NBA 2K25 hits shelves in a few days time and with each new release, there's always something to look forward. It's time to create a MyPlayer, get some triple doubles, smash some MyTeam and enjoy the newest edition of the only basketball game worth playing.
Lets take a look at what you can look forward to:
1. Gameplay, Powered by ProPLAY™
NBA 2K25 boasts enhanced gameplay on both offense and defense, with expanded ProPLAY™ technology.
OFFENSE
PROPLAY ANIMATION EXPANSION
With over 9,000 new animations including, dribble animations, off ball movement, improved motion animations for more authentic gameplay and wide array of signature shot animations from most of the 2023-2024 regular season roster, this will be the most authentic version of the game yet.
NEW DRIBBLE ENGINE
A brand new, entirely reimagined dribble engine has been created using ProPLAY™ tech. Built from the ground up, this is the biggest change to the NBA 2K gameplay engine in 15 years. The result? More consistent gameplay created by a dynamic feel across dribble movement.
SIGNATURE GO-TO SHOTS
ProPLAY™ directly translates NBA footage to allow you to tap into your favourite players' bag of moves, so you can knock down shots like the Splash Brothers.
Shot Cancelling has also been added to the mix, allowing you to cancel shots just as easily as you create them, transitioning into other dribbling combos. Shot Timing Profiles also get a rebrand allowing you to customise and weight the risk-vs-reward of your shot timing. "Low Risk-Reward" is obviously more forgiving with "High Risk-Reward" shots reward skilled players that nail the timing. Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting is another optional feature added to the offensive end. This mechanic rewards you for accurately copying and timing the tempo of your favourite players' signature shots.
DEFENSE
DEFENSIVE MOVEMENT SYSTEM
A brand new defensive cutoff system is featured by utilising the right stick on defense. This quickly allows your player to slide laterally into a position to cut off and offensive players attack.
CONTEST SYSTEM
A new dynamic weighting system, rather than a fixed one, evaluates the impact of defense at the start of the shot vs the release and works out the necessary impact.
2. MyPLAYER + MyCAREER
MYPLAYER BUILDER
The most important part of the game for this mode, offers even more options and customisations than ever before. When you enter MYPLAYER Builder, you'll have a few build options to choose from:
CREATE-YOUR-OWN BUILD
Create a build from scratch - just like previous years. Choose your position, measurements and every individual attribute point.
PRO TUNED BUILD
A brand new feature in 2K25, these templates provide well balanced build that play how you want them to. After popping in your standard info, you choose a Position and Best Skill. You'll then be presented with a templates that match your style as best as possible.
NBA BUILDS
As the name suggests, here you can base your players after the biggest and best in the NBA. There'll be 40 players to choose from at launch with more being added as time goes on. Some notables include, Luka, Steph, Kyrie, Ja, Giannis, Lebron, KD, Zion, AE, Tatum, Kawhi, Jokic, Embiid, AD and BAM with plenty more in the bank.
COMMUNITY BUILD
Introduced last year, these blueprints are from standout players in the community that competed at the highest level. These will be available from Season 2.
One your build is complete, try it out in the Build Tester. Here you can see the Signature Animations your build has the potential to unlock and other options like jumpshots and dunk packages.
ATTRIBUTE REFRESH
There are now 5 Physical attributes: Speed With Ball (in Playmaking), Speed, Agility, Strength and Vertical.
Stamina is now earned through Gatorade Gym workouts. Each build starts off with 85 Stamina. Doing a workout adds 2 points regardless of the result. You can do 4 workouts each week and once your MyPlayer reaches 99 Stamina, it's there to stay.
Once you have done all 12 unique workouts in the Gatorade Gym, you unlock Workout Warrior. This gives you 99 Stamina and a permanent Turbo Meter Boost.
TAKEOVERS
There are now 72 Takeovers and 14 Takeover Abilities. Each Takeover targets different attributes and has five levels, 1 (heating up) - 5 (Smokin hot). Initially you will only have access to Levels 1-3 but can unlock Levels 4 and 5 by activating it's previous Level in 30 different games.
BADGES
There are 40 Skill Badges that have unique attribute requirements. You'll be able to see the Badges that can be unlocked when you're building your player. These 40 Badges are split across 2 Tiers, determined by your players height. The Badges are progressed by activating each Badge in games, gaining XP for each one, the more they're used.
