As September draws near, you probably have a lot of questions about this year’s NBA 2K24. For starters, the late Kobe Bryant is back on the cover for the fourth time. And not just the cover. There’ll be gameplay featuring the basketball star, too. All platforms will have their version available to boot up. While EA FC and Madden already adopted cross-play, it seems NBA 2K24 will cave into the trend. Plus, what is the new PROPlay all about, and what does it mean for gameplay? So many questions, most of which we intend to answer in the NBA 2K24: Everything We Know article below.

What is NBA 2K24?

NBA 2K24 is an upcoming annual real-life simulation game of hoops culture. Players have, year in, year out, lived out their NBA dreams playing as their favorite superstars. There are several game modes to keep you on your toes, including MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and more.

Story

Details on the story are a little scarce. We do know that NBA 2K24’s setting is a tropical one. And that players will start as rookies, slowly harnessing the skills to earn their place in the Hall of Famer. The expectation is an immersive and captivating story. For now, though, we’ll keep an eye out for any updates.

Gameplay

There’s still much we don’t know yet about the gameplay. However, 2K Games has confirmed a new functionality called PROPlay. It’ll allow them to transmit real-life NBA footage into gameplay directly, such that animations and movements in the new game will closely resemble on-court action, delivering the authenticity and realism fans crave from game simulators. Unfortunately, the PROPlay feature will only be available to next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S platforms.

Furthermore, 2K Games has increasingly marketed the new Mamba Moments mode. It seems like a recreation of Kobe Bryant’s greatest moments in his rise to stardom. Players will play as young Kobe, working their way up to the top of the chain. They’ll feel what it’s like to score touchdowns, building up to becoming one of the greatest basketball players of all time. This is likely a pretty exciting feature for basketball fans to experience some of the most popular moments in basketball history from Bryant’s perspective.

Game Modes

Previous game modes like MyCAREER, MyNBA, and MyTEAM return. MyCAREER allows players to customize players after their own hearts. Gradually, players will build a legacy, winning championships in an all-new City. Optional side quests will feature, too, as well as streetball competitions. 

MyNBA mode has very little information, only that players will relive their favorite eras as Commissioner or General Manager. On the other hand, MyTEAM will feature the usual card collection. Players will find both past and present all-stars and legends, curating the perfect line-up squad that tows down the competition in single-player and multiplayer modes. 

A few changes are presently confirmed, including an all-new salary cap mode. As far as we can tell, though, the changes are nothing too drastic to alter the already working formula. Hopefully, 2K Games will continue to release new updates on the gameplay in preparation for the fast-approaching September launch date.

Development

2K Games is already hyping up NBA 2K24. There’s overwhelming excitement to go around, especially around the new cross-play feature, which has been in high demand for a while now. On the website, the studio promises upscale responsiveness and visual quality, stating that players will “Experience next-level gameplay and lifelike visuals.” They have released only one cross-play trailer, which is rather odd to focus on a platform feature rather than gameplay. However, we do expect a gameplay trailer sometime before September when the game goes live.

Trailer

2K Games has released a crossplay trailer, showcasing that the NBA 2K24 upcoming entry is finally moving to cross-play. It’ll allow PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S owners to compete against one another worldwide, whether through casual pick-up games, online tournaments, or dynamic co-op matches. They are yet to release an official trailer.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

It’s official. NBA 2K24 will launch on September 8, 2023. Developer Visual Concepts and Publisher 2K Games plan to release the new entry across all platforms, including PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. 

The franchise did not have cross-play functionality. However, they plan to finally join the trend with NBA 2K24 scheduled to feature cross-play between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S consoles. You can pre-order NBA 2K24 as early as now from the 2K Store, PlayStation Store, Microsoft Store, and other official outlets at roughly $69.99 for the standard edition, and more if you want additional items in your package. 

