My NBA 2K17 & NBA 2K17 The Prelude Release Arrives 

There are just weeks left until NBA 2K17, the latest entry in a franchise that’s become the world’s most popular basketball video game for living room consoles, arrives on store shelves. Visual Concepts and publisher 2K Games is wetting appetites this week with the release of My NBA 2K17 and NBA 2K17 The Prelude. Both became available to download early this morning.

Released every year around this time, console gamers flock to the NBA 2K series for an authentic recreation of the NBA and all the things that need to happen before players ever take to the court. There’s online pick-up games for practicing with other and a player creation engine that allows users to create their own franchise star. Besides extending that custom player creator and revamp the game’s story, NBA 2K17 packs League Expansions so that gamers can add their custom-made franchises to the NBA’s established roster.

Read: NBA 2K17 Release Date: Cover Athletes & More

My NBA 2K17 for iPhone and Android arrived in the iTunes App Store and the Google Play Store as updates to existing apps this morning. The app is so important to the overall 2K17 experience that it features its own cover athlete, star Karl-Anthony Towns.

Through My NBA 2K17 players earn currency. A card game built into the companion app gives users something to do when they can’t be on their console playing the main version of the game. Users trade the in-game player cards that they rack up with other players through an exchange. Access to 2K TV is included too. The app is free, but gamers can also take shortcuts by buying credits for the app in small increments.

On its own My NBA 2K17 would be interesting, but it’s how the app interacts with NBA 2K17 that makes it very interesting. Virtual Currency allows users to invest in their player. All of the console versions of the game come with some free Virtual Currency, which just underscores how important it can be to the overall experience. My NBA 2K17 allows users to earn Virtual Currency away from the main game, then sync what they earn back to the console versions using their 2K account.

The app is also the only way for users to get their faces into the game for MyPlayer. NBA 2K17 drops support for camera accessories on consoles in favor of gamers just using their smartphone. The only way to import your face is through My NBA 2K17.

Face scanning is a topic of much debate today as users begin taking advantage of NBA 2K17 The Prelude. 2K Games revealed the free game download earlier this month. It acts as a lead-in for the main game’s MyCareer story. Players can get started with their MyPlayer now through Prelude. That includes choosing the way their character scores. Options also include the ability to input face scans into the game. Prelude’s strong narrative link to the main game is why 2K Games confirmed that users will be able to take their saves and import them into the final game. Unfortunately, NBA 2K17 The Prelude isn’t something that everyone can take advantage of. It’s only available on the Xbox One and PS4.

Read: Free NBA 2K17 The Prelude Release: 5 Things to Know About the Free Demo

By putting these parts of the NBA 2K17 ecosystem out now, Visual Concepts is able to make sure that things are working properly ahead of the next major milestone for the game. That’d be Early Tip-Off Weekend, a chance for those that pre-ordered the game to play ahead of anyone else. Early Tip-Off starts September 16th and lasts until the game’s official release date on September 20th.

NBA 2K17 Features: Guest Teams

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Everyone loves the league’s most iconic teams but getting them into NBA 2K wasn’t easy. The game’s rosters stay in sync with the real league’s roster. Unless 2K Games adds them, there’s no way you’re getting your hands on the classic Chicago Bulls line-up. The NBA 2K17 features list includes a few team rosters that lovers of the game will already be familiar with. The entire team for the 1992 USA Basketball Men’s National Team is getting treated as downloadable content. Those that pre-order the game get the team roster at no additional charge. Also known as the Dream Team, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Charles Barkley and Christian Laettner are included. The latter two haven’t been available in a NBA 2K game before. Players don’t have to use the Dream Team if they don’t want to. The 2016 USA Basketball Men’s Team is available, along with the Australian Boomers, developer Visual Concepts confirms.

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