WWE 2k22 Developer Explains Why In-Game Characters Look So Realistic

Unlike the previous installment of 2k in the WWE franchise, 2k20, the new release WWE 2K22 has amassed a relatively positive response from gamers and wrestling fans alike.

2K made an incredible product from adding GM mode to incorporating reversal system and at the same time, creating both men’s and women’s career modes with multiple storylines. Not to mention that the active roster in the game looks as realistic as possible.

“We strive to make sure the likenesses of the WWE Superstars are as accurate as possible,” said Lynell Jinks, Creative Director speaking on behalf of the WWE 2K22 Development Team. “That’s the beauty of using photogrammetry; it is a digital replica of someone’s likeness.”

If games have characters based on real life people, the in-game model, especially the facial appearances end up looking creepy and not quite right in an attempt to render them as close as possible to their real-life counterparts.

That being said, in WWE 2k22, the characters exhibit facial characteristics incredibly close to the wrestlers they are modeled after. This is because 2k developers custom-built a new scanning rig in a trailer for the explicit purpose of getting the most accurate Superstar likenesses possible.

“It’s wild to see what goes into it, and they really do capture your facial expressions,” WWE Superstar Rhea Ripley says in a statement to the outlet. “They [in-game characters] really look like the Superstars they’re supposed to be”

As per complex, the scanning rig has had twice the number of cameras and double the resolution from the prior machine. Additionally, the team also built a new lighting array inside the trailer, which allowed them to separate skin properties into different components, adding to the realistic surface textures.

“Now, we also have techniques that can either enhance or tone down a model based on how they were scanned,” Jinks added. “For example, if someone was scanned with a scowl or smirk, even though that’s part of their character trait, we need to capture a neutral expression and let our animators breathe that character into the performances in the game.”

WWE 2k22 is available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC. The game also features several released superstars by WWE. For more information fans can visit the game’s official website.

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