There's also a brand new level of Badges, higher than Hall of Fame, called Legend.
BADGE PERKS
There are 3 new Badge Perks that can modify progression of Individual Badges (MAX +1, PARTICIPATION AND SYNERGY). Each perk has 2 slots available to unlock: one for Tier 1 Badges and another for Tier 2 Badges.
Performance Multipliers allow you to maximise your badges by using these 3 boosts, earned separately through Quests. Up For The Challenge, Grade A Student and Winner's Circle.
Badge Elevators can permanently boost an individual badge up to 3 levels within it's max potential. Badge Elevators earned in Seasons 1-4 can boost your Badges up to two levels, and those earned in Seasons 5-8 can boost your Badges up to three levels.
Cap Breakers are finally here. This will allow you to increase an attribute rating above it's max cap allowing the new attribute to contribute towards Animation, Badge and Takeover requirements. A few restrictions though:
- Each attribute can be increased a maximum of +5 above its cap.
- You can use a Cap Breaker on an attribute up to its max potential rating allowed by your build’s height, weight, and wingspan, which is shown in the MyPLAYER Builder while allocating your attribute potential.
- You must progress an attribute to its max potential rating before applying a Cap Breaker.
There are a total of 15 Cap Breakers available to earn through REP rewards.
MYCAREER
Once your build is complete, you'll go through MP's backstory (again) and relive 4 major games on your journey to the NBA (a Club League Showcase Game, your high school championship game, the FIBA u19 World Cup, and an open run with NBA players). Completing these games unlocks the MyPOINTS Accelerator, this increases your MyPOINTS progression by 5%.
DYNASTY RANKINGS
This year rely more on how far you can take your team rather than individual accomplishments. Your MyPlayer doesn't come with the major hype as previous versions so you have to earn your spot in the starting lineup. The better the player in front of you, the harder it’ll be to take his spot.
KEY GAMES
Major improvements have been made this year where you have much more control over which ones are played. The system has been tiered so if you have a low Overall Rating you’ll go up against other NBA players with similar ratings. If you’re a 99 Overall, you’ll go up against the best of the best.
After completing Key Games, you’ll earn Dynasty Badges that you can use to help your teammates play better in different ways. There are 18 Badges to unlock, ranging from Bronze - Gold.
3. MYTEAM
Our favourite fantasy line mode is back has been revamped! 4 new game modes, a year long MyTEAM REP system and the return of a major feature.
THE AUCTION HOUSE IS BACK!
The Auction House returns and everything has been condensed into one, user friendly place. Here, you can Buy, Sell and Search for cards in the one screen so you don't have to keep going back and forth like previous years. Earning more MyTEAM REP will increase your My Auctions capacity.
TRIPLE THREAT PARK
Only available on New Gen, the biggest upgrade in MyTeam history is here. A remastered version of 2K16's Rivet City, this is the new home for Triple Threat Online (TTO) and TTO Co op. With 9 courts in total, 4 are for 2 player 3v3 games, the other 5 are for 6 player 3v3 where each person controls one player card.
NEW MODE: BREAKOUT
A new, updated single player experience where, after selecting your starting difficulty, you start off in the middle of Breakout City, surrounded by arenas representing different game modes, eras and opponents.
The goal? Break out of the game board to earn a reward. This means, Triple Threat 3v3, Clutch Time 5v5, or a shortened 13 man lineup game. You'll come up against a range of opponents, including current NBA teams, historic teams in Era-themed games in the 80s/90s/00s/10s, All-Time teams, and theme teams of new collections released throughout the year.
Every time you win, you progress through the board in the direction you've selected and earn Prize Points. These are needed to unlock the reward spaces on the board. The better the reward, the more Prize Points needed. Choose your opponent wisely, if you lose 3 times in a run, you start over!
TRIPLE THREAT AND CLUTCH TIME MODES HAVE BEEN REMOVED AND MERGED INTO THIS MODE.
SHOWDOWN
A new head to head multiplayer mode that's replacing Unlimited.
The objective is to win 13 card Full Lineup games in 4 minute quarters so you can progress across the 15 tiers. If you go on a win streak, you earn extra progression up the ladder, lose games and it works against you. But don't worry, there are checkpoints built into each tier so you can't drop to a tier below you.
The tier you end up in determines the Rewards you receive. Rewards are available every Saturday at 1am AEST.
