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Which Edition of NBA 2K16 Should You Buy?

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Very few video game launches get bigger than this year’s NBA 2K16 release. The world-famous basketball video game franchise is a titan, a cultural institution in its own right.

Every year millions wait in anticipation, searching the web for any information they can find about the game’s cover stars. This year, James Harden, Stephen Curry and Anthony Davis have that honor. Michael Jordan is set to grace the cover of a NBA 2K16 Special Edition. Some hope that each year’s new release will bring big changes to ball handling and shooting. Others just hope that with practice they’ll be better in this year’s title than they were the last.

Read: NBA 2K16: 5 Things to Know

Whatever your reasoning for anticipating the NBA 2K16 release this year, you’re rapidly running out of time to decide which version to get. If you want to participate in NBA 2K16 Early Tip-Off Weekend you’ll need to pre-order your copy of the game. Before you can do that you have to decide which edition of NBA 2K16 you should buy. Here’s what you need to know about the different versions of NBA 2K16.

NBA 2K16 Standard Edition & Digital Edition – Xbox One and PS4

Since 2013, the standards bearer of the NBA 2K franchise has been this current generation of video game consoles: Microsoft’s Xbox One and Sony’s PS4. It’s these versions you want for the best graphics with no compromises.

NBA 2K16 will have three different playlists featuring artists like DJ Premiere. Spike Lee wrote and directed the refreshed MyCareer mode included with NBA 2K16. According to the longtime film writer, his version of the mode is more nuanced and more about the struggles that real-life athletes who want to make it to the NBA face every day.

NBA 2K16 Release Details - 2

Read: These Songs & DJs are on the NBA 2K16 Soundtrack

NBA 2K16 for Xbox One and PS4 will come with 10,000 in Virtual Currency to use in MyCareer. Additionally, buyers get 3 packages of MyTeam VIP Emerald Packs to piece together their squads in MyTEAM. Both of these versions cost $59.99, the standard price for Xbox One and PS4 games. Microsoft and Sony will offer digital versions of this edition of NBA 2K16 directly through their Xbox Store and PlayStation Store.

NBA 2K16 Standard Edition – Xbox 360 and PS3

For the same $59.99 as the NBA 2K16 Xbox One and PS4 editions, there’s NBA 2K16 for the Xbox 360 and PS3. Video game developer Visual Concepts and publisher 2K Games aren’t leaving last-generation users in a lurch.

Functionally, NBA 2K16 for Xbox 360 and PS3 seems to be the same game that owners of current-generation consoles are getting, albeit with less visual polish. MyCareer and MyTeam should work the same way. Starting a simple exhibition match should work roughly the same way.

What you get extra when you purchase NBA 2K16 for older consoles. Current generation versions of the game come with 3 Emerald MyTeam VIP Emerald Packs. Xbox 360 and PS3 players don’t get these extras. Instead, they get 10,000 in Virtual Currency, plus MyTeam Gold Booster Pack with Guaranteed Gold Player and 4 other gold items.

NBA 2K16 Michael Jordan Special Edition – Xbox One and PS4

NBA 2K16 Release Details - 1

Surprising just about everyone a few weeks ago was the reveal the NBA 2K16 Michael Jordan Special Edition coming for the Xbox One and PS4. The physical version of the NBA 2K16 Michael Jordan Special Edition comes with physical items like a poster of Michael Jordan and a Fathead Wall Cling,

Also included are digital extras for users who plan on creating their own custom player in the game’s MyPlayer mode. There’s a pair of digital Jordan sneakers, a Jordan T-shirt and a Jordan Jersey to put on custom players. 3 My Team VIP+ Emerald Packs and a Special Edition Moments Card are included with this version of NBA 2K16. Buying this version of the game also triples the amount of Virtual Currency players get to 30,000 compared to the 10,000 Virtual Currency that other versions of the game come with.

There isn’t a NBA 2K16 Michael Jordan Special Edition coming for Xbox 360 and PS3 gamers. It is available as a digital download on the Xbox Store and PlayStation Store that includes everything except for the poster and wall cling. All of these extras come for $79.99, $20 more than the standard version of the game. Whether you should pick up this version depends on how big of a Jordan fan you are. Getting 35,000 in Virtual Currency costs $9.99 in NBA 2K15, leaving the value of that special Jordan digital gear at about $10.

Read: NBA 2K16 Release Pre-Orders Arrive

Remember, any version of NBA 2K16 that you pre-order will get you access to your game on September 25th instead of September 29th. Physical pre-orders are available at both GameStop and Amazon.

31 Comments

31 Comments

  1. Ethan Bryeans

    07/20/2015 at 9:36 pm

    Will NBA 2K16 for the 360 have the same storyline in MyCareer as Current-Gen?

