WWE 2K26 has rolled out a new patch for most versions of the game, adding stability improvements to online connections and general gameplay, as well as clearing up one particularly irritating problem related to referees. This patch for version 1.05 of WWE 2K26 is out now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC, and Nintendo Switch 2 players can expect it to be arriving at a later date.
It’s been a little bit of a rough start for 2K and Visual Concepts since WWE 2K26‘s early access release on March 6. Professional review scores for the latest entry in the long-running wrestling series have taken a slight dip when compared to WWE 2K25, which is a trend that has persisted since 2023, but reactions from critics have still been generally positive. The same can’t be said for player-generated reviews, which, taken as a whole, reflect dissatisfaction with the game, in large part due to bugs and performance issues. As the game is still in its infancy and only hit its official release date on March 13, Visual Concepts’ post-launch team is hard at work fixing these issues, with these repairs making up the bulk of the latest patch.
WWE 2K26 is Currently Being Review Bombed
Frustrations with microtransactions, specifically the Ringside Pass, leads to WWE 2K26 undergoing a collective review bombing online.
WWE 2K26 Fixes Irritating Ref Issues
But one big issue players have been having with the game involves an apparent change to referees since WWE 2K25, and the new patch also addresses this issue. Some WWE 2K26 players have been complaining that referees tend to stand a little too close to the action in the latest entry, which has resulted in numerous disqualifications after inadvertent blows strike the striped-shirted match official. This problem has been reported to occur in a number of different ways, such as the game auto-locking onto the ref after an accidental bump and the ref standing between the player-controlled wrestler and their target during high-flying WWE moves off the top rope. The patch notes don’t go into major detail about changes to the referees, simply stating that the new update addresses “reported concerns over the referee placement during matches.”
If the latest patch still doesn’t satisfy players in fixing issues with referee placement, the game’s community has offered some advice as to ways that Visual Concepts could address the problem. Some fans have suggested that realistic slider settings for WWE 2K26 could be added to adjust referees’ actions in the ring, letting players control how aggressively they intervene in matches or how sensitive they are to being struck. Since WWE 2K26 features a wide variety of referees, including real-world WWE personalities, others have suggested that the game could feature different behaviors tied to individual refs, like the ones in AEW Fight Forever.
In addition to the ref issues, the latest patch also mentions some improvements to general stability and performance issues and upgrades to online stability. Currently, WWE 2K26 is the lowest rated game since WWE 2K20 in terms of player reviews, and that game was so ill-received by players that it resulted in an unprecedented year off from the series in 2021 since its start in 2014. WWE 2K26 is sitting at a 49 percent player satisfaction rating on Steam and a 3.0 out 0f 10 on MetaCritic, with many negative reviews bringing up online connectivity issues and gameplay problems like crashes and issues with the creation system.
Those aren’t the only obstacles Visual Concepts is facing in its uphill battle to connect with fans. A big chunk of the player community is reacting poorly to Ringside Pass, a seasonal battle pass structure that leaves a large percentage of the game’s massive roster locked behind an achievement wall, even for fans who shelled out close to $150 for the Monday Night War Edition. A previous WWE 2K26 patch, which was released just two days before the game’s full launch, tried to alleviate those issues by giving players more RXP rewards per match and discouraging quick-grinding exploits, but the post-launch reviews make it seem that more adjustments will be needed to satisfy the players.
WWE 2K26: Patch Notes 1.05
This update is live on March 18 for PS5, Xbox Series X, and Steam, and will come to Nintendo Switch 2 at a later date.
General
- Stability and Performance improvements
Gameplay
- Addressed reported concerns over the referee placement during matches
Online
- Released
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March 12, 2026
- ESRB
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Teen / Blood, Language, Suggestive Themes, Violence, In-Game Purchases (Includes Random Items), Users Interact
