An all-new player space and new gameplay features headline the newly revealed information for NBA 2K22. The highly-anticipated basketball simulator returns for its yearly installment, but fans are hoping that this will be the year that 2K Games finally makes the requested upgrades to the game.
Despite the hardware leap to a new console generation, NBA 2K21 was considered a miss by most fans of the series. Plagued by microtransactions at almost every turn and legacy bugs, 2K21 did little to inspire goodwill after the controversial casino in NBA 2k20. Years without direct competition have created a lull in improvements for the annualized basketball game. NBA Live, EA’s basketball simulator, has not seen a new entry since NBA Live 19 in 2018. Since then, minor improvements to gameplay and an oversaturation of monetization through in-game currency have frustrated 2K fans for years.
However, NBA 2K22 is attempting to change this stilted movement with a slew of new features, game modes, and gameplay additions. According to the official 2K website, the biggest of these new features is an all-new City. Players in the City can interact with each other and enter matchmaking just by walking into specific buildings. A new quest system will give players opportunities to level up their MyPlayer 2K character within the City. MyCareer will integrate into the City, which will evolve as the players progress and seasons change. Unfortunately for those on current-gen hardware, The City is exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions yet again.
Instead, 2K22 will offer a unique experience for players on PS4, Xbox One, PC, and Switch in the 2K Cruise, which will act as the new Neighborhood. Players can play each other in pickup games and venture out to different locations on a cruise ship. Seasons will change what locations and what events take place each time the 2K Cruise docks. In addition to the City and 2K Cruise, changes to My Career include more content off the court. Players can invest in fashion, work within the hip-hop music industry or engage in other ventures featured throughout the City. The central hub will also evolve as the player improves, with more luxurious offerings later in their career. Players on the current gen will be able to experience My Career as a dedicated game mode.
On-court gameplay details are light at the time of writing, but 2K is promising new systems for blocking and shot contests on defense and more skill-based actions on offense. More information is coming in August, including a gameplay trailer. Though all of this on paper sounds good, it is up to 2K to actually deliver with the new modes. It is probably going to ruffle some feathers that the PC version of the game is not the same as the PS5 or Xbox Series X editions too.
With all of this information, it certainly seems like 2K is making strides to improve systems off the court for players. However, it remains to be seen if this year’s game will feature the same heavy-handed monetization scheme as the past two games have. Hopefully, the developers listened more to its player base this time around rather than ignoring the same problems again.
NBA 2K22 will release on September 10 for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Source: NBA 2K