WWE 2K17: Top Gameplay Videos and Comments from WWE Superstars

The wait for WWE 2K17 is over.

While not as bad as, say, waiting for the Daniel Bryan payoff against The Authority a few years ago, taunts of the game's arrival have peppered fans of the series more often than Kevin Owens verbally assaults his in-ring opponents.

An annual release boasting graphics and gameplay upgrades, seemingly endless customization options and a gigantic roster tends to invoke a strong sense of anticipation.

Alas, the game has arrived, and WWE shared a launch video featuring plenty of must-see gameplay:

At the launch party itself, several WWE superstars talked about the game and answered questions relating to it: 

Many wrestlers have already talked publicly about the game this year, with a few taking to social media to note how realistic their character models are.

Some of the notables include Stephanie McMahon:

One only has to visit the WWE Games' Twitter account to see what a hot topic WWE 2K17 is in the locker room, no matter where the shows travel.

In fact, many WWE superstars face off against each other on a regular basis in the virtual realm thanks to Xavier Woods’ UpUpDownDown YouTube channel.

Said virtual realm is a place where even WWE superstars can make dream matches come true. Bayley told Fox Sports' Nick Schwartz about one particular matchup she would love to make in the game.

"I have a few, but No. 1 that comes to mind right now would be…I would team with Macho Man, and we would take on Sasha Banks and Eddie Guerrero. If I were to have a match with Lita, I would make that a championship ladder match," Bayley said.

Not every superstar has been overjoyed by the game's launch, though. While trying it out backstage, Rusev wasn't too pleased about his overall rating:

Sarcasm (well, maybe) aside, it's not hard to see why superstars and droves of fans have already picked up a copy and entered the virtual WWE Universe.

Woods' YouTube channel posted a few videos before Sunday's No Mercy pay-per-view that show off strong gameplay. Within, fans of the series will notice smoother transitions and an uptick in the graphics department:

Another video—featuring what is quickly becoming a classic rivalry between John Cena and A.J. Styles—does much to show off the improved crowd reactions and chants as the two go at it: 

Several recent videos from the company show off several important areas as well.

For example, this one provides a refresher when it comes to controls:

The following two show the great lengths the development team has gone to when it comes to fan service, as brawling outside the ring and even in new environments has been one of the most requested features for years:

With the developers going out of their way to give users a better experience, it's no wonder the game has been such a hit backstage at WWE events with the Superstars themselves, even before the game entered the wild.

Given the obvious improvements in and outside the ring, along with a strong MyCareer mode and Creation Suite, WWE 2K17 reads like a checklist of requested features and necessary upgrades befitting an annual release.

Fans of WWE and the series can take charge of their own WWE Universe with the game now available.

Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.