After you hit a target amount of Showdown wins each week, you then qualify for 2K's new competitive mode: KING OF THE COURT.
KING OF THE COURT
An exclusive event held every Saturday from 3am - 7am AEST, starting on Sept 14. You qualify from meeting certain qualifications in Showdown or Triple Threat Park or earn auto qualification the MyTEAM REP tiers.
After each game, you earn a Game Score based on your performance. If you lose 3 games, your King of the Court run will be over.
Your final Game Score each Saturday will be ranked amongst all competitors in groups representing the Top 50%, Top 10%, Top 1%, and the ultimate #1 King of the Court. The group you finish in determines which tiers of rewards you receive. These rewards are some of the best available in MyTEAM including packs, MyTEAM-exclusive Indicator and Perfect Release Cards, and more including 1 Million VC for the King of the Court!
CHALLENGES
Agendas and Challenges have now been combined. Every mode can now use an Autofill lineup which automatically generates a lineup based on your collection. Usually using your best Player Cards available, but if a Challenge requires completing a specific stat, this Autofill will adjust to ensure you have the best lineup for that Challenge.
MYTEAM REP
A year long system that does not reset like the 40 levels in each Season (thank God).
There are 11 levels of Rewards (Bronze - Dark Matter) to reach. You earn REP by completing games and Challenges. Each time you reach a new tier, new rewards are unlocked (access to the Auction House, free packs, the Fire Ball and more).
- Getting Started is as fun as ever. The tutorial for new comers is still there but you'll begin by opening up your Starter Kit from your favourite NBA team. 2 Diamond level Free Agents are available (25 games) and 1 All Time NBA Legend Free Agent or Pink Diamond Free Agent (10 games). More Free Agent cards and Reward Player cards are available by completing the tutorial including 1 of 5 Evo Cards to choose (Emerald upgraded to Sapphire and then Ruby).
- Shoe Boost Cards have been replaced with Takeover cards.
- Coach Settings now finally support On The Fly Lineups (Bench, Tall, Quick, 3 etc).
- Card Collecting now primarily counts cards that are "Locked In". You can choose when to lock cards in (individually or in sets) to boost your collector count.
- The Exchange has been overhauled to allow more flexibility.
- Ascension picks have now been streamlines so all picks flip at the same time rather than one by one.
- Single Card Award Packs now open automatically instead of filling up in the Unopened Packs tab.
4. MyNBA and MyGM
Take control of an NBA front office and lead your team to glory. This Role Playing Game (RPG) franchise mode puts you in full control of an NBA team as you journey towards a Championship, or 3.
BECOME A GM
Redesigned to be more of a role playing experience, you begin by selecting your preferred management style using a range of detailed backstories. Ex player, Ex Scout, Closer, Capitalist.. all options you can choose from.
Your backstory determines your initial attributes, here are all the attributes that make up your GM:
- Offensive Coaching - Improves the team's offensive attributes; unlocks conversation options.
- Defensive Coaching - Improves the team's defensive attributes; unlocks conversation options.
- Sports Medicine - Improves the team's training and reduces the impact of fatigue and injuries; unlocks conversation options.
- Business - Improves team attendance; unlocks conversation options.
- Charisma - Affects trades, contract negotiations, and team morale; unlocks numerous conversation options.
- Analytics - Improves scouting; unlocks conversation options.
BOOST YOUR SKILLS WITH PERKS
55 Perks to choose from, from Winning Culture to Data Analyst, Big Budget to Recruiter, there's plenty available to boost your skills. Complete Goals and earn XP to level up and add Perks to your collection. You'll get additional attribute points at each level but at Levels 4, 8, 12 and 16 you'll receive an additional Perk as well. Once you hit the level cap of 20, you get 2 additional Perks.
An all new MyGM Building on New Gen allows you to roam around and carry out GM like responsibilities. Check in with your staff, speak to the coaches or discuss the team's finances with the CFO.
5. The City
One of the most exciting aspects of the game, your MyPlayer can roam around and explore the new features that 2K25 has to offer.
BOULEVARD OF THE STARS
Basically the go-to in The City. Here you can find access to all of the game modes, the shops of major global brands, and finally returning to 2K25, MyCOURT! The map is more condensed this year (thanks to the 2K community) so moving from place to place should be quicker and easier.
