Visual Concepts · 2K
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Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback.
🔗 http://discord.gg/nba2k
Step into the World of 2K, where you’ll experience all of the hoops, heart, and hustle that basketball has to offer. Now, it’s time to lace up for Season 1 and outplay the competition. Ball out in The City, MyTEAM, and MyCAREER to earn XP and unlock all-new rewards! Join stars Vi
Step into the World of 2K, where you’ll experience all of the hoops, heart, and hustle that basketball has to offer. Now, it’s time to lace up for Season 1 and outplay the competition. Ball out in The City, MyTEAM, and MyCAREER to earn XP and unlock all-new rewards!
Join stars Victor Wembanyama and Caitlin Clark in NBA 2K27 Standard and Deluxe Edition. Don’t miss your opportunity to grab NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition featuring Derrick Rose—available until September 6*!
To learn more about NBA 2K27, check out the Courtside Reports! These provide an up-close look at gameplay enhancements, innovative features, and key updates across all of NBA 2K’s game modes.
*NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition and NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition not available in Belgium, Brazil, and South Korea. See nba.2k.com/2k27/faq/ for full availability details.
For over 25 years, Visual Concepts has delivered NBA 2K as the most authentic sports experience in gaming. Their focus is to make the in-game experience feel as close as possible to watching a real NBA or WNBA broadcast. Through a close partnership with NVIDIA, Visual Concepts, a
For over 25 years, Visual Concepts has delivered NBA 2K as the most authentic sports experience in gaming. Their focus is to make the in-game experience feel as close as possible to watching a real NBA or WNBA broadcast.
Through a close partnership with NVIDIA, Visual Concepts, and 2K, we’ve brought DLSS 5 3D-Guided Neural Rendering to NBA 2K27, bringing a new level of authenticity to the player experience.
Visual Concepts uses DLSS 5 to enhance and tune NBA 2K27 to make it even more realistic. With DLSS 5, you can see how light naturally passes through players’ ears, illuminates skin, and catches hair, all while preserving the facial geometry scanned from real-world athletes.
“DLSS 3D-guided neural rendering helped boost the visual quality of our materials and lighting, bringing a real jump to photorealism across the game.” - Peter Kavic, Senior Producer - Visual Concepts
Enabling DLSS 5 delivers a noticeable upgrade for All-Star guard Cade Cunningham with improved skin subsurface scattering—providing lifelike warmth under the arena lighting and tighter contact shadows that bring out finer detail along his neck and jersey collar. Additionally, natural light transmission elevates his hair definition, enhancing overall realism.
4K comparison of Cade Cunningham with DLSS 3D-Guided Neural Rendering
DLSS 5 also elevates the visual fidelity of All-NBA point guard Tyrese Haliburton. Subsurface scattering gives his face realistic warmth under the arena lights, casting precise contact shadows beneath his nose and chin. Furthermore, refined ambient occlusion adds crisp shadow definition across the folds of his compression arm sleeve.
4K comparison of Tyrese Haliburton with DLSS 5 3D-Guided Neural Rendering
Courtside spectators and staff also gain richer lighting and material responses, with natural subsurface skin scattering and defined contact shadows that elevate the image quality of their models.
Combined, DLSS 5 3D-Guided Neural Rendering, Super Resolution, and Multi Frame Generation deliver higher frame rates and dramatically improved image quality. DLSS 5 enhances Jayson Tatum with natural skin subsurface scattering, refined facial hair lighting, and deeper contact shadows across his jersey and the basketball. With DLSS ON, frame rates are boosted to 370 FPS at 4K at Ultra Settings on a GeForce RTX 5090.
To enable DLSS 5 in NBA 2K27, players will need to download the latest GeForce Game Ready Driver, revealing the option for DLSS Neural Rendering in-game:
Download and install the latest driver from NVIDIA’s website or the NVIDIA app
In-game, select “Video Settings,” and turn on “DLSS Neural Rendering”
Configure other DLSS Super Resolution, Frame Generation, and NVIDIA Reflex options to your liking
Toggle DLSS Neural Rendering during gameplay and replays via F9 on your keyboard
NBA 2K27 with DLSS 5 is available now for GeForce RTX 50 Series PCs and laptops, and GeForce NOW Ultimate members streaming from NVIDIA operated GeForce RTX 5080-powered gaming rigs in the cloud.
To learn more about DLSS 5, please check out the DLSS 5 article on geforce.com.
Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback. 🔗
Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback.
🔗 http://discord.gg/nba2k
Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback. 🔗
Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback.
🔗 http://discord.gg/nba2k
Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback. 🔗
Join the official Discord to get notifications for patch notes and key announcements, and to share game feedback.
