Before we discuss the "how," we must understand the "what." Released in October 2010, WWE Smackdown vs. Raw 2011 (often abbreviated to SvR 2011) is the twelfth overall installment in the WWE game series, and notably the . Developed by the legendary Yuke's and published by THQ, the game was released for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable (PSP), Wii, and Xbox 360.
Easy to set up, works on low-end PCs. Cons: Only one person "hosts" the game; the guest experiences slight input lag. Also, only supports 2–4 players, not full 6-player online.
: Community reports as of late 2025 and early 2026 suggest that the PS3 servers are still functional for matches. However, some features like Community Creations (downloading/uploading wrestlers) may be inaccessible or unreliable.
While local play allows up to 30 superstars sequentially, online emulation setups support full mini-tournaments. You can compete with up to four human players simultaneously in the ring, fighting to eliminate each other over the top rope. Custom Superstars (CAWs) wwe smackdown vs raw 2011 play online
If you insert your SvR 2011 disc into a PS3 or Xbox 360 today and attempt to access the online menu, you will be met with an error message: "THQ Online Services are no longer available." The game cannot reach a matchmaking server, leaderboard, or content repository.
Because the original platform servers are down, your method for online play depends entirely on the hardware or software ecosystem you are using.
If your goal is simply to "play a WWE game online with friends," buy the latest entry. However, if your heart is set on the unique feel of SvR 2011 —the chain wrestling, the "just-slow-enough" reversal system, the Road to WrestleMania stories—then the emulation or XLink methods above are your only paths. Before we discuss the "how," we must understand the "what
You can still through specialized third-party emulation networks, private community servers, and virtual local area network (LAN) clients.
When THQ closed the official servers shortly after the game's release, the ability to play online disappeared for mainstream console users [1]. However, the loyal community has kept the dream alive. 1. Using Emulators (PCSX2 or RPCS3)
Graphics & Presentation
Despite the excitement, the online world was often a frustrating landscape. Players frequently reported —sometimes as long as 2-4 seconds—making the precision-based reversal system nearly impossible to master.
These servers, which allowed players to download custom wrestlers and arenas, have been largely discontinued or are highly unstable.