Is NBA 2K24 Actually Any Different From 2K23? What's Changed & What Hasn't (2024)

There's not usually a lot of difference between consecutive games in the NBA 2K franchise, but NBA 2K24 is doing its best to set itself apart. Installments in the basketball franchise come annually, so it's not like there are major technological advances taking place in between releases. Although they've introduced a few new mechanics and game modes over the years, by now the NBA 2K formula is pretty complete, so not much has been added in recent entries. While new games do attempt to build on the visuals and gameplay of their predecessors, and will occasionally allow players to make minor modifications to rules or play with slightly different team configurations, NBA 2K has remained mostly the same.

However, yearly entries in the NBA 2K franchise do what they can to justify their existence. For the most part, these frequent updates are necessary because of changes to the professional basketball landscape: players move around, new ones get drafted, old ones retire, all their ratings change, and players want the most recent developments reflected in their 2K experience. Plus, as graphical and gameplay capabilities have increased over the years, NBA 2K games have improved incrementally on those fronts. While NBA 2K24 doesn't look like the biggest step up from 2K23, it's definitely made some improvements to its predecessor, and they're readily apparent even before its release.

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What's Different In NBA 2K24

In perhaps the most impressive technological advancement in the NBA 2K franchise in years, NBA 2K24's ProPLAY allows it to take a big step forward in realism. ProPLAY translates real-life footage from actual NBA games into in-game animations. How exactly that works is unclear, but it's easy to see how it'll make the game more immersive. A similar technology called HyperMotion has already been applied in other sports franchise-based video games like WWE 2K23 and FIFA 23. Movement in those games does have a more realistic, fluid quality to it - looking at side-by-side footage, it's easy to spot the difference. However, this feature is only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

Mamba Moments is a new campaign game mode in NBA 2K24. Mamba Moments follows the legacy of Kobe Bryant, 2K24's cover star, allowing players to control the Black Mamba himself across decades of his legendary career. It's similar to 2K23's Jordan Challenge, which took players through iconic moments in the career of the game's cover star, Michael Jordan. Of course, this is just one way to play a campaign - players can always forge their own paths in 2K24's MyCAREER mode.

And of course, NBA 2K24 will have an all-new soundtrack. 2K Beats, the menu music in NBA 2K games, always draws from some of the day's most popular artists. It goes a long way toward creating an atmosphere of high-stakes excitement, and is an integral, if often invisible part of the game. Although there's no official 2K24 track list as yet, it'll be thrilling to get into the game and discover what's included.

What's Not Different In NBA 2K24

All in all, NBA 2K24 just isn’t all that different from 2K23. It features the same teams across the NBA - it’s not like any new ones have popped up. The last time an NBA 2K game saw that kind of expansion was when the WNBA was introduced in 2K21. The gameplay probably won’t change too radically, either - although ProPLAY may upgrade some of the visuals and general quality-of-life improvements are to be expected, it’s not likely that 2K24 will reinvent the wheel. Longtime players are used to the game functioning a certain way, and while change can be welcome in certain aspects, constant tweaking of such a consistent franchise can do more harm than good.

All of 2K23's classic game modes are returning in NBA 2K24. MyCAREER allows players to create their own characters and rise through the ranks of the NBA to come out on top. Naturally, this will be a different campaign from 2K23's MyCAREER mode, but exactly what it's about and what real player cameos it involves remains to be seen. In MyTEAM mode, players can build out their fantasy teams by collecting player cards, then drop them onto the court and see how they fare. MyNBA gives players the chance to take on a more administrative role, playing as a general manager and making big-time decisions that affect the course of the entire league.

NBA 2K24 Will Still Be On PS4 & Xbox One

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Interestingly, although it's been nearly three years since the release of the PS5 and the Xbox Series X/S, NBA 2K24 is not current-generation exclusive. That means it'll be available on PS4 and Xbox One upon release. While this is a more common practice in the early days of a new console's life when some players may not have upgraded yet, it's unusual to see a cross-generational release so late in the game. 2K21, 2K22, and 2K23 were all available across generations, so the tradition continues with 2K24. This is probably due at least in part to the chip shortages and excessive reselling that have made it difficult to buy a current-gen console in recent years.

Whatever the reasoning behind this decision, NBA 2K24 will be available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Switch. This allows more players to experience the game, and with NBA 2K24's limited crossplay, it can go a long way toward building out a devoted player base. Still, features like ProPLAY are missing on older consoles, and certain editions of the game aren't available for purchase on Switch.

NBA 2K24 will be available on all the above-listed platforms beginning on September 8, 2023. Although more differences between it and its direct predecessor 2K23 may become clear after release, it doesn’t seem to be all that much of an upgrade. However, ProPLAY is exciting for current-gen players, and Mamba Moments sounds like a thrilling way to live through the career of one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Plus, since it’s available even on last-gen consoles, there are still plenty of reasons to upgrade to NBA 2K24.

Source: 2K/YouTube