All The New and Improved Features of NBA 2K25 Explained

NBA 2K25 continues the annual tradition of NBA 2K being the premiere basketball video game. The NBA has an exclusive deal to only work with 2K for console releases, and naturally the series attempts to add new or improve established features every year. As usual, NBA 2K25 fans will find various modes that meet the interests of different audiences.

Cover athletes Jayson Tatum, A’ja Wilson, and Vince Carter made headlines at the start of the title's marketing, serving as the faces of the game. More news has come out since then, with NBA 2K25 tempting fans with updates about the upcoming release. Ahead of the game hitting shelves, it's worth looking at all the new and improved features within NBA 2K25.

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NBA 2K25 Gameplay Expected To Improve Customization With ProPlay

How Advanced Technology and AI Help NBA 2K25 Perfect The In-Game Experience

The actual basketball gameplay will be better than ever in NBA 2K25 due to the implementation of various forms of improved technology. ProPLAY allows a more realistic game approach with over 1,000 animations mirroring the real-life moves we see in NBA games. Shot animations for three-pointers, fadeaways, and every other form of shooting help the game provide an authentic experience that captures the look of the greatest players in league history.

The shooting animations were established last year with new upgrades coming, but another aspect of growth will be a new dribble engine. NBA 2K25 is promising the biggest change to the gameplay engine in fifteen years, capturing dynamic motion from NBA players dribbling to create authentic movement. Guards or point forwards who can handle the ball will enjoy the new dribbling animations, adding more moves to replicate the players who did it best.

Personalizing a shot will also have a more intricate set-up with more customization options. Users will have the option to recreate the moves of legendary players with both the dribbling and shot creation. The pro-stick rhythm shooting influences users to match the rhythm of other players’ shots when customizing the settings.

Slower or faster shot releases will give different experiences and a high-risk/high-reward scenario to perfect a shot. Real NBA footage being able to offer intricate animations via ProPLAY technology shows how much has changed from previous decades.

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Changes Being Made To NBA 2K25’s Popular Game Modes

Each mode in NBA 2K25 offers some appeal to different users with different experiences based on taste. MyCareer always holds relevance for those wanting to create their own player and go on a realistic NBA journey. NBA 2K25 offers a new build tester for MyPlayer, a fresh badges system, and a contemporary takeover system to continue progressing. Each individual badge a player earns in MyCareer is designed to feel equally valuable to others, with more balance than in past years.

MyCareer players will have a Dynasty Rankings feature to compare one’s success against the greatest dynasties in NBA history. Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls are the strongest dynasty team one must match if hoping to reach the highest level of success. The “Heart of the Dynasty” backstory adds a stronger story element with key games helping add importance to the mode.

MyGM is another popular mode fans love to play to replicate the behind-the-scenes experience of running an NBA team. A more detailed and interactive RPG experience should make that mode more exciting than in recent years. Dynamic conversations and goals add a more traditional story to the creative experience, and NBA 2K25 will also have a deeper perk system to incentivize gameplay progression.

Stephen Curry will be involved in the improvement of the MyNBA mode going back in time to specific eras. The Steph Era joins Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird as players defining previous eras one can play in. Users will be able to take part in the 2016-2017 season to either continue Curry’s dominance with the Golden State Warriors or re-write history by trying to defeat the iconic squad. The NBA Cup getting added to MyNBA provides a more exciting payoff and tournament format.

WNBA Involvement, The City and New Modes Making NBA 2K25 Feel Fresh

The WNBA’s popularity continues to grow with the most exciting season in many years featuring a mix of established top teams and new superstars. The W mode gives users the chance to have an immersive WNBA experience by entering the league as a rookie competing with new superstars Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. New outdoor courts and game-changer mentorship offer a different journey compared to MyPlayer.

The City will be among the most exciting improvements where players get to use their custom players in games at various outdoor parks. Proving Grounds will be the most competitive part of the park with 1 vs 1, 2 vs 2, 3 vs 3, and 5 vs 5 streetball options. Older court designs, including the popular Rivet Park, will return to add some of the beloved courts.

A cool new City incentive sees the Boulevard of Stars as an NBA version of Hollywood’s Walk of Fame having the names of NBA Finals winners, which can add the user’s character with a title in MyCareer. NBA 2K25 is also marketing faster game waiting time in the new City with cool secondary aspects adding to the excitement.

Another fun element of this year’s game will be the inclusion of a few new game modes. Breakout is a single-player experience in MyTeam where users advance on a game board by winning games against current, all-time, and classic teams. Showdown is a win-based multi-player mode with 13-card lineups advancing across tiers. King of the Court offers a mode for the best MyTeam players against similar ranked competitors.

The goal for NBA 2K25 is to improve all modes that users already love and to win over users into trying new modes with the upgrades. Broader changes like the ProPLAY technology making for a more realistic experience will merge with the smaller modifications of MyNBA or MyCareer. NBA 2K25 put in more attention to detail, and users will see if embracing these changes and improvements.

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NBA 2K25

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Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 53%

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Released

September 6, 2024

ESRB

E For Everyone For In-Game Purchases & Users Interact

Developer(s)

Visual Concepts

Publisher(s)

2K Games

Engine

Eco-Motion engine

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer

Franchise

NBA 2K

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Command every court with authenticity and realism Powered by ProPLAY™, giving you ultimate control over how you play in NBA 2K25. Define your legacy in MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and The W. Express yourself with an array of customization options and explore an all-new City rich with opportunity.

POWERED BY ProPLAY™: Bring your game to life with ProPLAY™, immersive technology that directly translates NBA footage into engaging gameplay. Get up close and personal with your favorite NBA superstars and immerse yourself in clutch moments, as ProPLAY™ powers the most authentic NBA experience to date.

COMPETE IN THE CITY: The City is the ultimate proving ground; hit the park for some streetball fun and compete at various new venues. Pay homage to legends of the game in MyCAREER as you eclipse their records and usher in the greatest dynasty of all-time. Let your talents shine in a bustling City and etch your name among the greats.

BUILD YOUR DYNASTY: Build a dynasty that transcends eras, and redefine what it means to be the best as a General Manager in MyNBA. Explore the unique challenges that come with overseeing an NBA front office and cherish the ultimate reward of winning a championship, or multiple. Choose from six Eras, including an all-new Era, and become the next mastermind to change the game forever.

Platform(s)

PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One

Genre(s)

Sports

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