring CM Punk

Not only is the world heavyweight champion the cover athlete on this year's standard edition, but he is the star of the Showcase feature in this year's release.

One of the most influential stars in the industry, The Best in the World has a rich history in WWE, dating back to his main roster debut in 2006 and some of his most important and iconic match-ups will be available to fans to play as they navigate through this year's mode.

Matches featured in Showcase include:

World Heavyweight Championship Match vs. JBL (SummerSlam 2008)

Intercontinental Championship Match vs. Rey Mysterio (Armageddon 2008)

vs. Randy Orton (WrestleMania 27)

vs. The Undertaker (WrestleMania 29)

WWE Championship Match vs. The Rock (Elimination Chamber 2013)

No. 1 Contender's Match vs. John Cena (Raw, February 2013)

No Disqualification Match vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2013)

Hell in a Cell vs. Drew McIntyre (Bad Blood 2023)

Netflix Debut vs. Seth "Freakin" Rollins (Raw, January 2025)

Triple Threat Match vs. Rollins and Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 41)

Those matches, among countless others, helped shape Punk into the industry icon that he is and the two-time WWE 2K cover athlete that he will be upon the game's release.

Still, despite a Hall of Fame-worthy career that has placed him opposite every major star of the last two decades, there are some matches we never saw play out in front of the WWE Universe. Those dream matches are represented in this year's Showcase mode, too.

vs. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin

vs. Eddie Guerrero

with AJ Lee vs. The Miz and Maryse

Wins come with prizes, too, in the form of unlockable content. The more you control Punk to victory through his journey, the more opportunity you have to unlock attires, legends, arenas, championships, and managers.

For a Superstar who was once believed to never return to WWE, the Best in the World is now in the midst of one of his best runs with the company, and his heavy involvement with this year's game is merely the latest accomplishment.