The game will offer a roster of 120 characters

Jul 6, 2015 20:06 GMT  ·  By

Developer Yuke's and Visual Concepts and publisher 2K Sports are announcing that the official cover for the upcoming WWE 2K16 will feature Steve Austin, aka  Stone Cold, who was one of the best wrestlers of the era and is currently a fixture of the WWE Hall of Fame.

The choice is a little weird because the fighter has been retired since 2003 and there might be a big segment of the audience who might have wanted for the involved companies to focus on a wrestler who is still active.

Steve Austin states, "I figured I'd been gone for such a long time; it's been a while. To get that phone call and be on the cover of what is going to be the biggest, baddest video game that there's ever been, with the roster and all the technology, and to be out of the ring for so many years meant a whole lot to me."

It's unclear how the wrestler will be involved in the promotional effort for WWE 2K16.

Stone Cold Austin follows stars like Dwayne The Rock Johnson and John Cena on the cover of the series.

WWE 2K16 will include no less than 120 playable characters, the largest roster in the history of the franchise, and gamers will be able to use their favorite characters, both retired and current, in a variety of modes.

Wrestling fans will also be able to create their customized fighter

The game will include options for players to put together their own take on a wrestler, with unique characteristics, and then guide him through his career.

The development team says the various combat mechanics have been enhanced, allowing players to deliver more spectacular moves and to replicate many of the best real world moments that they associated with the spectacle of the WWE.

The initial 120 characters roster does not include DLC and the involved companies have suggested that they are planning to add a range of options post-launch.

WWE 2K16 will be launched on the Xbox One from Microsoft, the PlayStation 4 from Sony and older home consoles and will be offered in North America on October 27 and three days later in Europe.