NBA fans are eagerly waiting for the upcoming and most exciting addition of NBA 2K25 to the popular basketball simulator NBA 2K series that was announced in July 2024. The gaming series was introduced back in 1999, and since then, it has been the absolute go-to game for NBA fans. Who wouldn’t want to play as the famous legends LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and more?
The NBA 2K series is one of the most beloved ones out there, which allows players to play in a wide range of classic NBA squads or current NBA teams. NBA 2K24 and NBA 2k23 were such a huge success that it ended up selling more than nine million units all over the world. NBA 2K25 is fast approaching, and we have our wallets ready and laces tied to run to the stores to buy the game!
On July 10, 2K announced and confirmed some key details about the game that players had been looking out for. From the looks of it, the upcoming game is going to show exciting and brand-new features, new rosters, and various in-game enhancements. Many players have been asking: When does NBA 2K25 come out? Here’s everything we know about NBA 2K25!
Release Date
The only question that gamers have been asking for a while now is: when is NBA 2K25 coming out? Fortunately, for everyone who has been waiting, 2K recently confirmed that the basketball game will officially launch on Friday, September 6, 2024. 2K has a knack for releasing its NBA 2K titles in the first few days of September, with NBA 2K24 releasing on September 8, 2023. It feels comforting to know that the upcoming title will also be staying true to this tradition.
NBA 2K25 Platforms
NBA 2K25 will arrive on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, Switch, PS4, and Xbox Owners users will receive the game’s old-gen edition. Moreover, the developers made the NBA 2K25 PC “next-gen” version of the basketball simulator, which is quite exciting for PC users.
This means that they’ll get access to all of the same features as the NBA 2K25 PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions. Initially, many fans were against the developers releasing the upcoming game on last-gen consoles, but as it turns out, Visual Concepts decided to go with it anyway. While the graphics and features might not be up-to-date, it’ll be the same NBA game we love.
NBA 2K25 Trailer
Visual Concepts and 2K launched a brief “What If” teaser trailer to officially announce that NBA 2K25 is right around the corner. The trailer starts off with one of the league’s top players, i.e., Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, making a dunk. The scene then shifts to Las Vegas Aces’ champion A’ja Wilson running onto the court while celebrating one of her team’s wins.
Last but not least, the trailer shifts to a clip of the famous athlete Vince Carter. These three athletes are the cover stars of all four editions of the game, so it’s no surprise they’re featured in the teaser trailer as well.
Official Trailer
Many fans believe that the inspiration behind this NBA 2K25 trailer comes from Kanye West’s speech during 2005’s 47th Annual Grammys. Here’s the trailer:
Before the launch of NBA 2K25 next month, 2K launched a gameplay trailer nearly a week ago, highlighting some enhancements and exciting additions to the game. Visual Concepts integrated ProPlay into the game, which allowed developers to add 9,000 brand-new in-game animations and an all-new dribble engine, both of which are based on the players’ movements in real life.
Gameplay Trailer
The trailer also featured Los Angeles Lakers’ Bronny James alongside his father, LeBron James. Near the video’s end, there’s a brief moment where Bronny passes the ball to his father, who makes a dunk. The father-son duo celebrates their dunk, with the trailer offering fans a closer look at Bronny’s model within the game at this point.
Watch the trailer below:
On top of these two trailers, the developers also launched a video providing a “Courtside Report” on two exciting and crucial gameplay modes called NBA 2K25 MyPLAYER and MyCAREER. They also released another video where they provided a “Gameplay Courtside Report” with Mike Wang. These aren’t exactly trailers, but you can watch both videos below:
Gameplay
NBA 2K25 new features are a force to be reckoned with, especially with the integration of an improved ProPlay to enhance the gameplay experience. The system features more than 9000 brand-new animations that allow players to have an authentic experience within the game. The developers also decided to abandon the 15-year-old dribbling engine to introduce a new one.
Shooting & Defense
The game also added some major changes to the players’ shooting by introducing all-new features like Pro Stick Rhythm shooting, shot canceling, signature go-to shots, shot timing, and custom visual cues. These features help in NBA 2K25’s mission to remain accessible, authentic, and customizable, which are three important and prioritized pillars of the NBA 2K series.
Some significant changes also took place in the game’s Defense department, offering on-ball defenders many more options. The contest system has also been completely revamped to make it feel more life-like and realistic. The AI has also improved considerably to enhance every layer of the gameplay, such as coaching, offense, defense, AI difficulty, and court spacing.
Learn 2K Mode
For accessibility, NBA 2K25 creators went the extra mile by developing the Learn 2K game mode, featuring beginner and advanced tutorials. The introduction of this makes it far easier for players who are just stepping foot into the franchise to get used to the game. On top of this, the upcoming game will also feature many new improvements to the game’s multiple modes.
Game Modes
According to many official NBA 2K25 news reports, developers have introduced many new features and improvements to the game’s modes. The game is set to feature a total of five game modes, out of which four are returning. Firstly, we have MyCAREER which allows players to create their own NBA player and continue bringing glory to themselves and their team.
