WWE ( video game series ) WWE ( formerly known as WWF / WWE SmackDown ! from 2000 to 2004 and WWE SmackDown vs . Raw from 2004 to 2011 ) is a series of professional wrestling video games developed by Yuke ' s and Visual Concepts and published by 2K Sports . The games in the series are based on the professional wrestling promotion WWE and feature professional wrestling match types , storylines and playable characters based on WWE programming . Originally named after WWE ' s " SmackDown " television program , the series was eventually renamed to add WWE ' s other major television show " Raw " to the title . In 2011 , THQ announced that the series would now be known as simply " WWE " starting with the release of " WWE ' 12 " . The series began with the release of " WWF SmackDown ! " in 2000 and originally remained exclusive to Sony ' s PlayStation consoles . After the release of 2004 ' s " WWE SmackDown ! vs . Raw " , the series expanded with yearly releases for various other consoles including the PlayStation Portable , Xbox 360 , Nintendo DS and Wii , as well as mobile devices . Yuke ' s had also released the games in Japan under the name " Exciting Pro Wrestling " . However , after " SmackDown vs . Raw 2006 " , THQ took over as the Japanese publisher and the Japanese releases adopted the western name . Reception of the series has been positive overall , and " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " was rated 31st and 28th ( Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 , respectively ) in IGN ' s " Top 100 Games " list . It is among the best - selling video game franchises , with 47 million copies shipped as of 2009 . After THQ ' s dissolution in January 2013 , it was reported that the publishing rights for the WWE video game series were acquired by Take - Two Interactive . Take - Two confirmed the acquisition in February , saying that it would also retain the services of Yuke ' s and the THQ staff that worked on the " WWE " series . Gameplay . When " WWE SmackDown v Raw 2007 " was released , new game mechanics were introduced , in which a new control scheme altered the grappling system of the game , called " Ultimate Control moves . " Unlike the previous games , where the player pressed two buttons to perform a grapple or an attack , players were able to place their opponents into a grapple position and then choose to perform a move by moving the directional buttons of their system ' s controller . For example , the player could place their opponent in a suplex grappling position and then either perform a normal suplex or an inverted suplex slam . Before the release of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " , in order for players to force a superstar to submit , they had to tap buttons to move a marker towards the end of the meter labeled " Submit " , and the only way for opponents to escape was for them to move the meter towards " Escape " . Included with the release of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " was a new submission system , in which the player had to move the analog sticks of their system ' s controller in different directions to force the opponent to submit , while the opponent could do the same to escape the submission hold . Every game in the " SmackDown vs . Raw " series used to have the amount of damage inflicted to the player ' s chosen superstar , measured with a meter on the HUD , where a design of a male figure presented the damage . As a move was performed against a superstar , the affected area of the body flashed — the more damage that is done to that specific body part , the more likely it is for the superstar to submit . Colors were used to represent the amount of damage done to a specific body area ; yellow represented minimal damage , orange represented moderate damage , and red represented maximum damage . This was however taken out of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2010 " . Now the only way to tell how damaged the opponent it is to watch their physical body actions that indicate how hurt they are . The more damage inflicted to opponents , the more likely it is for them to lose the match . There are four ways to win a match in every game : by pinfall , submission , knockout , countout ; alternatively , the match could end in a draw . With the introduction of an on - screen referee in " WWF SmackDown ! Just Bring It " , the ability to win by disqualification was also included . Included with the release of " WWE SmackDown ! vs . Raw " was the option of fighting " dirty " or " clean " . When players select " dirty " , the superstar is booed by the audience in the game ; conversely , the " clean " superstar is cheered by the audience . With the " dirty " or " clean " option comes the inclusion of performing a special maneuver when playing . Players using a " dirty " superstar must direct their superstar into building up their " dirty " meter by performing " dirty " tactics , such as attacking the referee or taking the pad off the ring ' s turnbuckle . Unlike performing dirty tactics , " clean " superstars build their meters by performing " clean " tactics , such as an aerial technique or performing a taunt . When " dirty " superstars ' meters build up , they are able to perform a signature low blow ; likewise , " clean " superstars can perform their signature move at double it ' s normal damage . With the release of " WWE SmackDown ! vs . Raw 2006 " was the inclusion of a stamina system , which was a measure of the superstars ' stamina . The stamina system was measured by a meter on the HUD ; the meter decreased when performing a variety of moves . The meter increases , however , when the player does nothing with the superstar or holds down a selected button that increased the stamina , which varied depending on the player ' s system . When the superstar ' s stamina was low , the wrestler reacted by moving slower when performing moves , walking , and running . If the meter decreased completely , the superstar fell to the ground until the meter increased . This system is disabled by default since " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " . The weak / strong grapple system from the past games was removed from " WWE ' 12 " onwards . Characters now perform different moves based on their opponent ' s current physical state . Players now have a window of opportunity to attack while still in a downed state and can also interrupt moves and Royal Rumble eliminations with attacks . Similarly , the pinning meter from the past games has been reworked to make it more difficult to kick out as a wrestler takes more damage . The game ' s artificial intelligence has also been adjusted to prevent players from overusing the same move . In addition , the ability to store finishing moves has returned . " Dynamic Comebacks " gives players on the verge of losing the opportunity to successfully hit a combination of moves to gain two finishing moves . New " wake up taunts " bring a downed opponent to their feet for a finishing move ( such as Randy Orton pounding on the ground before his RKO finishing maneuver ) . Players also have the ability to target specific limbs during matches and perform submissions through a " Breaking Point " submission minigame . OMG ! moments were introduced to " WWE ' 13 " . These are moves than can be performed in certain situations with certain superstars when a finisher is obtained . An example of this is Mark Henry superplexing the Big Show , making the ring break and the match stop . Better weight detection was implemented to " WWE ' 13 " , so the smaller Rey Mysterio can ’ t body slam the 500 pound Big Show . In fact , super heavyweights like Mark Henry or Show now have different frames to better capture their enormous size . Pinning is now not only influenced by damage , but the power of the move that was previously executed . In " WWE ' 13 " alongside selecting arenas , characters and the number of finishing moves available at the start of a match ( a new option , which can range from 0 to Infinite ) , players will be able to adjust a setting called ‘ Match Experience ’ . Three settings - “ Quick ” , “ Normal ” and “ Epic ” - will affect the overall pacing of a fight , independent of AI difficulty . Factors such as momentum , damage , enemy aggressiveness and even kick out and reversal rates will be affected . Season Mode / Road to WrestleMania / Attitude Era Mode . In the " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " series , the player was able to choose a " superstar " from a roster and compete in an arcade - like feature called season mode . In season mode , players direct their superstars through different career obstacles through a year of WWE programming to gain respect with other superstars and popularity among the fans . Like superstars from WWE , the superstars in the " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " series season mode are involved in storylines that affect their career in some way . Beginning with the release of " WWE SmackDown ! Shut Your Mouth " , the WWE Brand Extension has been included in season mode , and superstars are exclusive to one brand of WWE . A result of this feature is that the player ' s superstar may only wrestle superstars and compete for championships from the same brand on which he is a part of . In season mode , the player ' s superstar has the ability to earn and wrestle for a variety of championships based on actual WWE Championships . When superstars win championships , their respect and popularity increase , which also increases their involvement in main event matches . As the superstar ' s respect and popularity increases through the year of WWE programming , is becomes more likely for the player to achieve the main goal in season mode , which is to earn a World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania , the WWE ' s flagship pay - per - view event and the final stage in season mode . After the final stage , season modes begins again with the same superstar chosen before , though the player has the option of switching superstars . The superstar is then a part of the WWE Draft Lottery and is assigned to a brand . Season mode was replaced with Road to WrestleMania in " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " , and remained in the games until WWE ' 12 . In this mode , players could choose from superstars to play as in single - player or multi - player storylines . The difference is that each storyline is tailor made for the superstar the player chooses . This mode is a more authentic experience and less arcade - like than the former season mode was . Road to WrestleMania was replaced with Attitude Era Mode in WWE ' 13 . This single - player mode is an abridged recreation of a memorable time in sports entertainment , allowing players to journey through various storylines as eight of the most popular superstars of that time , including “ Stone Cold ” Steve Austin and Dwayne " The Rock " Johnson . The chapter - based saga moves through WWE ’ s struggle and eventual triumph during the “ Monday Night Wars , ” which saw the company on the brink of defeat at the hands of a powerful rival , WCW . Told from the perspective of the WWE during that period , matches and in - game cutscenes are supplemented by video packages assembled by WWE ’ s own editors . General Manager Mode / WWE 24 / 7 Mode . Starting with " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW 2006 " , a General Manager mode ( or GM Mode for short ) was introduced . It allowed the player to act as the General Manager of the Raw or Smackdown brands ( or ECW brand in " WWE SmackDown vs . RAW 2008 " ) . After choosing a brand , and selecting to participate in the WWE Draft , or using a defalt roster , you then start a calender year of hiring and managing Superstar and Divas , booking matches , establishing rivalries , and other options to try and win WWE fans to support your brand . You must manage