Summary
- NBA 2K25's The City mode offers a variety of competitive and non-competitive features for players.
- The City includes new elements such as a walk of fame, Elite affiliation locations, improved Streetball mode, and accessibility features.
- This free-roam mode is designed for easy navigation, offers customization options, showcases iconic NBA locations, and enhances online matchmaking.
NBA 2K25 developer Visual Concepts has shared new details about the basketball simulation game's The City mode, ahead of its release on September 6. The announcement spotlights the various competitive and non-competitive features present in NBA 2K25's The City.
First introduced in NBA 2K21, The City is a free-roam mode that puts players in a basketball-themed neighborhood from where they can access everything from ranked matches to practice sessions. Similar to the return of the Auction House feature in MyTeam this year, The City will mark the return of MyCourt, a place where players can experiment on the basketball court either solo or with friends. NBA 2K25's The City is only available on PC and new-gen consoles, namely PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
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Recently, Erick Boenisch, the VP of Visual Concepts and NBA development, talked about the various features coming in NBA 2K25's The City in the latest Courtside Report. They highlighted that the approach taken for the free-roam mode in this iteration draws from player feedback, revealing that The City is now "significantly smaller" but feels "more intimate." He continued that the game mode has been designed to allow the player to easily navigate the environment and to let them access The City's various offerings "quicker." Besides making tweaks to things like NBA 2K's Badge system, the developer eyes bringing plenty of other features, many of which will be a part of The City itself.
NBA 2K25's The City Comes With New and Returning Features
Boenisch shared that The City's Boulevard of the Stars has a "walk of fame" similar to the real-life Hollywood counterpart, featuring the names of all the NBA Finals winners over the years. A key interactive aspect is the player's ability to add to this list by winning titles in the MyCareer mode. The VP also revealed that the players who join the Elite affiliation will be able to play in and around a desolate pirate ship, whereas the Rise affiliation players have their own unique location surrounded by under-construction giant robots or mechas. Moreover, they confirmed that MyCourt is back with customization options, difficulty sliders, and the option to practice with friends or MyCareer teammates.
Boenisch talked about the competitive part of The City called Proving Grounds, where players can enter 1v1, 2v2, 3v3, and 5v5 matches to climb up the leaderboards. NBA 2K25's The City also features an improved Streetball mode that comes with optional co-op gameplay, new courts, new bosses, and new unlockable cosmetics. For the nostalgic NBA 2K fans, the forthcoming game brings back content from some of the best NBA games. Boenisch confirmed the addition of Triple Threat Park, which packs the remastered Rivet City rooftop court from NBA 2K16, and of MyPark, which brings the remastered version of certain courts from NBA 2K15. To improve accessibility for new players, The City also hosts a Casual Court, a beginner-friendly venue, and Holo Helps tutorial kiosks. For better online matchmaking, a new Squad Finder feature has also been incorporated into the game. The developer also showed a new racing mini-game called The Track.
With tons of new and returning features, NBA 2K25 looks set to cater to both first-time and veteran players of the game. While the accessibility features allow newcomers to get going in NBA 2K sooner, the highly popular MyCourt gives longtime players one of the community's top requested features. It will be exciting to see how players react to these additions when NBA 2K25 rolls out next week.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 75 /100 Critics Rec: 53%
- 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
WHERE TO PLAY
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
