WWE 2K26 is implementing a major change to its downloadable content model with the introduction of the Ringside Pass system, which replaces the traditional Season Pass approach used in previous games.

The new system features both free and premium tiers, with players earning Ringside Experience Points (RXP) across various game modes to unlock rewards. Unlike previous WWE 2K titles where DLC characters were immediately accessible upon purchase, the Ringside Pass requires players to progress through tiers to unlock content. Online custom lobbies do not reward RXP.

1. Battle Pass Format: Six seasons release every seven weeks from March through October, each with 40 tiers offering 120 total rewards (60 free, 60 premium).

2. Earn Through Gameplay: Win matches across Play Now, Universe, MyRISE, Showcase, MyGM, MyFACTION, and The Island to earn RXP. Requires online connection.

3. DLC Characters Unlock Progressively: First DLC superstar unlocks automatically, three more unlock in tiers 1-20. Four new superstars per season totaling 24+ characters.

4. Seasons Never Expire: Switch between active seasons anytime. Complete Season 1, jump to Season 2, or go back and forth freely.

How the Ringside Pass Works

Each Ringside Pass season contains 120 total rewards split across 40 tiers. The free track offers 60 rewards including in-game unlockable superstars and legends previously available through the paid WWE 2K Supercharger feature. The premium track provides an additional 60 rewards, including four brand-new DLC superstars not available in the base roster, along with Create-a-Superstar parts, Island taunts, personas, and more.

Players earn RXP by competing in matches across most game modes, requiring an online connection. Game modes that award RXP include Play Now, Universe, MyRISE, Showcase, MyGM, MyFACTION, and The Island. Players can also earn RXP through online matchmaking, though custom online lobbies do not reward progression. Winning matches grants more RXP than losing, while completing challenges—some repeatable and others one-time milestone rewards—provides extra RXP to accelerate leveling.

The first DLC superstar in each premium season unlocks automatically upon purchase, while the remaining three become available within the first 20 tiers. Tiers 21-40 typically feature persona characters and other customization content. Players who purchase the premium track can optionally buy tier skips for immediate access to rewards, though 2K has not disclosed pricing for this feature.

The Ringside Pass announcement has generated significant backlash from the WWE 2K community. The official WWE Games announcement post on X accumulated over 200,000 views but drew 225 quote tweets and 443 replies, with top critical responses garnering hundreds to thousands of likes.

The primary complaint centers on players purchasing premium editions priced between $100-$150 still needing to grind through tiers or pay additional money for tier skips to access DLC content they've already purchased.

Many fans view this as "double-dipping" where they pay for content upfront but must either invest significant time or spend more money to actually use it.