NBA 2K24 is confirmed to be released on September 8th, 2023. This past week, 2K dropped the first looks of star players Devin Booker and Victor Wembanyama.
First Look at @DevinBook in #NBA2K24 🔥 pic.twitter.com/I7OfAzTcCE
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) July 29, 2023
First Look at @wemby in #NBA2K24 👀 pic.twitter.com/0V0HsJWQp6
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 1, 2023
2K is also adding an exciting new feature that revolutionizes NBA 2K multiplayer. Read more about it below.
NBA 2K24: First Looks, an Exciting New Feature, and More
NBA 2K24 Will Feature Crossplay
Crossplay is finally here for NBA 2K! 2K confirmed that crossplay will be featured in 2K24 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. Unfortunately, last-generation consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One will not have the feature. This is a bummer, but 2K made a step in the right direction to add the feature for the next-generation consoles. Crossplay will better integrate the 2K community and allow multiplayer for players on different consoles. This feature is revolutionary for the NBA 2K franchise, and it signals the feature to be a regular in the future.
First Looks Initial Reactions
The in-game pictures of Booker and Wembanyama look clean and well-refined. As expected, the players have a shine that is indicative of sweat and the lighting of the game arena. One critique of the photos is that the arena fans in the background look the same as in previous iterations of 2K. Players and fans of the game would like to see more detail added to the fans in the arenas. Another main critique commented on was Wembanyama’s sleeve accessory. Look closely at his picture on the left:
First Look at @wemby in #NBA2K24 👀 pic.twitter.com/0V0HsJWQp6
— NBA 2K (@NBA2K) August 1, 2023
Wembanyama appears to have an elbow sleeve, which is different from the long shooting sleeve he wore in real life at the NBA Summer League. Fans have complained that his sleeve needs to be fixed to reflect his real-life accessories.
Although valid, these critiques should not deter fans of the game. These are just the first looks, and 2K has plenty of time to patch the game and make adjustments before the official release. Speaking of adjustments, there are other features fans and players of the game would like to see modified.
Virtual Currency, The Neighborhood, and Classic Teams Changes
Virtual Currency Needs to be Less of a Barrier
Many fans complain that virtual currency (VC) is an annoyance in the 2K community, particularly in MyCareer mode. Historically, VC has been earned by completing objectives and playing various game modes, but players can buy VC to accelerate the process of upgrading their MyPlayers (created characters) in MyCareer mode. The issue is VC takes a long time to earn from playing the game and buying VC is expensive. An article from ClutchPoints provides solutions for NBA 2K24 to address these problems. The two main solutions are:
- Allow VC to be transferred from the previous 2K title (NBA 2K23).
- Reduce the price of items, player upgrades, and VC packs.
These solutions lessen the financial and time burdens placed on players in their pursuit to upgrade their characters.
The Neighborhood Looks to Have Better Aesthetics
On that note, players can use their characters to play in the MyCareer story mode, The Neighborhood, or The City. The Neighborhood and The City are areas for players to run pick-up games, buy items, and complete quests. They have become the center of the multiplayer experience in NBA 2K. Recently, The Neighborhood has been reserved for last-gen players, whereas The City was an area introduced in 2K21 that is only for next-gen players. Last-gen owners of 2K complain The Neighborhood is not as nice or expansive as The City, but the 2K24 Neighborhood is supposed to feature new aesthetics that should dampen concerns.
Classic Team Rosters Should be Improved
One last area fans of the game would like to see improvements in is the Classic Team rosters in the Play Now and Play Now Online modes. These modes allow players to go head-to-head controlling their favorite teams including many classic NBA teams such as the 1991-92 Chicago Bulls or the 2015-16 Warriors. In the past, Classic Team rosters have had missing players or iconic teams that fans feel should be in the game. Here are examples of five new teams fans would like to see in the new game:
- 2009-10 Los Angeles Lakers
- 2014-15 Atlanta Hawks
- 2008-09 Chicago Bulls
- 1977-78 Washington Bullets
- 1982-83 Philadephia 76ers
Hopefully, 2K24 will have a well-polished roster with new classic teams added to the ones from previous games.
More NBA 2K24 News is Fast Approaching
2K will continue to release news and features on the new game. The next big anticipated release is the full roster with player ratings. Stay tuned for more coverage and reactions.
