2K has reversed course on its Ringside Pass monetization strategy for WWE 2K26, responding to mounting criticism from players who objected to the grind required to unlock premium roster additions.
The company announced the changes in patch 1.07, which introduces a significant shift in how the battle pass operates going forward. Starting with Season 2—set to launch alongside WrestleMania—all four premium wrestlers will unlock immediately upon purchase rather than requiring players to complete all 40 tiers of progression. Additionally, 2K has reduced the XP needed to advance each tier from 800 to 625 points, with a commitment not to increase that figure in the future.
The original system had proven unpopular because paying customers still faced dozens of hours of gameplay to access characters they'd already purchased through the premium track. The Ringside Pass, which costs $9.99 per season or $49.99 annually, replaced the traditional approach of offering DLC packs with immediate character access.
What's Included Going Forward
As a goodwill gesture, players who logged in before April 14 received 20 free tiers of XP. Season 1 featured El Hijo Del Vikingo, Flammer, Mr. Iguana, and Psycho Clown, while Season 2 will bring Ax, Smash, Crush, and Kelly Kelly.
The publisher confirmed a full roster roadmap for future seasons:
Season 3 (June): Matt Cardona, Torrie Wilson, Brian Pillman, La Parka
Season 4 (July): Jeff Hardy, Matt Hardy, Jelly Roll, Lady Shani
Season 5 (September): Danhausen, Bam Bam Bigelow, Brie Bella, Pagano
Season 6 (October): Earthquake, Typhoon, Royce Keys, Octagon Jr.
Patch 1.07 also addresses a substantial list of gameplay and stability fixes across multiple modes, including adjustments to stamina costs, reversal mechanics, and fixes for the creation suite that had been causing soft locks and display issues.
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