Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

Pre-order WWE 2K23 now and play it 3 days before its release date

By Noah McGraw March 8, 2023

John Cena stands on a ramp in WWE 2K23.

Get ready to enter the ring! WWE 2K23 is getting released on March 17, but there’s an easy trick to get access to the full game three days early, on March 14. If you buy the Icon Edition or the Deluxe Edition of the game, you’ll get early access to the full game on March 14. WWE has used this tactic before, and it must be paying off. Hardcore WWE fans can’t wait to get their hands on the new game. Read on to hear about the differences between the base game, the Icon Edition and the Deluxe Edition, and why you’ll want to get it as soon as you can.

Why you should buy WWE 2K23 Icon or Deluxe Edition

WWE fans know the last few games have sort of been duds, but there’s reasons to get excited for the newest entry. John Cena is the focus this time around. WWE 2K23 got a lot of subtle tweaks that improve the physics, gameplay and overall feel. Our WWE 2K23 preview noted that its new WarGames mode, a variation on the classic Showcase mode, is ripe for epic, stand-ovation type moments involving tag team table smashing and out-of-the-ring action. If you’ve put the hours into 2K22, you’ll feel right at home, as the controls haven’t changed much, but you’ll appreciate the subtle upgrades.

What about the different packages, Icon and Deluxe? The obvious reason to spring for either one is that you’ll get access to the game on March 14, three days before it’s officially released. But what are the other benefits? Deluxe Edition costs $100 and includes several card packs for the myFACTION mode, including Bianca Belair, Asuka and Edge. You’ll also get the Season Pass and the Supercharge pack, which unlocks all the WWE throwback and Legends arenas. The Icon Edition costs $120 and includes all of that and more, including the Ruthless Aggression pack that has throwback John Cena, Randy Orton, Batista and Brock Lesnar.

If you’re a WWE super fan, you’ll want the Icon Edition. If you mostly want to play WWE 2K23 a few days earlier than your friends, grab the Deluxe Edition. Either way, you’ll want to pre-order the game now at Best Buy so you can step into the ring as soon as possible.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Deals

Gaming

I tried 3 of Remnant 2’s classes and already have a clear favorite

Three characters shoot at a boss in Remnant 2.

When starting a new Soulslike game, I’m always faced with a make-or-break decision immediately: my class selection. There’s nothing worse than getting 20 hours into something like Elden Ring and realizing that the class I’ve chosen just doesn’t match my playstyle at all. So I’m glad that I’ve already sorted that out with Remnant 2, the upcoming sequel to Remnant: From the Ashes.

I went hands-on with the shooter at this year’s Game Developers Conference, trying out three classes as I attempted to gun down an ultra-tough boss. While I initially struggled to make a dent in my playthrough with my first two characters, I’d eventually wipe the floor with my enemies when I tried out the sequel’s new Handler class. Though, maybe that’s a little inaccurate: My cute, deadly dog companion did most of the heavy lifting. That experience has me much more intrigued by the Soulslike shooter, as a major overhaul to the original’s class system is already clicking with me.
New archetypes
Like its predecessor, Remnant 2 is a third-person shooter that draws inspiration from the Soulslike genre. You’ve got your high-difficulty, bonfire-like checkpoints, evasion rolls, and enormous bosses on the other side of foggy doors. The difference, though, is that the focus is on gunplay rather than close-ranged melee combat. Remnant 2 continues all of that, but the big change this time is in how it's handling character classes. While each archetype is still built around a specific set of weapons, they come loaded with more skills and perks that are gradually unlocked through a progression system.

Gaming

The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom: release date, trailers, preorder, and more

Link on island in the sky in The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom.

When Nintendo released the teaser trailer for Breath of the Wild 2 several years ago, it unleashed a whirlwind of rumors and speculation about a sequel to one of the best Zelda games. Thankfully, Nintendo has given us a few new glimpses into what we now know will be called The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, which is finally nearing its release in 2023. As anticipation reaches a new high, we've dug up all the information there is about our next adventure in Hyrule.

Further reading

Gaming

How to get the Punisher in Resident Evil 4

The punisher stats and details.

Leon's arsenal of weaponry in the Resident Evil 4 remake includes all the fan favorites from the original. While you begin the game with just a single pistol, you will quickly find and unlock a wide range of weapons to not only purchase, but also invest upgrades into. One such returning handgun is the Punisher. This is a powerful gun you can get your hands on early if you play your cards right, but in a different way than it was obtained in the original version. If you want to experiment with all the guns at Leon's disposal, here's how you can add the Punisher to your attaché case in Resident Evil 4 remake.
Where to get the Punisher

In the original Resident Evil 4, you got the Punisher for free simply by shooting all of the Blue Medallions in the Farm area of the game. Unfortunately, while you will still earn some useful cash for shooting them all in the remake, you won't be getting a free gun out of the deal. This time, starting in Chapter 2, the Merchant will start offering to sell the Punisher to you for 5 Spinels.