A teaser of the game was released on June 11, 2020, during the PS5 reveal event and featured the player model of New Orleans Pelicans'Zion Williamson. It showed a few seconds of pre-alpha, in-engine footage, and showed many effects, such as ray-tracing and shadow details.[6] On June 30, 2020, NBA 2K announced Damian Lillard, of the Portland Trail Blazers, would be the cover for the standard edition on the previous-generation consoles.[7] On July 1, 2020, NBA 2K announced Zion Williamson as the cover athlete for the standard edition of the next-generation consoles. The last covers were released on July 2, 2020, honoring the late Kobe Bryant. The demo for the game was released on August 24, 2020[8][9][10]
Gameplay
MyCareer
MyCareer, a major part of the series, returned as one of the available game modes. MyCareer is a career mode in which the player creates their own customizable basketball player and plays through their basketball career. Players may make a male or female player, although female player creation is exclusively available on next-gen consoles.[11] The Neighborhood also returns to MyCareer, as 2K Beach, in which players can customize their wardrobe, get haircuts and tattoos, and purchase boosts. They can also do workouts and run drills to improve their character's attributes at their current team's practice facility. Progress in MyCareer may not carry over across generations, due to some changes made exclusively for next-gen.[12]
MyTeam
In MyTeam, players collect cards of NBA players (current or past) to put on their team. This game mode has packs (or loot boxes) that can be purchased with Virtual Currency (VC) or My Team Points (MT). Players can also buy cards from each other at the auction house using VC or MT.
Ninth generation changes
In the next-generation release for the game, The MyCareer online staple The Neighborhood mode was rebranded into The City with the return of affiliations from NBA 2K16. Players start in Rookieville where they play similarly low-leveled players before they can choose an affiliation to enter The City. MyRep, the level system exclusive to The City mode, is shared across all MyPlayer builds, so players only have to level up out of Rookieville once for all their characters. Once a player levels out of Rookieville, they are automatically assigned without choice to one of four of The City's affiliations, ranging from the North Side Knights, South City Vipers, Beasts of the East, and the Western Wildcats. Players are free to switch their affiliation, however they are penalized for doing so by their level being reset down to Pro 1, the same level the player was upon leaving Rookieville. Although the player can play in affiliations that they are not a member of, there is a penalty by reducing the amount of MyRep experience gained in matches. Players can participate in quests given by NPCs, which are either single-player 3v3 games against famous basketball players, or playing games against other MyPlayers in The City. The rewards are typically VC and customizations.[13]
Every affiliation has elections for a Mayor, which are typically community influencers who are responsible for making videos that display in-game, court designs, in-game playlists, design of murals, and uniform selections. Each mayoral term lasts 6 weeks.[13]
Franchise mode
NBA 2K21 features both MyLeague and MyGM from previous games, where the player can take the helm of a franchise and fully simulate an NBA season while making trades, drafting, and playing games with their teams. Compared to prior titles, eighth-generation console releases of NBA 2K21 were left with little changes for their staple franchise modes, MyLeague and MyGM. Outside of roster changes, the main changes focuses with MyLeague Online where certain users can be given different admin controls. WNBA teams were also given more representation as players were now able to play through a whole season with all 12 teams.[14][unreliable source?]