finances , contract or release Superstars & try to make better matches than your rival brand . At the end of the year at WrestleMania , Vince McMahon will give " The General Manager of the Year " award to the show that was able to hold the most fans . In " WWE SmackDown vs . RAW 2008 " , Season mode and GM Mode was combined into one game mode called " WWE 24 / 7 Mode " . This basically allowed Superstars to train , make special appearances or other actions between matches during full calendar years . After achieving specific goals through the game , a percentage will increase of becoming a " WWE Hall of Famer / General Manager of the Year " winner , and the mode does not end until this percentage reaches 100 % . This mode was discontinued in " WWE SmackDown vs . RAW 2009 " . Universe mode . The series has had a " WWE Universe " mode since SmackDown vs . Raw 2011 which replaces the career mode from previous games . The mode builds storylines , and integrates cut scenes and rivalries between wrestlers based on the matches that are wrestled . These cut scenes appear randomly before , during , and after the match . Exhibition mode . Other than the season mode , every game features an exhibition mode , where different professional wrestling match types are available . Basic matches included in every game are " one - on - one " matches , where a player chooses one superstar to wrestle another bot operated or human operated superstar , or tag team matches , where a pair of superstars team together to face another team . These basic matches may also expand into six - man tag team matches or non - elimination type matches , which include four or more superstars . Besides basic matches , hardcore based matches are also included , such as the Steel Cage match , which has been included in every game , the Ladder match , the Elimination Chamber , which was first included with the release of " WWE SmackDown ! Here Comes the Pain " , and ECW Extreme Rules matches , which is basic hardcore wrestling based on the ECW brand of WWE ( which first appeared with the release of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " ) . Also included in every game is the Royal Rumble match , which is based on WWE ' s actual Royal Rumble match , in which a player chooses to compete as one superstar , and must wrestle against twenty - nine other superstars . Two recently new matches are the Inferno match , introduced in the 2009 game and the Championship Scramble introduced in the 2010 . This mode was renamed " Play " in " SmackDown vs . Raw 2010 " . Online gameplay . Starting with the release of " WWE SmackDown ! vs . Raw " , online gameplay was made available for players who had a Sony Network Adapter and a Sony PlayStation 2 . Online gameplay was kept at a minimum , as online players only had two game modes to compete in : one - on - one and a Bra and Panties match , in which a player competes as a WWE Diva and strips the opposition of her clothes , until she is left with only her undergarments . When " WWE SmackDown ! vs . Raw 2006 " was released , the online gameplay was changed , and players were able to compete in more match types , defend created championships , and compete with up to four players in each match . With the release of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " on the Xbox 360 console ( PS3 would not see this feature until " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " ) , players were able to select music from their system ' s hard disk drive into the video game , where the music can be used in superstars ' ring entrances . Roster . Every game in the " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " series includes a roster of " superstars " and " Divas " based on superstars who compete for WWE . Every year , WWE acquires new superstars and releases old superstars . As a result , every time a " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " game is released , the new superstars are added into the game and the old released superstars are removed from the game to reflect the changes in the actual WWE . From the release of " WWF SmackDown ! " to the release of " WWF SmackDown ! Just Bring It " , superstars were not divided into brands . In 2002 , the WWE split its entire roster into two brands of wrestling , called Raw and SmackDown ! , which were named after WWE ' s television shows . The WWE Brand Extension was first featured in " WWE SmackDown ! Shut Your Mouth " . In 2006 , WWE launched a new brand , called ECW , which was named after the original Extreme Championship Wrestling promotion . The new ECW brand was first featured in " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " . WWE holds an annual draft lottery , in which WWE superstars switch brands . The games in production when the draft occurs include the changes that take place in the draft . For example , when " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " was in production during June 2007 , the 2007 WWE Draft took place , and the draft changes were included in the video game . Another brand of wrestling included in the series is the legends program , which was first included with the release of " WWE SmackDown ! Here Comes the Pain " . Popular WWE alumni or members of the WWE Hall of Fame have been included since then under the legends program . This was featured up until the release of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " , as alumni and Hall of Fame members were not featured in " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " due to production of " WWE Legends of WrestleMania " . " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " was also the first game to feature characters as downloadable content . As of the release of the most recent versions roster announcement ( " WWE ' 13 " ) , the only superstars who have been selectable characters in each installment of the game are The Undertaker , Triple H , Kane , and Edge . Vince McMahon has also appeared in each game , although he was not always a playable member of the roster . Big Show and The Rock have appeared in all but one installment in the series . Create mode . The series features a create - a - superstar mode , where players are able to create their own wrestler , including their move set and ring entrances . The feature was introduced when " WWF SmackDown ! " was released in 2000 . As new games were released , the mode was altered ; the first change came with the release of " WWF SmackDown ! 