There are three editions currently available, which include:

Standard (Kobe Bryant) Edition

• NBA 2K24 Main Game
• Black Mamba Edition
• NBA 2K24 Main Game

• 100K Virtual Currency
• 15K MyTEAM Points
• 2K24 Starting 5 Draft Box
• 10 Box MyTEAM Promo Packs
• Kobe Bryant Sapphire Card
• 1 Diamond Shoe, 1 Ruby Coach, 2-hour Double XP Coin for MyCAREER
• 2-hour Double XP Coin for MyTEAM
• 10x 6 types of MyCAREER Skill Boosts
• 10x 3 types of Gatorade Boosts
• 4 Cover Athlete T-Shirts for MyPLAYER
• Backpack
• Electric Skateboard
• Arm Sleeves

25th Anniversary Edition

• Everything in Black Mamba Edition, plus:
• Cover Star Ruby Rookie Card
• 15x 6 types of MyCAREER Skill Boosts 
• 15x 3 types of Gatorade Boosts
• Black Mamba MyPLAYER Capsule with 4 different items
• 12-Month NBA League Pass subscription

When you pre-order either of the three editions, you’ll receive a bonus that includes:

• 5,000 Virtual Currency
• 5,000 MyTEAM points
• 10 MyTEAM Promo Packs
• 5x Six MyCAREER Boost Types
• 3x Three Gatorade Boost Types
• 95 Rated Kobe Bryant MyTEAM Free Agent Card

Additionally, there’s a fourth special edition called the WNBA Edition. This is only available in the United States and Canada and features New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu on the cover. For more updates, feel free to follow the official social handle here. Meanwhile, we’ll keep an eye out for any new information and let you know as soon as they come up.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of NBA 2K24 when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.

The post NBA 2K24: Everything We Know appeared first on Gaming.net.

Where not long from the release of NBA 2K23 on September 8, 2022, and 2K Games just dropped the details on easily the most anticipated feature returning to the game. That is the Jordan Challenge, which is making its return to the NBA 2K series in NBA 2K23, marking the first time since it debuted in NBA 2K11 over a decade ago.

The Jordan Challenge allows players to relive some of Michael Jordan's most memorable moments, all of which are based on notable events in his career. It will include 15 challenges, starting with his college days at the University of North Carolina to his final game in 1998 that ignited him as a six-time NBA champion and Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer. All of which you get to play, live, and experience on September 8th when the game releases. For now, all we got is this truly nostalgic Jordan Challenge trailer that NBA 2K dropped today.

More Details on NBA 2K23'S Jordan Challenge

The goal is for each challenge to feel authentic as if you were watching it on TV in the 1980s and 1990s. As a result, each challenge will have authentic broadcast elements, such as visuals and graphics, from the time it aired. To go with this, each Jordan Challenge in NBA 2K23 will feature a pre-game interview with a person (mainly real players, coaches, and commentators) who were a part of that memorable moment. Are the Nostalgic vibes kicking in yet?

Each of the 15 challenges will feature three goals for you to hit – hit a goal and earn a star. That means there are 45 stars to be collected, but you only need 40 of them to unlock unique rewards for both your MyTeam and MyCareer Mode. However, what most players will be pushing for is the Jordan UNC Jersey you get for completing all 15 challenges. Which you will be able to represent in The City and The Neighbourhood.

So, what's your take? Are you excited NBA 2K 23 is bringing back the Jordan Challenge? Which is you're favorite of all Michael Jordan's amazing moments? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!

The post NBA 2K23 Reveals the Jordan Challenge Trailer and Details appeared first on Gaming.net.

Sports video games typically have a large following of players that are addicted to the game. Furthermore, NBA video games arguably have the most devoted fans, followed closely by NHL and Madden. This is due to the fact that everyone strives to be the greatest when it comes to dominating the court, breaking ankles, and hitting game-winning shots. By doing this, you'll experience what it's like to play alongside the greats and enter the spotlight. And you can best feel that experience with the best basketball games of all time.

Every game on this list stands out either because it introduced something novel and defining to the basketball game genre. That, or the game simply stood out as a blast of action and slam dunking fun. After saying that you've probably already guessed what game we're hinting at. Whatever the case, these are the games that helped shape basketball video games to the point where they are now, and as a result, they rank among the top five basketball games of all time in our opinion.