Ninth generation changes
In the game's Xbox Series X/S and PS5 release, MyGM and MyLeague were combined and rebranded into MyNBA. Instead of the role-playing aspects such as cutscenes, player morale, and tasks being locked solely to MyGM, they are now individually toggleable under role-playing elements before one starts MyNBA. NBA G League games are also playable as well, however playoffs and the championship for the NBA G League are not featured. The boom/bust system was also revamped, giving more unpredictability to draft prospects and young players in terms of how their career will turn out.[15]
Michael Higham from GameSpot gave the game a score of 6-out-of-10. He states "NBA 2K21 shows that the lone basketball sim we have now has largely stagnated. It's a full package, for sure, but one that demonstrates little-to-no motivation to meaningfully improve upon itself. That doesn't take away from the strong foundation that makes NBA 2K a fun and rewarding time. However, when you go through the same grind and the same process with only superficial changes, you just get burnt out faster than years prior."[23]
Ben Vollmer from IGN gave the game a score of 6 out of 10, stating "More of the same isn't good enough anymore, especially when it includes such obtrusive microtransactions." Vollmer also says "At the same time, it's a shame that 2K's focus isn't on the fun you can have on the court, but instead the money that can be extracted from your wallet off of the court in the MyCareer and MyTeam modes, whist aren't fun to grind through without paying. Maybe the new set of consoles on the horizon will bring a fresh start for the NBA 2K franchise, but right now I feel more pessimistic about the series’ future than ever."[25]
The PlayStation 4 version of NBA 2K21 sold 8,541 physical copies within its first week on sale in Japan, making it the seventh bestselling retail game of the week.[30] The game had sold more than 8 million copies by the end of December 2020.[31]
Dame D.O.L.L.A. feat. Snoop Dogg and Derrick Milano
Kobe
The Weeknd
Blinding Lights
Jack Harlow
WHATS POPPIN
Fuser(DLC)
Roddy Ricch
Gods Eyes
Juice WRLD
Let Me Know (I Wonder Why Freestyle)
Anonymuz ft. Denzel Curry
No Threat
Lil Baby
Sum 2 Prove
Stormzy
Bronze
JACKBOYS, Pop Smoke, Travis Scott
GATTI
Polo G, Stunna 4 Vegas & NLE Choppa feat. Mike WiLL Made-It
Go Stupid
A$AP Ferg
Value
EA Sports UFC 4
Little Simz
Venom
The Strokes
Bad Decisions
Rock Band 4 (DLC)
Pop Smoke
Dior
Lil Tjay ft. Jay Critch
Ruthless
J Hus
Fight for Your Right
CHIKA
CROWN
Rick Ross ft. D. Wade, Raphael Saadiq & UD
Season Ticket Holder
YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Red Eye
Che Lingo
My Block
FIFA 21(Volta)
Tory Lanez
Broke in a Minute
Lauren Declasse
Evisu
Ocean Wisdom x P Money
BREATHIN'
Pure Bathing Culture
Dream the Dare
Chris Patrick
SWISH
Jay Critch
Cameras
Wale feat. Rick Ross & Meek Mill
Routine
EA Sports UFC 4
Calid B. ft. Simba.Got.It
Balling
Jerreau
SAME TEAM
Tarik
Don't I?
Red Cafe
I Want All the Bags
Boy In Space x unheard
Cold
Abderly
Racks
Stix
Any Other Way
Samwyse
$ & Problems
Chaz Marcus
Balmain Belt
Rae Khalil
THEYKNO FREESTYLE
Malz Monday
How It Is
ELO
Alarm
Sage English
3 Pointer
Black$tar
Game Time
Erick Lottary
Savage
Irie Da Brat
Work
ill Nicky
Photograph
Zebbo
BALL
Avidince
Wave
Ro$$ Mac
A Dub
Jared Anthony
Mayday
Flight Gang DraE
Hoop Dreams
Kap Peezy
The Next
Added Songs
On November 12, 2020, rapper 2 Chainz premiered five songs from his upcoming album So Help Me God in the game.[34]
Artist
Song
Other Games
2 Chainz ft. Ty Dolla $ign & Lil Duval
Can't Go For That
2 Chainz ft. YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Save Me
2 Chainz ft. Latto
Quarantine Thick
2 Chainz
Lambo Wrist
2 Chainz ft. Lil Uzi Vert & Chief Keef
Free Lighter
Next-Gen Soundtrack
The Next-Gen soundtrack features 150 different songs, more than 100 songs distributed by UnitedMasters.
Artist
Song
Other Games
Lil Baby Feat. Lil Uzi Vert
Commercial
Dreamville ft. J.I.D
Big Black Truck
Digable Planets
Rebirth of Slick (Cool Like Dat)
True Crime: New York City, Forza Horizon 4
Lee Bezel
OFF THE LEASH
Pop Smoke
Invincible
CHIKA
INDUSTRY GAMES
A Tribe Called Quest
Buggin' Out
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
AG Club
Columbia
Calid B. ft. Jay Swifta
A.D.E.N.
