Tag Archives: The City

Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five interactive areas that were featured in basketball video games before The Neighborhood (and The City).

I don’t enjoy feeling cynical about basketball video games, or any of my hobbies and interests for that matter. Some might argue that cynicism and experience go hand-in-hand – there’s a scene from the old Dilbert animated series that suggests as such – but I’d like to think that we’re not doomed to become Debbie Downers about our favourite things! With that being said, it’s impossible not to notice when game design is lacking in goodwill and incorporating greedy recurrent revenue mechanics, or is frustrating and problematic in some other way.

It’s why I’ve always had my reservations about The Neighborhood (and subsequently The City) in MyCAREER. In some ways it’s interesting and immersive to have an open world to explore, but as I’ve explained, it’s not necessarily a good fit for the genre. More to the point, once you look beyond the creativity of the concept, you can see how it pushes advertising and recurrent revenue mechanics on gamers, while also padding out playtime. It’s a shame that it’s so cynically corporate, because there was a time when interactive areas in basketball games were a fun idea. To that end, here are five interactive areas that preceded The Neighborhood that were definitely cool to see.

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Patch 4.0 is out now for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S version of NBA 2K26, with the PC patch set to be released this Friday in time for Season 4. As always, it should come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

Unlike the mysterious update back in December, we do actually have patch notes this time around. In addition to preparing NBA 2K26 for Season 4 in MyTEAM and MyCAREER, Patch 4.0 includes new RealVoice player interviews, likeness updates, and corrections to classic jerseys. There are also technical fixes for issues throughout the game modes, and a couple of PC-specific updates to improve performance.

You can find the full notes for Patch 4.0 below, as well as in the NBA 2K26 update history in our Wiki. Feel free to share any impressions in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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Patch 3.1 (also referred to as Patch 1.012) came through for NBA 2K26 this week, specifically for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC version of the game. As always, it should download automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

Much to the chagrin of NBA 2K26 gamers, there have been no official release notes for Patch 3.1 thus far. We can assume the usual assortment of unspecified “stability fixes”, and it reportedly addresses an issue related to Virtual Currency as well. Additionally, gifts are now available under the Christmas tree in The City in MyCAREER, so it’s quite likely that some seasonal content was also included in the patch. While 2K has occasionally neglected to be forthcoming with significant patch notes in the past, in this case it’s probably an indication that it’s a smaller update that primarily consists of hotfixes and live service content.

If any official patch notes are released, I’ll be sure to post them. In the meantime, I’ve added the release dates for Patch 3.1 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and PC  to the NBA 2K26 update history in our Wiki, along with some generic placeholder notes. Feel free to share any impressions in the comments below, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

Patch 3.0 is now available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S version of NBA 2K26, and will be out on PC on November 28th in time for the tip-off of Season 3. As always, it should come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client – come the 28th in the case of the latter – or checking for updates manually.

In addition to preparing NBA 2K26 for Season 3 in MyCAREER and MyTEAM, Patch 3.0 includes more player likeness updates and technical fixes. It also adds support for the NBA’s new heave rule, and addresses an issue with 3-second violations in The City’s game modes. Apart from that, there have been no major changes to the gameplay. Additionally, the PC update will also include further optimisation tweaks for better stability and performance.

Full release notes for Patch 3.0 can be found below, as well as in the NBA 2K26 update history in our Wiki. Feel free to share any impressions and other thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five features that we’ve lost, yet for some reason don’t talk about enough.

One of the unfortunate realities of long-running annual sports video games is that over the years, features will be lost. Contrary to popular belief, the code is re-written every year, as it’s necessary to accommodate new features and mechanics. As such, anything that is incompatible or otherwise causes issues with the new code is at risk of ending up on the cutting room floor, particularly if the telemetry data indicates that it isn’t a very popular feature. With that being said, some features are dropped because they’re no longer useful or relevant, or indeed, stand in the way of recurrent revenue.

I’m sure that we can all cite plenty of examples of lost features that we’ve fervently wished were still in NBA 2K, NBA Live, and other games. Indeed, I’ve mentioned some of my own picks in previous articles and on our podcast! However, there are lost features that really should receive more attention than they do, yet people seldom bring them up. To that end, I’m as guilty as anyone else of glossing over some of these lost features that were once staples of basketball video games, so I figured it’s about time that I spotlight a few of them. While some of them may not seem like a big deal, they’re still basic functionality that’s bewilderingly absent in otherwise deep games.

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Welcome to another edition of The Friday Five! Every Friday I cover a topic related to basketball gaming, either as a list of five items, or a Top 5 countdown. The topics for these lists and countdowns include everything from fun facts and recollections to commentary and critique. This week’s Five is a list of five controversial concepts in basketball video games that were ultimately abandoned.

Basketball video games have come a long way, thanks to evolving technology and innovative ideas. Of course, not all ideas pan out, and some definitely aren’t in the best interests of consumers. It’s one thing when a change to a gameplay mechanic or mode doesn’t resonate with gamers, or result in the improvements that were intended. However, when the overall experience is harmed by a controversial approach that’s sorely lacking in goodwill – such as pushy recurrent revenue mechanics – it can easily overshadow a game’s better qualities.

