Recently NBA 2K fans were given a glimpse of NBA 2K22's upcoming features, including its updated and improved version of The City. However, not all players will be able to access it. The City is exclusively available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. So, where will NBA 2K22 players be traveling to on other consoles instead?
The City was first introduced in NBA 2K21 as an expansion upon The Neighborhood that was featured in previous NBA 2K games. Like the rest of the game, it was met with mixed reception thanks in part to its focus on microtransactions. While NBA 2K22's City seems likely to be headed in the same direction, allowing players to purchase customization options and other items within it, it also diverges from previous versions significantly.
NBA 2K22's version of The City will include a more narrative-based experience and quicker matchmaking. The City will have more NPCs and quests in NBA 2K22, and players will be able to pursue side careers such as fashion and hip-hop, shifting the game's story to focus on more than exclusively basketball stardom. Overall, NBA 2K22 seems to be headed in a more heavily RPG-esque direction than many other NBA 2K games.
Not All NBA 2K22 Players Will Be Able To Visit The City
NBA 2K22 is set to release on September 10 on the PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The latter four consoles, though, will be returning to The Neighborhood rather than taking a tour of the new and improved City. According to NBA 2K's official website, The Neighborhood in NBA 2K22 will be set aboard a luxury cruise ship that will dock in different areas throughout the Season, allowing players to participate in Excursions and shoreside Events. MyCAREER and The City have apparently been combined into one narrative experience in NBA 2K22, though, which makes it uncertain just how much players will be missing out on if they're only able to access The Neighborhood instead.
It's worth noting that NBA 2K21's City was likewise exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, although the consoles were considered more next-gen at the time. While this is nothing new for the series, then, it does seem odd given how expansive The City's new features are in NBA 2K22 that not all players will be able to experience it. Whether this is due to the technical challenge of hosting such a large online space or simply developer preference is currently unclear, but given that more details on the game are scheduled to be released by the start of September, it's likely that additional information regarding the differences between console editions will come to light as NBA 2K22's release approaches as well.
Source: NBA 2K