Take-Two CEO Zelnick added as playable character in WWE 2K26

Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick has been added as a surprise playable character in the wrestling video game WWE 2K26. The executive was included in a game update that launched the title's third season of content.

Zelnick, who leads the parent company of game publisher 2K, is depicted as a cruiserweight wrestler with an overall rating of 77. This places him above several established, real-world professional wrestlers featured in the game, including William Regal and a version of Eddie Guerrero. His addition was not highlighted in official patch notes but was discovered by players upon the update's release.

The character comes with a significant amount of bespoke detail. His entrance is set to the Frank Sinatra standard "My Way," which is reportedly licensed exclusively for his use and cannot be applied to other created wrestlers. Game announcers Michael Cole and Wade Barrett have recorded new commentary lines specifically for Zelnick, referencing his corporate role with lines such as, "Strauss Zelnick has crossed over from the boardroom to the squared circle."

The unexpected addition follows recent public comments from Zelnick about the WWE 2K series. In an interview, he...