In the best case scenario, such concepts will prove to be so controversial that they’ll be abandoned or at least heavily revamped in the following game, if not sooner via a patch. The annual basketball titles obviously have a built-in audience, and with NBA 2K essentially having a monopoly on the sim genre right now, there’s a lot of freedom to push their luck. Nevertheless, controversial concepts do invite significant backlash, so they will be abandoned if they threaten to damage a company’s reputation; or more accurately, their profits. That said, while they may not be motivated by altruism, it’s always welcome when companies walk back on controversial concepts like these five.

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with a confession: I can’t (totally) hate the open worlds in NBA 2K.

I’ve discussed the problems with MyCAREER incorporating open worlds before. I dedicated a Monday Tip-Off column to explaining how it gives the mode an identity crisis, forcing an ill-fitting concept into a genre that doesn’t need it. I further outlined some of the major issues with mixing open worlds with sports games in a Friday Five article. From pointless time wasting to propping up recurrent revenue mechanics to putting an end to offline MyCAREER, there’s a lot to dislike – even hate – about NBA 2K’s open worlds. I stand by all of that criticism.

However, I have to confess that I can’t and don’t completely hate the open worlds of The Neighborhood and The City! That’s not to say that I believe they’re absolutely necessary, because again, I stand by my previous criticisms. Nevertheless, I do have a certain appreciation for them, and they ultimately didn’t prevent me from enjoying my time with MyCAREER in NBA 2K19. Granted, you don’t have much choice except to grow accustomed to the open world approach if you want to play MyCAREER! Still, when it’s done right, the concept definitely has its moments. And so, I won’t deny that I’ve found The Neighborhood and The City to be engaging and enjoyable…at times.

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Patch 2.0 is now available for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of NBA 2K26, with the PC patch coming this Friday. As always, it should come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

Season 2 is set to tip off in MyTEAM and MyCAREER this Friday, and as previously promised, it’s brought the first major update for NBA 2K26. In addition to preparing NBA 2K26 for the new season in those modes, Patch 2.0 includes a variety of technical fixes, as well as a handful of gameplay tweaks.

Some of the key changes in Patch 2.0 for NBA 2K26 include adjustments to rhythm shooting and shot contest logic, tweaks to Takeover effects, and fixes for dribbling glitches. A number of hangs and other bugs have been resolved, and team art has been updated and fixed in both current and historical eras. A number of new player likenesses have also been added, including new face scans, tattoos, and hair updates. There are also some PC-specific fixes, including improved keyboard support and optimisation for better performance.

You can find the full release notes for Patch 2.0 below, as well as in the update history for NBA 2K26 in our Wiki. Please feel free to share any thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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Patch 1.4 is now available for NBA 2K26. As always, it should come through automatically as long as your PC, PlayStation 5, or Xbox Series X is online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

As with other recent updates, Patch 1.4 doesn’t touch gameplay in NBA 2K26. However, it does address a few more user-reported issues concerning stability in The City, matchmaking, and tracking Daily Challenges. It also further optimises GPU performance in the PC version.

Check out the full patch notes below, as well as in the NBA 2K26 update history in our Wiki. Feel free to share any impressions in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the NLSC Forum. Additionally, for some excellent tips on how to get the most out of NBA 2K26’s gameplay, be sure to tune in to Episode #597 of the NLSC Podcast!

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on how bonus content is much better than live service content.

Live service content is an inescapable part of so many Triple-A games these days. While the idea didn’t exactly begin with mobile gaming – expansion packs and the like have been available for decades – modern Triple-A titles definitely take their cues from games with freemium economies. The concept succeeds because there is merit to it. Live service content can keep games fresh for as long as they’re supported, giving us something to look forward to. Of course, it can also be predatory, not to mention a crutch for games that are incomplete at launch.

To that end, in my opinion, bonus content that’s in the game from the very beginning is much better than live service content. I realise what an “old head” opinion that must sound like, but I stand by it. There’s a joy to bonus content that I just don’t believe live service content can replicate, because of its underlying concept and aims. It’s not that I haven’t ever enjoyed the live service content in recent basketball games, or for that matter, been underwhelmed by the bonus content found in old ones. However, as I’ve revisited more and more old games for Wayback Wednesday and explored their bonus content, the more soulless and dull that live service content has become in my eyes.

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Patch 1.3 is now available for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S versions of NBA 2K26. As always, it should come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

As with the other recent updates, Patch 1.3 addresses user-reported technical issues with NBA 2K26. These include hangs, problems with missing Cap Breakers and Badge Perks when leaving a Crew, broken MyCAREER Quests, and other bugs. Once again, the Season 2 patch will be the first major update, so don’t expect any gameplay changes or likeness updates until then.