    • hosea haywood

      07/23/2015 at 11:19 pm

      This is the same question I want to know

    • Manuel Roman

      08/04/2015 at 4:47 pm

      Nah fam

      • Nate Berkes

        08/06/2015 at 9:21 pm

        I think so. The article said it would be the same game as the next gen one, just a lot less polish.

        • Stan

          12/25/2015 at 10:59 pm

          The article was wrong about that, the my career mode for the ps3 version I bought was the same rehashed my career its been for years. Even including the lame “He’s got next” billboards and poor post play. Still a better alternative than NBA live 2k16 though.

  2. Matt Hamilton

    07/23/2015 at 11:22 pm

    I want to know the answer too

  3. jim lyons

    07/26/2015 at 6:58 pm

    Will u be able to have custom rosters for my career.. i miss playing against Michael Jordan and D rose with my created player..

  4. MjButler

    08/17/2015 at 11:03 pm

    Nba 2k16 for xbox 360 and ps3 will not have the storyline. All the good and exciting news will only be for xbox 1 and ps4.

  5. Jeff

    09/13/2015 at 6:39 pm

    U can but every year Jim lyons

  6. OriolHermo

    09/24/2015 at 2:14 am

    I think as MjButler said that spike lee joint would not be in ps3 so I don’t understand this sentence: MyCareer and MyTeam should work the same way. Why are they writing this?

  7. KtKilla

    09/25/2015 at 7:43 am

    The old gen games are really the same thing agian. Just watched some gameplay of it and it looks the same. Still getting for the roster updates but I’m not getting another one until I get ps4

  8. Kejczak

    09/25/2015 at 7:46 am

    I just have version on Xbox 360 and there is no story mode :( no university and college, wtf!

  9. mvda

    09/25/2015 at 8:44 am

    Same here! No MyGM no Spike Lee storyline on xbox360.Got cheated by 2k

    • mvda sux

      10/26/2015 at 7:58 am

      It’s what you get for not getting next gen you tool. Get over it!!

  10. Sam

    09/25/2015 at 3:09 pm

    Everyone email 2k about this stuff in 360 and PS3 we want the spike lee stuff too and mygm

  11. demond Williams

    09/25/2015 at 6:36 pm

    Let’s complain

  12. Lhjcj

    09/25/2015 at 10:19 pm

    Man, I got a 360 and I was really hoping both gens would be the same.

  13. Donovan

    09/27/2015 at 10:17 pm

    What a rip off. Not one article mentioned that the spike lee thing wouldn’t be part of Xbox 360!!!! I wouldn’t have bought it bits the same game as 2k15!!!!

    • Kathy

      10/02/2015 at 9:11 am

      exactly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  14. DW JENNING (xbox 360)

    10/03/2015 at 1:15 pm

    i doesn’t i got it thinking that i would have the same my player story line but nope its just like 2k15 or 2k14 tbh.. kinda upset i got the game, ohwell it to late.

  15. KaNawogirusa

    10/04/2015 at 8:11 am

    Anyway spikes lee movie sucks so much that you are lucky not having it

  16. Tobias

    10/08/2015 at 2:52 am

    I just want to know if MyPark is avaliable on PS3

  17. Brandon

    10/17/2015 at 9:54 pm

    What the crap 2k you guys could have at least said you hate PS3 and Xbox 360. The only difference in 2k16 and 2k15-14 is the frikin name. Thanks a lot.

  18. jeff

    10/21/2015 at 6:58 am

    guys i have the early tip off edition but how do i redeem the code from the early tip off edition? pls let me now asap

  19. branden

    11/13/2015 at 2:35 am

    Will not record season averages, does not have leauge leaders or the rookie report, is it just me?
    Ps3

  20. Gman

    12/15/2015 at 1:12 pm

    Can u coustomized your own Court and can you do the thing that you start from high school carrer and go to collage then nba for360

  21. xavier

    12/27/2015 at 1:00 pm

    This is BS I want to choose my college tired of old rookie showcase

  22. Andrew

    12/31/2015 at 5:46 pm

    Got it for 360, it is the absolute rip off everyone says it is, better off buying 2k13 or 2k15, pretty much the same game. No high school, no college, no freq, i dont even think theres my gm. Ultimate team might be the same. Otherwise the hype around the game is not backed by xbox 360/ps3.

    PS to the guy who said “just get next gen” some people cant spend $350 on a whim, the middle class actually exists

  23. Mike

    02/05/2016 at 4:49 pm

    Why aren’t rosters updated on 360?? Is there something im missing?

  24. Jessica

    02/11/2016 at 8:31 pm

    No mypark is not available on ps3 wtf

  25. Bryan

    07/12/2016 at 11:08 am

    PS3 should have my park and spike lees high school and university it makes it fun

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