Connect with us

Gaming

NBA 2K22 Release Date & Features: 10 Things to Know

Published

on

The next version of NBA 2K is official and here’s what you need to know, right now, about NBA 2K22.

NBA 2K21 is still the flagship game, but that will change this month when 2K Sports and Visual Dynamics release a brand new entry in the long-running series.

We don’t know everything about NBA 2K22, but details are trickling out as we approach the game’s release date for current-generation and last-generation platforms.

We know a lot of gamers have questions about NBA 2K22 so we’ll outline everything we know, and everything we expect, in this guide.

Here’s a closer look at what you can expect from NBA 2K22’s features, release date, editions, demo, and more.

NBA 2K22 Consoles

NBA 2K22 is headed to the PS5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch.

The game is also headed to the Xbox One, Xbox One X, Xbox One S, PS4, PS4 Slim, and PS4 Pro. These aren’t the latest and greatest models, but we’ll likely see support for these platforms continue on for several years.

The NBA 2K series supported the PS3 and Xbox 360 until the release of NBA 2K19 in the fall of 2018. Those consoles had been supported since NBA 2K6 (Xbox 360) and NBA 2K7 (PS3).

So if you’re a huge fan of the NBA 2K series, there’s no need to panic if you can’t find an Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, or PlayStation 5 in stock.

However, if you want all of the bells and whistles, you’ll want to buy the game for PS5 or Xbox Series X. A lot of changes will be limited to those consoles.

NBA 2K22 Covers

This year, four players grace the cover of NBA 2K.

The NBA 2K22 standard edition features Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic on the cover. Doncic is also on the front of the Cross-Gen Digital Bundle.

The NBA 2K22 NBA 75th Anniversary Edition features three legends on the cover: Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Durant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

And for the first time ever, there’s a WNBA star on the cover of NBA 2K. Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker is on the front of the NBA 2K22 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition which is exclusive to GameStop. It’s also exclusive to the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

NBA 2K22 Release Date

The NBA 2K22 release date for all platforms is set for September 10th.

In the past, 2K Games offered an early tipoff release date to those who pre-order deluxe versions of the game, but it’s not providing an early NBA 2K22 release date this time around.

NBA 2K22 Editions

There are three versions of NBA 2K22: NBA 2K22 Standard Edition, NBA 2K22 Cross-Gen Digital Bundle, and the NBA 2K22 NBA 75th Anniversary Edition. Each of these have different price points and a different set of bonuses.

The standard edition retails for $59.99 for Xbox One, PS4, Windows PC, and Nintendo Switch while the standard edition for PS5 and Xbox Series X retails for $69.99.

The NBA 2K22 Cross-Gen Digital Bundle is aimed at people who want the game for PS4/PS5 and Xbox One/Xbox Series X. This version of the game costs $79.99 without a deal.

It also nets you the following in-game items:

  • 10,000 MyTEAM Points
  • 10 MyTEAM Tokens
  • Sapphire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant MyTEAM Cards
  • 22 MyTEAM Promo Packs (Receive 10 at launch, then 3 per week for 4 weeks)
  • Diamond Jordan Shoe MyTEAM card
  • Coach Card MyTEAM Pack
  • 10 Boosts for each MyCAREER Skill Boost type
  • 10 Boosts for each Gatorade Boost type
  • 4 Cover Athlete T-Shirts for your MyPLAYER
  • MyPLAYER backpack and arm sleeve
  • Custom-design skateboard for MyPLAYER

If you want a little more with your purchase, you might opt for the NBA 75th Anniversary Edition which comes with a bunch of in-game items. The NBA 2K22 NBA 75th Anniversary Edition  retails for $99.99 across the board.

If you buy this version of NBA 2K22, here’s what you get:

  • NBA 2K22 Base Game
  • 100K Virtual Currency
  • 10K MyTEAM Points & 10 MyTEAM Tokens
  • Sapphire Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dirk Nowitzki, and Kevin Durant MyTEAM Cards and Diamond Jordan Shoe MyTEAM card
  • 22 MyTEAM Promo Packs (Receive 10 at launch, then 3 per week for 4 weeks)
  • Coach Card MyTEAM Pack
  • 10 Boosts for each MyCAREER Skill Boost type
  • 10 Boosts for each Gatorade Boost type
  • 4 Cover Athlete T-Shirts for your MyPLAYER
  • MyPLAYER backpack and arm sleeve
  • Custom-design skateboard for MyPLAYER

We’ve seen a few offers emerge ahead of the game’s release date including an offer for American Express card holders. If you pre-order a copy of NBA 2K22 on the 2K Store with your American Express card, you’ll receive a code for 35,000 in Virtual Currency (VC).