Dave
Professor X
REASON
Show Stop
Dribble2much
One and Done
GHSTLY XXVII
Trust
IDK & Juicy J
SQUARE UP
James BKS feat. Q-Tip, Idris Elba & Little Simz
New Breed
MLB The Show 22
Jay Critch
Dreams in a Wraith
Juice WRLD ft. Marshmello
Come & Go
KILLY
OH NO
Koteri
Riot
Lil Wayne ft. Big Sean & Lil Baby
I Do It
Maniscooler x Kamakaze
Shanghai
Ocean Wisdom x Ghetts
LOWRIDER
pineappleCITI
Believe
Popcaan
Promise
Rich Brian ft. Guapdad 4000
BALI
Run The Jewels feat. Greg Nice & DJ Premier
Ooh LA LA
Russ ft. Rick Ross
GUESS WHAT
SAINt JHN
All I Want Is a Yacht
Stormzy
Handsome
Sky Katz
Back At It
Tame Impala
Breathe Deeper
Tame Impala
Lost In Yesterday
Travis Barker, Wiz Khalifa
Drums Drums Drums
MLB The Show 21
Trampolene
Born Again
Tyla Yaweh ft. Post Malone
Tommy Lee
Yinka Diz ft. Calid B and Jay Beato
On God (Prod. Kofi Cooks)
.shy
Break The News
2xSammy
Ball Harder
2xSammy
2 Official
451
BEST INTEREST
AB (Antonio Brown) ft. YDtheBest
Home From the N.O. (prod. by Siouyari)
A.G Roid
ON ME
Alexander Charles feat. Bij Lincs
These Days
Alexis Renee
Racks
Anonymuz
Unless
Ariaa
661
Ayo Breeze
OverTime
B1uan
BETTER
BK Fire feat dzyre
Armageddon (Remix)
Bryce Oliver
Living Legend
Byrd the Voice
Motivation (prod. by Hellyer)
Chief Armand
Talk Game
Chosen Music
Summit
Christof Hunte
Break Time
CHRYS THOMPSON
Aerials
Craigy F.
Up Now
Create the Culture
Don't Want Me Winnin'
Danny Cisco
daze
Decarlo Tatum Jr.
On Go
Dot Cromwell
MOOD
Dre nello
All Hype
Edo 100
OVERTIME
Epthemars
Zoom
Erick Lottary
Word
Figuero Jones
Chief Spinner
First Name Shayne
The Motive
Fourtee
Talk to Me Nice
Geechi Da Don
Want It All
Gene Gray
How You Should (Destiny)
Glory
That Boy Good
Hadar Adora
Patience
Holt
Dance With Me
Htiekal
Fast Life
I Am Tonka
I Might Flex
iivrson
Pressure
iivrson
Money Callin
ill Nicky
California
Iman.
Hello
iZZE
Porsche Dreams
JAY VOSS
Take It From Me
JAY VOSS
They Gonna Follow
Jaywop
Carousel
Jevon Alexander
Mamba Mentality
Josh Dominguez
DOUBT
KC Carter
Someday
Kai Ca$h
Ghost
Kai Ca$h
$tunna
Kamau Jahad
The Wait
kj feeds
WORK
Kruize
LALA LAND
KUMAR
Fanatic
KuuL
WIN
Lando Ameen
KAMS REVENGE
Lil Nemo
Run It Up
Loovy.
I DO THIS.
Loretta Mars
Post Up
Lstnite
Bando
Mille Manny
ALL IN
Neo Sohl
Big Dreams
Niko Slim
Solitary
Nique
UP HIGH, DOWN LOW
Noah Sims
Theatrics
O Fresh
Hype
O Fresh
WWW
Orrin
HARLEY
OTW Kilo
Juice
OTW Kilo
Stack That Money
Ponce De'leioun
Be About It
Project88icon
Go Viral
Ron Suno
Ball
Runup Rico
Life or Death
SNUBBS
Masked Up
Solo da Honcho
Black Mamba
SONNY NITEZ
NO TOMORROW
Splash Zanotti
VIBRATE HIGH
Swoosh God
Main Topic
Tariq Lloyd
You vs. Yourself
Tariq Lloyd
Championship Rings
The Royal Waev
Passport
The Seige
Run for Your Life
Tizzy Stackz
Red Light
Trapp Rg
80's
TRVP BRAZY
Every Season
Vonchi
Finish Lines
Vuccini
Watch
Wes Blanco
Gimmie That
X Nikko
Rendez-Vous
Xpress
Keep Ya Head Up
YSB Tril
Do The Most
YUNG CORY
Movie
YUNG CORY
Hustle
Yurms
I Spy
Yurms
Back in Action
Zachary Jordan
Toy
I.T. Official
China Bulls
Davante FRE$H
Run Up
Kiiing Leo
2 Step
Carl'eone
I Got Next
Warcub
My World
CRUEL HEARTS CLUB
HEY COMPADRE
Remiri
The Rise
Vinnin
Top of The Game
2K Beats: The Search
2K and UnitedMasters launched their 2K Beats: The Search competition and selected 10 artists to join the NBA 2K21 next gen soundtrack. With over 13,000 submissions, winners were chosen by rapper Jadakiss, Ronnie 2K, producers Murda Beatz and Tay Keith. The ten songs were added with a patch in February 2021.[35]
↑ Wells, Cory (September 12, 2020). "Review: NBA 2K21". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on September 13, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
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