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I was especially excited to play NBA 2K21 on PS5 because it is one of the few next-gen launch games that are being built specifically for new consoles. Yes, 2K21 is out now for PS4, but the next-gen edition of the popular basketball simulator is a new version built from the ground up that has unique technology, modes, and features. Developer Visual Concepts took the same next-gen approach last time with NBA 2K14, and the PS4 version ended up being pretty basic next to that year’s PS3 game. Not so with 2K21. It has everything that is in the current generation version now and more, including a bold new City mode and deeper WNBA integration.
But first, let’s talk about the most fun part of the generational transition of any sports game: the graphics. The native 4K / 60fps presentation in NBA 2K21 is impressive. Among the few dozen launch titles on both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X, this could be the first to launch to showcase the power of its new next-gen console. Animations are much better, and foot planting and momentum are key areas for improvement. Players now also take procedural steps instead of just canned animations, leading to less “skating.”
The players’ faces are of course more detailed than ever, and one little thing that sells is that everyone else looks so much better now too, from the crowd (who finally have kids!) To the referees, the people. on the scorer’s table. , dance team, mascots, mop boys, cameramen, security guards, etc. Visual Concepts says they have added custom AI routines for 150 NPCs in the bottom bowl of the arena. More obviously, they’ve even added a second complete play-by-play broadcast team led by Brian Anderson and Grant Hill.
The whole aspect of NBA 2K has a much more holistic feel compared to the current generation versions.
In short, the whole NBA 2K look has a much more holistic feel compared to current-gen versions. 2K Studio art director Anton Dawson told me that the team has a new set of tools for scanning player faces and capturing arena lighting, and they have been working on the next-gen version since the middle of the development of 2K20. In short, almost everything about how players enter the game and then render and light up has changed, and you can see the results on the screen.
Outside of simulation, the next-gen NBA 2K21’s new big idea is The City. Billed as the next step after Neighborhood, it’s a real open world where you can walk around, join one of four affiliations, and compete in one-on-one events (or larger teams). You can visit it on foot, on a skateboard or by bicycle. There are shops, pickup fields, and more. There’s even a FourSquare-style feature that allows you to run for mayor of each district, with in-game polling places to vote every six weeks when new elections are held. The four mayors can then select the soundtracks for the clashes, design the courts of their affiliation and customize the look of their district. Hundreds of players will be walking at any given time, although when I jumped to the preview version, only a couple of QA testers were hanging around. Still, it’s a fascinating feature if Visual Concepts can pull it off.
The city is a fascinating feature if Visual Concepts can pull it off.
The new 2K also doubles its integration with the WNBA. You now have a full MyPlayer career mode available, plus a full online league option. I played a bit like Phoenix Mercury, aka my only professional sports team from Arizona really capable of winning a championship, and indeed these women move differently and play differently compared to men, as they should. Visual Concepts’ quest for authenticity here seems genuine, and 2K says it’s down to the women and men on the team who are huge fans of the WNBA.
And back on the men’s side, MyCareer offers a new story mode called Long Shadow, which features the G League as another great career option alongside college. With humor, several nemesis from previous years’ MyCareer modes return here as teammates in their G League squad, with plenty of off-court drama to follow.
It will be interesting to see how the new beginning of NBA 2K21 comes together in the next generation. My hands-on hour or so was very encouraging, but things like The City will need to be experienced with a full and active community of real life gamers. NBA 2K21 will be available on Xbox Series X on November 10 and on PS5 on November 12.
Ryan McCaffrey is IGN’s executive trailer editor. Follow him on Twitter at @DMC_Ryan, catch him on Unlocked and send him Taylor Ham sandwiches from New Jersey whenever possible.
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