WWE 2K17: Release Date, Cover Art and Special Edition Info

WWE 2K17 enters the wild October 11 as one of the most anticipated sport video game releases in some time.

The team at 2K Sports hasn't held back on the festivities surrounding the release after years of taking the WWE franchise to new heights after an overhaul.

With a stellar career mode in place and unmatched gameplay, it's all about tapping into the deep history of the company to craft an incredible roster.

Cross-promotional star Brock Lesnar graces the cover of the epic offering:

2K Sports has gone out of its way to provide fans with plenty of options, both in-game and when it comes to the options available through pre-order bonuses and special editions.

WWE.2K.com detailed the pre-order bonuses:

Those who reserve their game before release get playable versions of Goldberg, the former WCW powerhouse who still remains one of the most popular wrestlers in history and quite the adversary for Lesnar.

The season pass grants accelerators for unlockable content, as well as packs featuring moves and characters from the past and those helping to define the future.

As one can see at the game's official website, the deluxe edition comes with the bonuses listed in the season pass as well as a MyPlayer Kick Start.

Perhaps more interesting, though, is the NXT Edition. The epic idea capitalizes on the popularity of Full Sail University, currently run by one Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura. It offers bonuses such as a lithograph autographed by Nakamura, a Finn Balor figurine and Topps NXT TakeOver cards.

The roster is where most who want the game will spend their time. Rest assured the list is impressive—and it happens to include Sasha Banks this time. As one can see from an image above, features like the Future Stars Pack include up-and-comers such as Mojo Rawley and Tye Dillinger.

Fans of the series know what to expect from the gameplay itself. Always a force in revolutionizing career modes in sports games, 2K Sports has done it again this year with MyCareer mode, where users will get to experience what it's like to work with mastermind Paul Heyman, the guy backing Brock Lesnar (and at one point guys named CM Punk and Curtis Axel). 

Given the depth of the wrestler creator, fans shouldn't have any problems getting themselves in the game. It's a comprehensive system that continues to grow under the power of next-generation consoles.

The gameplay itself has refinements and tweaks this year lending to a more realistic experience. One can see from videos that momentum plays a bigger role than ever, just like in real life. Opportunistic users can turn the tide at critical moments with counters, making no encounter a mismatch. 

Pair the gameplay with an incredible roster and 2K17 has it all. Those dream matches? The roster makes it all possible, with legends such as Eddie Guerrero and some of the biggest names in industry history getting a spot on the roster.

Call WWE 2K17 the total package. After taking over a few years ago, 2KSports has brought a big-fight feel to the wrestling franchise in the same way it revolutionized sports games with the NBA 2K17 series. With the power of the past and incredible future to lean on, this year's offering has something for everyone while standing as the most comprehensive and realistic wrestling game to date.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.