2K's champion-level-selling NBA series is back on September 6 with NBA 2K25's annual release. Sports titles tend to receive incremental changes every year with NBA 2K25 being no different. Wholesale changes aren't expected, but refined versions of existing game modes at least hint that 2K are listening to ongoing player grievances. Here are key things to know about NBA 2K25 before you lace up your virtual sneakers.
Returning Game Modes
Back for another round in 2024 is 2K's NBA flagship mode – MyCareer. The card collection MyTeam mode returns with King of the Court included. Simulation basketball fans can look forward to MyNBA, while the WNBA returns too. It's worth noting that MyNBA and The W game modes will only be playable on next-gen consoles, as will the divisive City hub contained within MyCareer.
Seasons and Progression
Seasons will consolidate MyCareer and MyTeam progression to earn up to 40 levels of in-game rewards. MyCareer continues to give the opportunity to pay homage to basketball greats. Progressing through seasons and levels earns consumables, gear, and more to empower your player.
The City Returns (with a twist)
MyCareer is centered around a new virtual basketball world called The City, only available on current-gen hardware. For last-gen consoles, the familiar Neighborhood returns. The City aims to be a more compact and refined environment than last year's coastal-themed map, rumored to take inspiration from New York City streets and courts.
MyTeam Card Collection Grind
Construct the lineup of your dreams in MyTeam's card-collecting mode. Expect tweaks to reduce reliance on microtransactions after criticism of the "pay-to-win" grinding. Weekly King of the Court challenges see teams face off in head-to-head competition.
Take the Reins in MyNBA
GM mode returns with 6 eras to lead your franchise through, with an all-new WNBA era added. Rise to championships and dynasty status through careful management and draft picks.
Represent in The W
Honor WNBA legends by creating a player and competing internationally in this stand-alone Women's basketball mode. Form superteams and compete online against global opponents.
Gameplay Innovations with Pro Motions
Over 9,000 new authentic animations, including a reworked dribbling system alongside 1100 signature shots and 1300 off-ball motions, bring a new layer of realism. Offense and defense receive attention too with star-specific movesets.
Cover Athletes Revealed
Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum joins WNBA star A'ja Wilson as cover athletes, with NBA legend Vince Carter on the Hall of Fame edition.
Next-Gen Crossplay Debuts
Play against PlayStation and Xbox players via cross-gen compatibility, available only between current PS5/Series X|S systems. Progress carries over within console families too.
NBA 2K25 Goes Next-Gen on PC
For the first time ever, PC users get the next-gen version featuring all major modes like The City and current-gen graphics/features. However, cross-play remains console-only for now.
While wholesale changes aren't coming, NBA 2K25's refinements across modes, new authentic motions and focus on next-gen capabilities promise the most realistic basketball sim experience yet. The foundation is there – now it's about balancing competition and reducing paywalls. Lengthy loading times in The City also require fixing. Overall another strong entry seems inbound, but tweaks are still needed to satisfy die-hard fans. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