PROVING GROUNDS
The new home of top tier competition. A colosseum-inspired arena is the place to be for ranked play. 1v1, 2v2, 3v3 and 5v5 games go down with comp level difficulty sliders and shot meters turned off for everyone. The best REP in the City is earned right here.
There are 5 tiers - Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond. The aim is simple, win and move up or lose and drop down. Progress here is based on level of play and the difficulty of your opponents but matchmaking prioritizes putting you up against players in a similar tier and team structure.
Good to note, your tier is unique per game type per Season, the best rank across all Seasons in each of the four game types is saved.
CHASE WINS, EARN REP
The REC, Theater, Pro-Am, Starting 5 and Ante-Up are all modes where you can chase wins to gain REP, XP and earn rewards without worrying about losing your ranking in Proving Grounds. All of these areas have had a makeover with a new look and feel so check out every location if you get the chance.
MyCOURT
The apartment and bball court combo is back and is still the central location for your journey through MyCAREER. Your court is now equipped with a ball machine where you can invite friends or your NBA team mates for a game of 1v1 or HORSE.
STREETBALL
Another mode that has been upgraded with more over the top rewards for you to show off. There are 3 new locations: a building rooftop, on the beach and inside The Temple. This year, Co-Op mode allows you to link up with up to 2 friends in these 3v3 games.
2K15 MYPARKS ARE BACK
The iconic Sunset Beach Park, Rivet City, the urban Old Town and of course the upgraded Old Town on the aircraft carrier will all be brought back as events in the Event Centre. These events will be introduced over the first four Seasons and will all feature 2XP and 2XREP for the entire time.
REP & LEGEND
The year long REP system will be divided into four categories this year. Each with five tiers: Rookie 1-5, Starter 1-5, Veteran 1-5 and Legend 1-5. Each tier will unlock rewards (like the new Cap Breakers) but once you reach Legend 1, you become eligible for a spot on the Top 10 leaderboard.
- The Rise & Elite Affiliations rivalry lives on! If you join ELITE, you'll be rolling around an old fort with a crazy pirate ship as the centerpiece - you can play inside and even on top! If you join RISE, you'll play in the middle of a robot factory, with giant mechs being forged around you.
- A Squad Finder feature has been added to help find your perfect team. You can select your preference of squad size, playstyle, microphone status, overall rating range, performance range, and affiliation to be connected with.
- Take a trip to the new Triple Threat Park using the fast travel subway where you can play TTO or TTO Co-Op.
- A new shop called Limited Edition will debut, with clothing drops from a rotating list of fashion brands.
- The Gatorade Gym is now an open area workout platform on the beach, with a few different courts to play around on.
- Rebirth has been slightly improved in NBA 2K25. Anytime you use Rebirth to create a new build, you unlock the maximum potential of your new MyPLAYERs to the highest overall rating you’ve previously reached. Also, your Silver-level Badges will still be automatically unlocked once attribute requirements are met, and you’ll receive a Badge level progression accelerator. The MyCAREER Quest to unlock Rebirth becomes available once you have reached 90 OVR on a save file.
- The Track is a new indoor karting warehouse. Roll around different tracks with both bike and go kart driving mechanics for your chance to win 1 MILLION VC. Each week the first place finisher will win the grand prize.
5. The W
Climb the all time ranks in the Pursuit of Greatness story where you strive to become the GOAT. Outshine your fellow rookies by competing against Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese and Kamilla Cardoso (available on next Gen & PC only).
Take part in press conferences for the first time and choose how you want to be viewed in the eyes of the public.
The W Online has moved to a new outdoor court in the forest where 3v3 multiplayer games can be played. Earn rewards by completing stat goals that refresh every week.
TOP 10 RATED PLAYERS IN 2K25
NIKOLA JOKIC |
97 |
LUKA DONCIC |
97 |
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO |
97 |
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER |
96 |
JOEL EMBIID |
96 |
LEBRON JAMES |
95 |
STEPH CURRY |
95 |
JAYSON TATUM |
95 |
KEVIN DURANT |
94 |
ANTHONY DAVIS |
94 |
Conclusion
NBA 2K25 is set to come out on the 6th of Sept. If you pre order the game, you'll get early access at 10pm AEST on Wednesday the 4th of Sept.
For all other information about the game and details on how to pre order, please hit up the 2K website: https://nba.2k.com/2k25/
Are you excited for NBA 2K25? Share your thoughts and what you’re most looking forward to in the comments below!