The full patch notes can be found below, as well as in the NBA 2K26 update history in our Wiki. As always, feel free to share any thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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Patch 1.1 is now available for the PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X versions of NBA 2K26, which is currently still in the early access period for gamers who pre-ordered the Superstar and Leave No Doubt Editions. As always, the patch will come through automatically as long as you’re online. If it doesn’t, try restarting your console or Steam client, or checking for updates manually.

The patch addresses a handful of user-reported bugs, including issues with Challenges in The City, problems with My Auctions functionality in MyTEAM, and a hang that could occur during the NBA Draft in MyCAREER. On the PC side of things, stability issues with AMD Radeon RX 9000 cards have also been addressed. No changes have been made to gameplay at this time, and a developer note indicates that they are working to resolve the most pressing technical issues before the first big patch and content update.

You can find details on Patch 1.1 for NBA 2K26 below. I’ve also created a page to document the game’s update history here in our Wiki. Feel free to share any thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum! Also be sure to check out Episode #595 of the NLSC Podcast for some first impressions of NBA 2K26, including Dee’s comprehensive pros and cons list.

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Although gamers who picked up the Superstar and Leave No Doubt editions of NBA 2K26 are already hitting the virtual hardwood and blacktop, the latest Courtside Report provides details on The City in this year’s game. That includes insights into Park and other modes, as well as this year’s MyCAREER story.

Notably, the framerate in The City is now a smooth 60 FPS, and it’s been designed in a way that makes it quicker and easier to navigate. Parks will have a more realistic aesthetic this year, and we’ll be seeing some remastered NBA 2K16 Parks return as Seasonal content. There will be more opportunities to gain rewards, such as beating a server’s Park MVP. Crews have been added, along with some new leaderboards. It will also be possible to swap between multiple builds without having to exit The City in NBA 2K26.

Additionally, MyCOURT features some new practice drills and customisation options. As mentioned, the Courtside Report also provides a brief synopsis of this year’s MyCAREER story – Out of Bounds – in which MP is an unknown prospect from a small town in Vermont looking to gain attention and make it to the big time. It also mentions a couple of other MyCAREER features, including Key Games and passion projects.

As always, I encourage you to check out the Courtside Report for the full scoop, but I’ve summarised the key points below. Feel free to share any thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion here in the Forum!

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We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some reflections on MyCAREER stories that have gone untold…at least from my perspective.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I’m glad to have escaped the basketball gaming habits that had me in a rut. Although I can still have fun with MyCAREER – as my ongoing game in NBA 2K14 clearly demonstrates – I don’t miss the annual ritual of starting over from scratch with a ridiculously low-rated MyPLAYER. I don’t miss diligently doing every extracurricular activity to maximise my VC earnings so that I don’t have to spend money to speed up the process. I don’t miss weathering an awful grind until MyCAREER is fun, knowing that I’ll have to do it all over again next year.

With that being said, I would’ve liked to have spent a bit more time in MyCAREER in recent years, if only so that I could comment on their stories like I have for previous games. Although I’ve been quite critical of some of the MyCAREER stories, I’ve also greatly enjoyed others, and come to appreciate the concept in general. Of course, what I really miss is the ability to go back and experience the MyCAREER stories in recent NBA 2K games. Now that the mode is no longer available in any form offline, a big chunk of eighth and ninth gen NBA 2K releases isn’t available for retro/throwback gaming. And so for me, these MyCAREER stories will sadly remain untold What Ifs.

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The preview season for NBA 2K26 is officially underway! Although we’re likely at least a few weeks away from in-depth previews and developer insights, we do have some early information on NBA 2K26 from the cover players and pre-order bonuses for all of the editions, to the release date and information about features such as crossplay, cross-gen progression, and so on. A few First Look screenshots have also been released, along with an announce trailer.

First of all, NBA 2K26 will be released globally on September 5th, 2025. Four editions are available: the Standard Edition featuring Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on the cover, the Superstar Edition with Carmelo Anthony on the cover, the WNBA Edition featuring Angel Reese on the cover, and the Leave No Doubt Edition featuring all three NBA 2K26 cover players together. All four editions are already available to pre-order.

Obviously, there are still many details that will be revealed during the course of the preview season. However, the Steam Store page includes a preliminary features list that mentions ProPLAY, an all-new MyCAREER journey in a streamlined City, collecting past and present players in MyTEAM, a deep franchise experience in MyNBA, and unique storylines in MyGM. It’s fairly generic as you’d expect, but it confirms the presence of staple modes and features.

Interestingly, the pre-order bonuses aren’t as generous as previous years, with the Standard Edition and WNBA Edition only offering 10,000 VC if you pre-order. The game will be available on PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, the Nintendo Switch, and the Nintendo Switch 2. The ninth gen consoles will have cross-play, MyTEAM will have cross-gen progression once again, and as usual the VC wallet will be shared between consoles in the same family.

A summary of what we know so far can be found below. Check it out, along with the First Look screenshots, cover art, and announce trailer for NBA 2K26! Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion in our newly-opened NBA 2K26 Forum. I’ve also created a page for NBA 2K26 here in our Wiki, and as always, any help in keeping it up to date would be most appreciated. Stay tuned for more news and previews in the coming weeks!

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