WWE SmackDown ! video game series WWE SmackDown ! ( formerly WWF SmackDown ! ) is a series of professional wrestling video games released by THQ . The franchise takes its name from World Wrestling Entertainment ' s weekly Friday night ( previously Thursday night ) TV show of the same name . The game is developed by Japanese game developer YUKE ' s Future Media Creators , who had previously developed the popular " Toukon Retsuden " series of Japanese wrestling games . In Japan , the series is known as Exciting Pro Wrestling . The series as a whole has sold quite well , with WWE claiming total sales in excess of 26 million units for the whole series . After " SmackDown ! vs . RAW " , the series took a shift of focus from its original arcade - like roots to more of a realistic wrestling simulation game . With this shift , the next game in the series was called " SmackDown ! vs . RAW 2006 " matching the naming scheme of other sports games such as " Madden NFL " and the " FIFA Series " . Background . WWE SmackDown ( formerly trademarked as WWE SmackDown ! and known as WWF SmackDown ! ) is a series of professional wrestling video games published by THQ , based on World Wrestling Entertainment ' s television program , WWE Friday Night SmackDown ! . Games in the series are primarily developed by the Japanese based company , Yuke ' s Future Media Creators . The original series was produced from 2000 through 2003 , and was titled under the SmackDown name , while the present series , which has been produced since 2004 , is titled SmackDown vs . Raw . The series was published by Yuke ' s and known as Exciting Pro Wrestling in Japan until 2005 . Following SmackDown vs . Raw 2007 , THQ took over as the Japanese publisher and the series adopted the western name . Initially , the series was exclusive to PlayStation video game consoles , and was featured in all of the seventh generation consoles by 2008 . The SmackDown ! series is among the best - selling video game franchises with 37 million copies shipped as of 2008 . The game engine for the series is based on that used by the Japanese professional wrestling video game series , Toukon Retsuden and Rumble Roses , a fictional professional wrestling series , both developed by Yuke ' s . THQ and YUKE ' s Future Media Creators consider one reason the series has remained so popular is due to series bringing " WWE programming to life through a host of key new features , extensive rosters with WWE ' s most popular Superstars , incredible graphics and engaging action in and beyond the ring . " Games . Original Series . The first four games in the series were each titled after one of The Rock ' s catchphrases . " Here Comes The Pain " was named after Tazz ' s catchphrase in reference to Brock Lesnar . Following " Here Comes The Pain " , taglines were phased out . " WWF SmackDown ! " . The first installment of the series was released for the PlayStation ( PS1 ) in North America on February 29 , 2000 and in Europe on March 9 , 2000 . It was released in Japan as " Exciting Pro Wrestling " on August 3 , 2000 . The game was the first PlayStation WWF game to be released by THQ , who had recently secured the license to release WWF games . Its fast , arcade - style gameplay were different from past slower paced WWF games . The game also featured the first extensive Season Mode in a WWF game , in which the player was allowed to participate in WWF storylines . The second installment was released on the PS1 in North America on November 19 , 2000 , and later in Japan , as " Exciting Pro Wrestling 2 " , on January 25 , 2001 . The game is generally considered by fans of the series to be superior to its predecessor , with its vastly increased roster of wrestlers , backstage areas , matches , and improved Season Mode . However , this game has was criticized for having long loading times in comparison to the first Smackdown game . " WWF SmackDown ! Just Bring It " . The third installment was released on the PS2 on November 18 , 2001 . It was the first American wrestling game released for the PlayStation 2 ( PS2 ) . It also holds the distinction of being the first SmackDown ! game to feature semi - authentic wrestler ring entrances and the first entry in the series to allow players to walk around WWF backstage areas . Notable flaws about the game are its large use of Memory Card space , its Season Mode , which was criticized for being short and repetitive , the general lack of improvement in gameplay , poor but unintentionally hilarious commentary , and the fact that the roster did not include any members of the Alliance from WCW / ECW during the Invasion angle and was thus a source of dismay . It is , however , worth noting that it is the only game in the Smackdown series to allow tag team matches with 8 wrestlers in the ring at once . It came out January 24 , 2002 in Japan as Exciting Pro Wrestling 3 . All new copies of the game are now titled " WWE " SmackDown ! Just Bring It . " WWE SmackDown ! Shut Your Mouth " . The fourth installment of " SmackDown ! " was the first released on the PS2 after the World Wrestling Federation ( WWF ) changed their name to World Wrestling Entertainment ( WWE ) . It was released in the United States on Halloween , October 31 , 2002 , November 15 , 2002 in Europe , and February 6 , 2003 in Japan , as " Exciting Pro Wrestling 4 " . The game features an extensive roster of WWE stars , including Hulk Hogan , an improved Season Mode which includes storylines involving the nWo and a wide variety of unlockable features . Also notable is the game ' s soundtrack , which includes licensed theme music for several wrestlers ; " Voodoo Child ( Slight Return ) " by Jimi Hendrix ( Hollywood Hulk Hogan ' s theme ) and " Also sprach Zarathustra " ( Ric Flair ' s theme ) . On the cover was then - SmackDown ! superstar Triple H and others on the same roster . " WWE SmackDown ! Here Comes the Pain " . The fifth installment of the series is considered by some fans to be one of the best American - produced wrestling games , and by