NBA 2K24 is getting cross-play on current-gen PS5 and Xbox Series S/X versions. This marks the first time in the franchise’s 25 years that the feature has been added to the revered basketball sim, allowing players on different platforms to play against each other. However, the PC version will not only be left out of that feature, but will not include ProPlay, the new animation system that “translates NBA visuals directly into NBA 2K24 gameplay.” The title will feature Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant on the cover, who tragically passed away in 2020, along with a ‘Mamba Moments’ mode that lets you relive some of his biggest moments in-game. NBA 2K24 is out on September 8 on all major platforms.
“Represent one of basketball’s greatest players of all time in Mamba Moments mode, recreating some of Kobe Bryant’s most commanding and captivating performances,” the website reads. Similar to NBA 2K23’s ‘Jordan Challenge’, the mode will follow the legendary shooting guard’s 20-year stint in the NBA while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers. Meanwhile, the ProPlay feature is set to translate real-world NBA footage into the game’s engine, for which developer Visual Concepts has promised more details in the future.
While it’s supposed to showcase the generational leap in authentic-looking gameplay, it’s strange to see PC left out, when it’s obvious the platform supports the ProPlay feature. The trend has been consistent since the next-gen PS5 and Xbox Series S/X consoles came out, resulting in PC gamers receiving next-gen versions of the game. EA Sports’ NFL Madden used to be in the same boat until last year, but this year, even the PC community is getting its full wealth of features. Other than ProPlay, PC players of NBA 2K24 will only be able to play the Neighborhood portion of its My Career mode, and not the cross-play functionality, as mentioned above.
Several familiar game modes return, including MyTeam mode, NBA 2K’s version of Ultimate Team, where you assemble a dream team through pack openings and player card transfers online and compete in various competitions. Or, you can head over to MyNBA to put on your coach’s hat and lead a team to victory in offline game modes. Victor Wembanyama is set to make his Summer League debut with the San Antonio Spurs, and 2K is riding the hype bandwagon and running a promotion granting the seven-foot-tall prospect access to their MyTeam lineup. It will be available to those who pre-order the NBA 2K24 25th Anniversary Edition between July 7 and July 14. It is a 90 rated card and comes with a Wembanyama T-shirt for MyPlayer (character creation) and a Ruby Devin Booker card.
NBA 2K24 will ship in three editions, starting with the Kobe Bryant Standard Edition, which is priced at Rs. 3999/$59.99 on PC and Rs. 4,399/ $59.99 on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Meanwhile, the PS5 and Xbox Series S/X versions cost Rs. 4,999/ $69.99.
Next up is the Black Mamba Edition, which adds some virtual currency and a long list of digital collectibles including a Kobe Bryant Saphire card and his My Player jerseys. This costs Rs. 5,599 (PC) and Rs. 7,499/ $99.99, on the remaining platforms mentioned above. And finally, the 25th Anniversary Edition (available only through September 10) bundles everything from the Black Mamba Edition (collectibles and in-game power-ups), along with a 12-month subscription to NBA League Pass. This is listed at Rs. 8,500 on PC, while the PlayStation and Xbox versions cost Rs. 9,800/ $150.
NBA 2K24 is out September 8 on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and Nintendo Switch.
