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“NBA 2K22,” the world’s top basketball simulation game, will launch on September 10 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC. Special editions of the game are available in celebration of the NBA’s 75th anniversary and the 25th anniversary of the WNBA.
Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic graces the cover of the standard edition, while the 75th anniversary edition features Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant, Mavericks all-time great Dirk Nowitzki, and NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Chicago Sky forward Candace Parker is the first WNBA player to be featured on an “NBA 2K” cover, appearing on the WNBA 25th anniversary edition.
Players interested in upgrading their game from PS4 to PS5 or Xbox One to Xbox Series X|S will need to buy the digital cross-gen version of the game from the respective console store for $80.
In the past, 2K has given customers who preorder a chance to play the game a few days early, but “NBA 2K22” will have a simultaneous release for all versions. All players who preorder “NBA 2K22” will receive in-game rewards when it launches, as long as they buy before September 10.
“NBA 2K” saw major graphical improvements with the leap to the next-gen PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S consoles last year. “NBA 2K22” further optimizes those visuals on the new consoles, while players on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC can expect improved animations compared to last year’s game.
PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions will also let players explore a new city environment in the game’s MyCareer and Neighborhood modes. Meanwhile, the neighborhood mode on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC will be staged on a cruise ship.
All versions of “NBA 2K22” incorporate seasonal rewards across multiple modes, challenging players to complete tasks and unlock in-game items. Each season will last six weeks, with nine total seasons of rewards planned before the release of “NBA 2K23.”
“NBA 2K22” will also include more robust features for WNBA modes, like improved progression during season and MyCareer modes, and easier matchmaking with friends when playing online. 2K Games plans to release more details about the MyCareer mode and gameplay changes in the days before release.
“NBA 2K22” will launch with four different editions on September 10. Every edition includes preorder bonuses, but they vary based on which version you buy.
The standard version of “NBA 2K22” starts at $60 on Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC. Players on PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S will have to pay $70. If you think you’ll be upgrading to a PS5 or Xbox Series X|S in the future, you can pay $80 for the cross-gen bundle (PlayStation, Xbox) to access “NBA 2K22” on current and next-gen consoles without having to re-purchase the game.
The $100 NBA 75th anniversary edition of “NBA 2K22” offers the most rewards, while the $70 WNBA 25th Anniversary Edition features the same rewards as the standard edition, but with a special cover featuring Candace Parker that’s only available from GameStop or the 2K store.
Here’s a full breakdown of preorder bundles for each ‘NBA 2K22’ edition.
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