5. NBA 2K14

Basketball video games are perhaps the most prominent example of how 2K Games has seemingly taken over the sports video game market. They've practically had a monopoly on the genre with their 2K series, publishing a new installment every year for the past 20 years. The hardest part of that is attempting to come up with a title that feels refined and new, somehow improving on the year's previous one. It's not always easily accomplished, but NBA 2K14 was one game that did it successfully.

The addition of MyPark is primarily credited for this. This made it possible for players to enter the virtual park using their MyPlayer and engage in online street basketball games. It also gave you more of a reason to grind your MyPlayer, as the real competition rested in the online street courts. Additionally, the ability to team up with friends greatly improved the experience. NBA 2K14 set MyPark into the spotlight, which, unsurprisingly, ended up being the game mode players were most excited to grind in the 2K games that followed.

4. NBA 2K2

It may come as a surprise that NBA 2K2 is making an appearance among the best basketball games of all time, but there is strong reasoning behind it. For its time, NBA 2K2 on the Sega Dreamcast was way ahead of its time. Additionally, NBA 2K2 included a number of additions that significantly helped to shape the games that came after it. Such as the option for Exhibition, Practice, and Tournament mode. On top of that, there was a Fantasy and Franchise mode, with adjustable season games.

The game also changed the series in terms of gameplay. On defense, you could now make set play calls, with a total of seven to choose from. It was also the first time that you could steal the ball in the game, making for a lot of exciting fast breaks. All of these factors made the game a more engaging and immersive experience, with players having to prove their skills full-court. These series-defining factors, undoubtedly rank NBA 2K2 among the best basketball games of all time, but the cherry on top is the inclusion of all-time greats like Larry Bird and Wilt Chamberlin.

3. NBA Jam

One of the first to ever do an arcade-style basketball game ultimately ended up being the best. There's just something about throwing down comically large and explosive dunks with your favorite players that is tirelessly enjoyable. And we mean it, as NBA Jam is actually the highest-earning arcade sports game of all time, racking in more than $1 billion in revenue.

Evidently, players couldn't get enough of the high-flying, fast-paced basketball that came with NBA Jam. From dunking from the three-point line to shattering the backboard, every point in the game came with a blast of excitement. NBA Jam: On Fire Edition was recently taken out of the PlayStation and Xbox shops, which is unfortunate because we believe many fans would kill for another chance to enjoy the game's momentous fun.

2. NBA Street Vol. 2

If you remember NBA Jam, then you most likely also remember NBA Street Vol. 2. The game most strongly resembled a less exaggerated version of NBA Jam, but the enjoyment was nonetheless all there. There is an iconic soundtrack, which is pretty much essential when it comes to streetball. On top of that, there is a roster of 29 unlockable star players, that could be teamed up into a superteam trio. This made the game even more intense and exciting.

What added to this excitement was the list of “game-breaker” moves. The flashy ankle-breaking moves really were a highlight, on top of the heavy dunks you could throw down. All around NBA Street Vol. 2 was a fast and fun adaptation of basketball that really delivered in the simplest form, but that's all that players wanted. To easily boot up the game and get into a match with the superstars, they probably just watched on TV.

1. NBA 2K11

As we've already mentioned, it's really challenging to produce new and entertaining 2K basketball games consistently year after year. However, one game that succeeds its year with flying colors and is still remarked by most as the best basketball game of all time is NBA NK11. Most notably what made it stand out was the inclusion of Michael Jordan back in the game, which also featured the “Jordan Challenge”. This lets you relive his most iconic moments and with it brought some legendary teams back to the game.

Overall the game was packed full of nostalgia, and you could really feel the excitement it brought while playing. This, however, only advances the game so far because each element must function flawlessly for it to be the best. Well to no surprise, it did succeed in every aspect of graphics, performance, gameplay, and even soundtrack. Overall, the game had to be the best presentation of a basketball video game we have ever seen, in just about every aspect.

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Are there other basketball games do you think are the best of all time? Let us know in the comments below or over on our socials here!

The post 5 Best Basketball Video Games of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Gaming.net.