The bulk of NBA 2K22 deals will likely arrive around Black Friday in November, the holidays in December, and in 2022 as we push toward the inevitable release of NBA 2K23.

NBA 2K22 Pre-Order Bonuses

If you pre-order a copy of the standard edition for console or Windows PC, you get the following pre-order bonuses:

  • 5,000 Virtual Currency
  • 5,000 MyTEAM Points
  • 10 MyTEAM Promo Packs (delivered one a week)
  • A Boost for each MyCAREER Skill type
  • A Boost for each Gatorade Boost type
  • Luka Doncic MyPLAYER Jersey
  • 95 Rated Luka Doncic MyTEAM Free Agent Card

This pre-order bonus offer is available through September 9th.

NBA 2K22 Features

Just like last year, you can expect numerous improvements and changes with a particular focus on current-generation platforms (Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PS5).

Here are some of the highlights from NBA 2K22’s known features and upgrades:

  • Revamped blocking/steal/body-up/shot contest systems.
  • Tweaks to dribbling and shooting including an emphasis on Shot IQ.
  • Overhauled fatigue system that will make you use your bench.
  • The City (PS5/Xbox Series X only) will feature non-player characters, a quest system, and the game’s MyCareer mode.
  • Last-generation platforms will still feature My Neighborhood as the MyCareer hub. It’s set on a cruise ship.
  • The W and MyNBA/MyWNBA will again be exclusive to PS5 and Xbox Series X. MyGM is still the franchise mode in the last-generation version.
  • Major improvements to The W including numerous changes to the career mode.
  • Expanded Seasons.

2K’s also running down the player ratings for some of the league’s top stars so you’ll want to tune into its Twitter page for those details as we push closer to the game’s release. Highlights include:

  • Trae Young: 89 Overall
  • Zion Williamson: 89 Overall
  • Jayson Tatum: 90 Overall
  • Lamelo Ball: 84 Overall
  • Steph Curry: 96 Overall
  • Kevin Durant: 96 Overall
  • Lebron James: 96 Overall

2K has also revealed the ratings for this year’s top rookies. The top five rookies include Cade Cunningham (80 Overall), Jalen Green (79 Overall), Evan Mobley (78 Overall), Jalen Suggs (77 Overall), and Scottie Barnes (76 Overall).

2K has also confirmed some of the artists that will appear on the NBA 2K21 soundtrack. You can see the current list of artists in the photo above.

NBA 2K22 will also allow you to record verses over beats via a new system called the Producer Series.

We’ve also seen the NBA 2K22 clothing brands confirmed.

NBA 2K22 Demo

2K Sports typically releases a short demo of the next NBA 2K game ahead of the official release date. The demo lets players try a portion of the game ahead of time.

Unfortunately, it looks like we won’t see an NBA 2K22 demo released ahead of the game’s release date.

NBA 2K22 Mobile

While the company initially focused on its NBA 2K Mobile Basketball app, it has launched a free NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition for mobile devices. NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition is available for iPhone and iPad.

The mobile version of NBA 2K is a stripped-down version of the game. While it includes some elements from the console versions, it’s not identical.

We also expect a companion app for NBA 2K22 called My NBA2K22. Like its predecessors, it should be free for both iOS and Android.

NBA 2K22 Microtransactions

While it would’ve been great to see 2K Games do away with the game’s annoying micro-transactions, known as VC, they’re a cash cow. Virtual Currency returns in NBA 2K22.

NBA 2K22 PC Requirements

If you plan to play NBA 2K22 on a Windows PC, you’ll need to take note of the game’s minimum and recommended spec requirements.

Unfortunately, 2K hasn’t provided those details yet so it might be a good idea to hold off on a pre-order until we know more about the specs.

3 Reasons to Pre-Order NBA 2K22 & 4 Reasons to Wait

Pre-Order NBA 2k22 to Receive These Bonuses

Pre-Order NBA 2k22 to Receive These Bonuses

If you plan to invest a lot of time into NBA 2K22's various game modes, you might want to pre-order a copy of the game because you'll get some bonuses with your order. 

If you pre-order a copy of NBA 2K22 you get some bonus items that could prove useful during your play-through.

The NBA 2K22 pre-order bonuses include:

  • 5,000 Virtual Currency
  • 5,000 MyTEAM Points
  • 10 MyTEAM Promo Packs (delivered one a week)
  • A Boost for each MyCAREER Skill type
  • A Boost for each Gatorade Boost type
  • Luka Doncic MyPLAYER Jersey
  • 95 Rated Luka Doncic MyTEAM Free Agent Card

All of those all come free with a pre-order and they'll give you a pretty good head start if you plan on playing NBA 2K22's various game modes. 

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.