others the best wrestling game of all time . It was released on the PS2 on October 27 , 2003 in North America , November 7 , 2003 in Europe , and January 29 , 2004 in Japan as " Exciting Pro Wrestling 5 " . The game introduced a more traditional grappling system while retaining the series ' s fast gameplay . Smackdown Vs . Raw Series . " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW " . The sixth installment of the series is " SmackDown ! vs . RAW " . This installment features a highly increased polygon count for characters , a " Create - a - PPV " mode , a " Create - a - Belt " mode , the " Parking Lot Brawl " and Internet play many felt was lacking in " Here Comes the Pain " and a widely disappointing smaller roster of roughly 45 wrestlers . However , the lack of current superstars is countered by an increased amount of legends , including Mankind , The Rock and Bret Hart . This installment of the franchise has generally been seen by game critics as a " transition game " for the series offering little in the way of innovation . The game was released on the PS2 on November 9 , 2004 . " WWE SmackDown ! vs . RAW 2006 " . The seventh installment in the series brought out a more realistic approach to gameplay . New features included a momentum meter , interactive backstage settings , stamina rating and a General Manager mode , and for the first time ever a Buried Alive match . In North America , the game was released on the PS2 on November 15 , 2005 and released on the PSP December 5 , 2005 . " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2007 " . The eighth installment of the series is the first game in the " SmackDown ! " franchise to be included on the Xbox 360 as well as the PS2 and PSP . A PlayStation 3 ( PS3 ) edition was planned but eventually cancelled . New features for the game include a more interactive fighting environment , including fighting within the crowd , high impact combination moves , and a new analog control grappling system . The Money in the Bank ladder match type was also added to this installment . In North America , the game was released on all consoles on November 14 , 2006 . " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 " . IGN posted screenshots and videos of WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2008 and so far Bobby Lashley , Triple H , Undertaker , Kane , Randy Orton , Rey Mysterio , Chris Masters , and John Cena are confirmed as playable superstars . It will also be the first WWE game to be released on the PlayStation 3 as well as the Nintendo DS and Wii as reported on WWE . com . It will also be on Xbox 360 , PlayStation 2 , and PlayStation Portable as well as mobile phones . It will be the first in the series to feature the revived ECW brand . " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2009 " . The latest installment of the newer game series with more matches and more superstars . It was featured on the Wii , Xbox 360 , PS3 , PS2 , and Nintendo DS as well as bringing back the ECW chapter featured in SVR 2008 . " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2010 " . Released in 2009 for the PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , PSP , Xbox 360 , DS , Mobile & Wii " WWE SmackDown vs . Raw 2011 " . Released in 2010 for the PlayStation 2 , PlayStation 3 , PSP , Xbox 360 & Wii WWE Series . " WWE ' 12 " . Released in 2011 for PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360 & Wii " WWE ' 13 " . Released in 2012 for PlayStation 3 , Xbox 360 & Wii " WWE 2K14 " . Released in 2013 for PlayStation 3 & Xbox 360 " WWE 2K15 " . Released in 2014 for PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox 360 & Xbox One " WWE 2K16 " . Released in 2015 for PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox 360 & Xbox One " WWE 2K17 " . Released in 2016 for PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , Xbox 360 & Xbox One Commercials . The Rock , Kurt Angle , Chris Jericho , Brock Lesnar , Torrie Wilson , Stacy Keibler , Rey Mysterio , Batista , and Triple H have filmed commercials for the " SmackDown ! " games . The Rock did the first one ( with Various WWF Superstars such as D ' Lo Brown , Edge , Debra and Kane ) , Kurt Angle did the second , Jericho did the third , Lesnar did both the fourth and fifth ( Shawn Michaels , Chris Benoit , and Torrie Wilson were also featured in the fifth commercial ) , and Wilson and Keibler did the sixth as fighting over which feature ( voice over and online mode ) is better . ( John Cena ' s theme was featured in the commercial , but no actual superstars were featured for the seventh commercial ) . In the eighth commercial Triple H , Torrie Wilson , Rey Mysterio , John Cena and Batista were featured . Rosters . Since " Here Comes The Pain " , each game in the SmackDown ! series has included unlockable legend characters . The legends featured either former WWE Superstars such as André the Giant , Bret Hart and Ted DiBiase or old personas of a current Superstar such as The Undertaker from the early 1990s and Kane ' s masked attire . Only five playable characters have been featured in every game in the series up to and including " SmackDown vs . Raw 2007 " . They are Kane , Triple H , The Undertaker , The Rock , and Edge . Although The Rock has been in all of the games in the series so far , he has been featured as a legend and shown as his persona in the late 1990s rather than his current persona in the sixth and seventh installment , however in the eighth installment he is in his 2002 persona . The Big Show was not selectable in " Know Your Role " , but was in the game and playable through a GameShark . Vince McMahon has also appeared in each game , however he has not been a selectable wrestler since " Here Comes The Pain " , but Vince can be unlocked in " SmackDown ! vs . RAW 2006 " and " SmackDown vs . Raw 2007 " with the use of a cheat device . Fred Durst is the only celebrity to be a playable character in one of the games . He was a secret character in " Just Bring It " , and " Raw " for the " Xbox " .