When I first heard about the implementation of online multiplayer in WWE 2K25's GM Mode, my excitement was palpable—finally, the feature we've been requesting for years had arrived. But after spending nearly 80 hours across multiple playthroughs, I've come to realize that what we got feels more like a prototype than a fully-realized competitive experience. The core concept remains brilliant: you're essentially playing fantasy booker, drafting wrestlers from a pool of over 200 superstars, creating weekly match cards, and managing resources to build the most successful wrestling promotion. Where Universe Mode leans into storytelling, GM Mode has always been about the numbers—ratings, milestones, and that all-important bottom line. The addition of online functionality should have been the feature that transformed this from a solid single-player experience into a truly competitive platform, but instead we got what feels like a half-measure that doesn't quite deliver on its potential.

Let me break down exactly where the online implementation falls short. First, the matchmaking system lacks any form of ranking or progression tracking—you're essentially playing disconnected matches without any sense of building toward something greater. In my testing, I played 15 separate online sessions, and each felt like starting from scratch rather than contributing to an ongoing competition. The drafting phase, which should be this incredibly strategic element where you're reading your opponent's moves and counter-drafting, instead feels rushed with a default 60-second timer that doesn't allow for the kind of thoughtful team building that makes the single-player version so compelling. There's no way to save draft configurations or return to previous states, meaning if you make one misstep in those frantic 60 seconds, you're stuck with a suboptimal roster for the entire 12-week season. What's particularly frustrating is that the framework for something spectacular is clearly there—the core mechanics of GM Mode translate beautifully to competitive play when you're actually in the season management phase.

The pattern prediction techniques I've developed through extensive playtesting have revealed some fascinating insights about the game's underlying systems. For instance, after tracking 350 individual matches across both online and offline modes, I discovered that wrestlers with momentum levels above 85% have a 72% higher chance of triggering special abilities during their matches. This becomes crucial when you're trying to maximize your weekly ratings against human opponents who are equally determined to counter your strategies. The AI in single-player GM Mode tends to follow somewhat predictable patterns—you can anticipate that the computer will prioritize certain match types during specific weeks or push particular superstars at recognizable intervals. Human opponents, by contrast, introduce beautiful chaos into the equation, but the current online implementation doesn't provide the tools needed to properly analyze and adapt to their strategies over time.

What's missing are the statistical tracking and review systems that would allow players to develop genuine prediction strategies. In a properly implemented competitive mode, I'd expect to see detailed post-match analytics showing exactly which decisions led to rating fluctuations, which superstar pairings generated the most audience engagement, and how my opponent's booking patterns evolved throughout the season. Instead, we get a barebones results screen that tells you who won but offers little insight into why or how you could improve for next time. The most successful prediction models in competitive gaming—whether in sports titles or strategy games—rely on robust data collection, and WWE 2K25's online GM Mode provides barely enough information to form educated guesses, let alone develop winning strategies.

I've found some workarounds through old-school methods—keeping a physical notebook beside me during online sessions to track my opponents' tendencies, preferred match types, and how they distribute their budget across different production categories. This manual tracking has revealed that opponents who invest heavily in stadium upgrades early (typically spending $800,000 or more in the first three weeks) tend to struggle with roster fatigue by week 8, creating a potential opening if you've managed your resources more conservatively. Similarly, I've noticed that 68% of my online opponents prioritize drafting established main eventers over developing younger talent, which creates opportunities for counter-strategies focused on long-term growth. These observations have allowed me to maintain a winning record of 22-8 in online matches, but the fact that I need to rely on external tracking methods highlights the mode's fundamental shortcomings.

The disappointment stems from how close this came to being revolutionary. The foundation is absolutely there—the drafting mechanics, resource management, and weekly booking decisions create a genuinely compelling strategic experience when playing against thinking human opponents rather than predictable AI. I've had moments of genuine brilliance in online matches, like when I correctly predicted my opponent would burn their special event budget in week 9 and countered by saving mine for a massive week 12 payoff that swung the final ratings in my favor. These glimpses of what could be make the current implementation all the more frustrating. With proper ranking systems, detailed analytics, and more flexible drafting options, this could have been a competitive gaming phenomenon rather than what feels like an afterthought.

Looking forward, I'm hopeful that future patches or subsequent releases will address these shortcomings, because the potential for genuine strategic depth through pattern recognition and prediction is enormous. The community has already begun developing external tools and shared spreadsheets to compensate for the game's lack of statistical tracking, which demonstrates both the demand for these features and the dedication of the player base. For now, I'll continue to play and refine my prediction techniques, but with the caveat that reaching the highest level of competition requires working around the game's limitations rather than being supported by its systems. WWE 2K25's online GM Mode provides the canvas for competitive fantasy booking, but leaves players to supply their own brushes and paints.