Take-Two Interactive CEO Strauss Zelnick appeared as a new playable character in WWE 2K26 following a Season 3 update released on June 3, 2026. The update also introduced wrestlers Terri Wilson and Brian Pillman to the game roster [1, 2].
Zelnick has an in-game rating of 77 and a personalized entrance featuring "My Way" by Frank Sinatra, a music track exclusive to his character and unavailable to other players [1, 2]. During his in-game entrance, announcers highlight Zelnick's career and trivia related to his role in the video game industry [2].
Zelnick is known for leading major game studios under Take-Two, including Rockstar Games and 2K, and serves as a key source of information on the anticipated game GTA 6 [1, 2]. He reportedly maintains an intense workout regimen, training 10 to 12 times per week, and has authored a wellness book titled "Becoming Ageless: The Four Secrets To Looking and Feeling Younger Than Ever" [1].
He expressed confidence in the WWE 2K franchise's potential, stating, "I do think there's ongoing opportunities to improve the quality of the game. I do think that we can give consumers more of what they want. And I know our team at Visual Concepts always wants to do better. We're never in the business of patting ourselves on the back. We believe that arrogance is the enemy of continued success. And I think that title could be double or triple the size" [1].
Take-Two did not officially announce Zelnick's addition in the patch notes or promotional materials for the update [1, 2]. The next update or major launch date for WWE 2K26 has not been disclosed.