NBA 2K has been the life force of the online basketball scene for well over two decades now, with twenty-one instalments keeping the series afloat and stocking the legacy. And as for 2021, well, the eSports scene is shaping up to be bigger than ever, with the basketball hit still piling up the entries and drawing in some truly remarkable numbers — both in prizes and followers. But having said all that, even with the global success of the 2K franchise, the NBA platform rarely crunches the same mouth-watering figures that other eSports rivals put out.

Draw your eye away from the first-person shooter network and you'll eventually find yourself scrubbing the top shelf of the sporting world. Or, more specifically — NBA 2K. And while it may not stack as high as other games on the market, there is still very much a loyal fan base and roster of professional teams always hungering for healthy competition. Plus, as far as the minds that support the foundations of the franchise go — 2K are still very much devoted to keeping their annual NBA 2K League bursting at the cracks with regular matches and evolving prize pools.

Best NBA 2K Betting Sites

Ready to place a bet? Why not take advantage of a few of these offers from top shelf bookmakers? Just be sure to swing by and check out the latest odds for any upcoming games before sinking into the pockets. You can view the latest stats and odds here.

Thunderpick – A top crypto betting platform that is a leader in esports betting.

Cloudbet – This is the number one bitcoin & crypto esports betting site. (USA, UK, & Singapore Prohibited).

GG.bet — Most recommended for Canada. – (USA, UK, & Australia Prohibited).

NBA 2K League: In a Nutshell

While it doesn't make a great deal of sense to spill the details that revolve around basketball as a sport — it does make sense to talk about the eSports culture and the tournaments that surround the franchise. Of course, we're mainly putting the annual NBA 2K League as the focal point here, seeing as that's the go-to platform for both players and streamers around the world. And, being backed by NBA and other prominent sports factions, it's definitely the all-in-one package you'll need to understand before delving into the betting side of things.

Based over a series of qualifying events, the NBA 2K League branches out to assemble the best players in the world for the ultimate decider, the NBA 2K League Draft, in which 265 top-shelf gamers battle it out to form the 23 teams for the forthcoming season. Once the rosters have been compiled and the board is in play, NBA 2K League opens up to three in-season tournaments, The Tipoff, The Turn, and The Ticket, all of which see the teams fight for a spot at the playoffs.

NBA 2K League is aligned into two conferences: the Eastern Conference and the Western Conference. During each, all teams play through The Tipoff and The Turn, with the ten winning teams (five from each conference) advancing to the playoffs. The thirteen remaining teams automatically fall into The Ticket, a last-ditched effort to frontline the final two teams for the qualifiers. Once all teams are bundled together and the tournaments draw to a close, the playoffs commence, with an incredible prize pool waiting idly for the overall victor.

Tournaments & Prize Pools

While NBA 2K League clearly dominates the basketball scene and hoards the biggest teams and prize pools, NBA 2K also shares its world with other smaller chains in the eSports network. Admittedly, the majority of events hosted outside the official 2K season don't usually boast colossal-sized prize pools and top quality teams. They do, however, rack up an admirable following and add to the overall hype for the NBA sphere. A tournament to keep on the radar, of course, is NBA 2K Global Championship, which recently served up a hefty $100,000 prize packet for the winner.

Drawing back to NBA 2K League, games are held in sets of four every Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. ET. You can follow the tournament and watch the matches online on Twitch and YouTube.

Stacking Against the Odds

Understanding NBA 2K isn't the hard part. It's basketball, plain and simple. Wrapping your head around the League, on the other hand, is quite a daunting task, and one that might take a little longer than with any other sports game. Of course, where the likes of FIFA would only have you scrub the roster for individual players to bet on, NBA 2K will put the additional chore of sifting through entire teams of five, with a whole bunch of in-season tournaments to shovel through. But having said that, Take-Two does like to keep their stats conveniently packaged for the streamers sake.

You can view the latest facts and figures on the official 2K handle here.

The wheels are in motion for NBA 2K League!

Finished with NBA 2K? Looking to gain an edge elsewhere? You could always take a look at one of these betting articles:

FIFA Betting

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