The hype train for 2K Games' WWE 2K17 got underway after Monday's announcement that 'The Beast Incarnate' Brock Lesnar would be gracing the cover of this year's game. As an added bonus, we were also presented with an October 11 release date on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.

So, as we look forward to the release of the game later this year, it's time to start questioning how it might improve upon last year's effort. At a guess, we might be treated to further expansion of the game's substantial roster and suite of creative tools. The series' recent transition to more of an ultra-realistic representation of the action inside the squared-circle will surely evolve for the third year running, too. All of that is good stuff, and it would be enough to convince the hardcore fans like me to invest for another year. That said, if 2K wants to generate an even bigger user base for the series, it needs to work on captivating those current non-believers.

Since THQ first introduced the idea of online features back in 2005's WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw, they have felt like more of an afterthought than a primary element of the series. In WWE SmackDown vs. Raw 2010, the Community Creations feature made its debut, and it was a revolutionary addition, furthering the game's creative potential to a substantial degree. However, temperamental servers and long load times have plagued the feature on multiple occasions, often leaving a sour taste in fans' mouths. The same goes for in-ring action, which has suffered with horrendous lag issues on a semi-regular basis.

Last year's release improved on this a little, but it's safe to say the series is still far behind where it needs to be in terms of its online feature set. All you have to do is look at 2K's WWE Supercard series on mobile and tablet devices for an idea of the console and PC series' online potential. What started out as a bit of an experiment quickly transformed into a mega-hit, and now it's consistently one of the most popular games for the mobile market. It's a scenario that closely resembles the success EA Sports enjoyed shortly after introducing the Ultimate Team concept in FIFA 09, changing the way we'd think about sports games forever. If 2K could combine their two most popular WWE series' effectively, there's potential for wrestling games to go the same way.

"While the series continues to innovate in many areas, there haven't been any major improvements to its online features in some time."

That's just the tip of the iceberg. WWE 2K's Universe Mode is an ever-popular sandbox that arguably serves as the series' primary source of longevity at this point. It's solely dedicated to local play, though, which limits its potential. With online integration, the ability to create expansive federations with fully user-controlled competitors would theoretically be possible. You could literally create your own OSWF -- Operation Sports Wrestling Federation. In fact, some dedicated fans of the series have been doing this sort of thing for years through internet forums, online contests and the power of their own imaginations. If 2K could find a way to incorporate this sort of thing in-game, those fans' hype levels would be reaching Mojo Rawley levels of excitement.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves, though. While the series continues to innovate in many areas, there haven't been any major improvements to its online features in some time. An overhaul is needed, and if we're going to get one in WWE 2K17, the basics must take priority. The Community Creations feature has become an important asset to the series, and a smooth, satisfying and fully featured online gameplay experience is something we'd all be grateful for. Once those hurdles have been cleared, the sky's the limit.

Are you looking forward to WWE 2K17, and what are your thoughts on the series' online potential?