Next up, we have MyTeam, a card-collecting mode that allows players to construct their desired team lineup by opening and getting brand-new player packs. Next, we have MyNBA, NBA 2K’s signature Franchise mode that allows you to play as your beloved team and control multiple aspects of owning a team, from team and general organization to controlling the league.
WNBA Mode
There’s also the popular returning W (New Gen) mode, which is a WNBA-themed mode that allows players to play as all 12 WNBA teams. It’s worth noting that new-gen players (including PC users) can now experience a brand-new sixth era in the MyNBA game mode. The Eras allow you to take control of your franchise from multiple points throughout the NBA history.
So, it’s entirely your choice if you want to start from the 80s, 90s, or the 2000s, which sounds like an amazing feature! Initially, this was just another one of NBA 2K25 rumors, but it was recently officially confirmed by the developers. On top of this, new-gen players can also dive deeper into a more interactive but compact MyCAREER sub-mode called The City.
Many NBA2K25 rumors initially claimed that this sub-mode won’t be returning in the upcoming game, but we’re glad to see that’s not the case. The City allows you to compete online and show off your skills against the opposition from all over the world. While the sub-mode will remain largely the same, the developers might implement heavy design changes to it.
When it comes to the current-gen players, they have an entire Neighborhood to explore where they can earn rewards, complete quests, and link with others online. Prior to the game’s launch, we wouldn’t be shocked to learn if the developers end up introducing new modes or slightly changing the current ones, especially MyTEAM and MyCAREER, as they are 2K’s priorities.
MyCAREER
Many NBA 2K25 leaks also suggested that new improvements are being made to MyCAREER and MyTEAM. It won’t come as a surprise to anyone if this ends up happening since these two game modes have received quite a bit of criticism from the fans. Unfortunately, these are just leaks at the time of writing, so take this news with a grain of salt until you hear official news.
NBA 2K25 Cover
True to many NBA 2K25 cover athlete predictions, the game’s Standard Edition features the superstar of Boston Celtics, i.e., Jayson Tatum, as its cover star. Joining him is Las Vegas Aces’ A’ja Wilson on the game’s WNBA Edition. This duo is also featured in NBA 2K25’s All-Star Edition, making history as the first-ever dual-league to be featured on the game series’ cover.
On top of this, the popular NBA legend and next Hall of Farmer Vince Carter is NBA 2K25’s cover athlete for the game’s Hall of Fame Edition. This was a huge moment for the athlete, who said in a statement, “Being named a cover athlete would have always been a special moment for me, but it is a particular honor to be on the cover of the NBA 2K25 Hall of Fame Edition.”
Player Ratings
In NBA 2K25, the players Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid possess the highest 2K Ratings, with a 98 OVR for each. Luka Doncic follows the two with a 97 OVR. Here’s a list of the top 10 NBA Players from the highest to lowest player ratings in the upcoming NBA 2K25 video game.
- Denver Nuggets’ Nikola Jokic – 98 OVR
- Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid – 98 OVR
- Dallas Mavericks’ Luka Doncic – 97 OVR
- Oklahoma City Thunders’ Shai Gilgeous-Alexander – 97 OVR
- Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo – 97 OVR
- Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant – 96 OVR
- Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James – 96 OVR
- Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum – 96 OVR
- Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry – 95 OVR
- Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards – 95 OVR
Is NBA 2K25 Cross Platform?
Many players are already thinking about playing the game with their friends and have been wondering if NBA 2K25 will be cross platform. The developers removed everyone’s curiosity and answered that by saying that the game’s PC version won’t have cross-functionality with other platforms. However, crossplay will be available across Xbox Series X/S and PS5 consoles.
NBA 2K25 Pre-Order Details & Editions
Moreover, the game is currently available for pre-order, which players can do so from the official NBA 2K25 website or Steam. Those who have pre-ordered will get to participate in the game’s early access period, which will take place on September 4 i.e., two days before the game’s launch. However, if you’re searching for a physical edition, make sure to check in with retailers.
Editions
When it comes to editions, NBA 2K25 consists of four editions: Standard Edition, WNBA Edition, All-Star Edition, and Hall of Fame Edition. You can purchase the Standard Edition for $49.99 USD for Nintendo Switch and $69.99 USD on PS5, PS4, PC, Xbox Series X/S, and Xbox One. Pre-ordering this edition means that you’ll be getting bonuses as well, so check them out!
The NBA 2K25 WNBA Edition costs $69.99 USD, but there is a catch, which is that it’ll only be available in North America. Moreover, players interested in buying it will have to purchase it from GameStop. This edition of the game will only be available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms. Don’t worry, as the pre-order bonuses come with this edition as well!
Moving on to the NBA 2K25 All-Star Edition, which costs $99.99 USD for PC, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 5, and PlayStation 4 platforms. This edition features a wide range of perks and bonuses, which is why it is the second most expensive edition of the upcoming eagerly anticipated NBA 2K25 basketball simulator.
Lastly, we have the Hall of Fame Edition, which costs $149.99 USD and is available for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Keep in mind that this particular edition consists of all the perks included in the All-Star Edition, along with some exclusive rewards like a 12-month NBA League Pass Subscription. It’s totally worth buying!