2 : Know Your Role " , which featured a mode in which wrestler taunts could be created and customized . This was further modified in " WWE SmackDown ! Shut Your Mouth " , which enabled players to create the walking style of a wrestler . With the release of " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW 2006 " , the game first featured the ability for players to make an entrance for the created superstar . The feature was expanded with the release of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2007 " , as players could place pyrotechnics and special effects in any part of the superstar ' s entrance . As an addition to " SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " , a create a finisher mode was introduced where the player chooses up to 10 out of 500 animations combined to make their own personalised finisher . On The 360 and PS3 versions of " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2010 " , it is possible to change the colors of a featured superstar ' s attire , this new mode is known as " Superstar Threads " . In this game there is also a new creation mode giving players the ability to create their own storyline called " WWE Story Designer " . A new feature was added to " WWE ' 12 " called " Create - An - Arena " , which allows the player to customize up to 50 playable arenas in which to fight . Development . Every game in the " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " series has been developed by Yuke ' s and published by THQ . The game engine was originally based on the one used by the Japanese professional wrestling video game series " Toukon Retsuden " , which was also developed by Yuke ' s . Before the release of " WWE SmackDown ! vs . Raw " , the only communication possible in season mode was through subtitles . Voice over , however , was included in season mode with the release of " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW " . WWE superstars pre - record a script , which is then assigned to the voice of the corresponding superstar in the game . With the exception of " WWE SmackDown ! Here Comes the Pain " , pre - recorded commentary by WWE commentators has been included in each game since the release of " WWF SmackDown ! Just Bring It " . Yuke ' s studios in Yokohama , Japan worked with WWE writers to create storylines for the season modes of each " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " game . When " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2007 " was released for more than one console , Yuke ' s had to port their original game codes that make up each game mode and graphic designs to a new game engine that supported the new consoles . When new features are added to " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " games , developers have to create new gaming codes for the features . Along with the features , the developers have to test the game for any errors . An improvement done yearly by Yuke ' s with each release of a " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw " game is the polygon count for the 3D models of the superstars in each game . Reception . The original " WWF SmackDown ! " was one of the most popular games for the PlayStation console in 2000 , selling over 975 , 000 units for the PlayStation , and selling over one million copies in the United States . The game lost appeal due to the failing of a well - established season mode that was deemed " disappointing . " The season mode was criticized for the lack of in - depth storylines and the way superstars spoke in season mode , through " putrid lines " and " blocked text . " " " received a better reception than the first " WWE SmackDown " game , as IGN stated that season mode " actually works properly " , though the audio of the game was lacking as there was no commentary , and only generic music was included in the game . " WWF SmackDown ! Just Bring It " , according to IGN , did little to improve the season mode of the game , while GameSpot stated that the addition of audio commentary detracted from the playing experience . " WWE SmackDown ! Shut Your Mouth " and " WWE SmackDown ! Here Comes the Pain " received more positive reviews from both IGN and GameSpot , both of whom cited the expanded season mode as an improvement , although flaws were still visible in the mode . It improved from the previous three " WWF SmackDown ! " games , as it was written by actual WWE storyline writers . Both games also featured generic music , though the quality of it had improved . " Shut Your Mouth " featured little improvement to the commentary , which was then removed completely from " Here Comes the Pain " . " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW " received a more positive review than previous games , as GameShark stated that it was " a wonderful new edition to the SmackDown ! family , serving up slick graphics , vastly enhanced gameplay , and lots of other bells and whistles that make the whole package shine . " " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW 2006 " received a positive review and a 9 . 2 / 10 rating by IGN due to the additions of matches , the General Manager mode , and the ability to defend championships in exhibition mode . " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " received more negative reviews due to lack of an appealing season mode and little improvement of features , with the exceptions of the " Ultimate Control moves , " " Struggle system , " and the ECW Extreme Rules matches .