🔗 http://discord.gg/nba2k
Advanced access* is available now! Play NBA 2K27 up to nine days with NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition . Get in the gym and hone your skills before the official tip-off on September 4. *Advanced access begins at 9:00 AM PT, August 26. Availability may vary by region and t
*Advanced access begins at 9:00 AM PT, August 26. Availability may vary by region and time zone. See nba.2k.com/2k27/faq/ for full early access details.
Fresh off his first NBA Finals appearance and entering his fourth season as the San Antonio Spurs’ centerpiece, international basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama is already hungry for more. The 2025-2026 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year is NBA 2K27 ’s featured cover athlete
Fresh off his first NBA Finals appearance and entering his fourth season as the San Antonio Spurs’ centerpiece, international basketball phenom Victor Wembanyama is already hungry for more.
The 2025-2026 unanimous Defensive Player of the Year is NBA 2K27’s featured cover athlete, as well as Season 1’s featured hero. Reach for the stars and chase greatness in 2K27, where you’ll hit the court alongside Wemby and all of the biggest names in hoops.
Grab your Crew and run the streets in The City, featuring the first co-ed City in NBA 2K history, where male and female MyPLAYERs can ball out together. As you compete in The City, you’ll earn XP and level up the Season rewards ladder to earn new cosmetics, emotes, Bonus Badge Tokens and Bonus Badge Slots, and much more!
Whether you’re playing in The City, bringing your basketball fantasies to life in MyTEAM, or writing your legacy in MyCAREER, it’s time to lace up for Season 1 in NBA 2K27 and begin your journey. Continue reading to learn more about this Season’s featured rewards.
It’s time to get buckets in NBA 2K27! Wemby is only 22 years old, but he’s already accomplished a lot in three years: Rookie of the Year, two All-Star selections, two All-Defensive First-Team selections, and unanimous Defensive Player of the Year. Let his rapid success inspire you to do the same in The City by leading your Crew to the top of the leaderboard.
Every game you play, you’ll earn XP and climb the rewards ladder, accessing exciting unlocks like Skill Boosts, MyPLAYER cosmetics, Cap Breakers, and all-new Badge Tokens.
In case you missed it in the MyPLAYER Builder Courtside Report, Badge Tokens can be used to equip your Badges, and every build in 2K27 starts with 20 Badge slots. On your path to Level 40, you can earn up to four Badge Slots, four Badge Tokens, and four Synergy Badge Slots.
See some of the featured rewards available in Season 1 below:
Level 15: Bonus Badge Token
Level 16: Orange Swirl Hoverboard
Level 17: ‘Prowl’ - San Antonio Spurs Mascot
Level 18: Bonus Badge Slot
Level 29: Cyber Robot Eyes
Level 30: Synergy Badge Slot
Level 34: Messy Afro Puff Hairstyle
Level 39: Ninja Suit: Apprentice
Level 40: Cap Breaker
Max out this Season with 2XREP Weekends and other limited-time events. Compete and finish games in Casual Corner, The REC, The Theater, Ante-Up, Proving Grounds, and Crew Divisions in Crew HQ to receive your 2XREP reward!
Other events this Season include Midway, a performance-based game where rewards are tied to different challenges, The Deep End, featuring 4-point shots, and Blackout, where you’ll fill out lines on a Bingo card for rewards like VC, Skill Boosts, exclusive apparel, and more.
Earn XP and level up from playing in The City and MyTEAM with cross-progression, and commit to reaching Level 40 during Season 1.
It’s gametime! Season 1 allows you to build out your NBA 2K27 MyTEAM roster with dominant bigs, three-point snipers, and shifty scorers, offering a balanced squad right from tip-off.
In this year’s MyTEAM Courtside Report we shared a massive change to The Exchange: you can exchange any of your Player Cards (Free Agent cards excluded), even cards earned from Season level rewards, for elite rewards.
Season 1 sets the tone with one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, Tracy McGrady. During his six years in Houston, T-Mac delivered a handful of memorable moments, from his 13-point outburst in 33 seconds to the Rockets’ 22-game winning streak, the seven-time All-Star was a force to be reckoned with.
All Season long, you can complete the Season 1 Premier Exchange and receive this exclusive Dark Matter Tracy McGrady card.
Check out the full Season reward ladder below to see the full lineup of cards, ranging from Amethyst all the way to Dark Matter. Get your reps in, put in the work, and assemble the perfect team to take out the competition.
The longest tenured player in Miami and the Heat’s dynamic defensive anchor, Bam Adebayo is a hyper-versatile modern big with elite basketball IQ, extreme athleticism, and unmatched physicality. Take control of every possession and see if you can drop 83 points with the Level 1 Amethyst Bam Adebayo.
The sharpshooting two-guard from Orlando, Desmond Bane has been one of the NBA’s most lethal floor-spacers since rising to prominence as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies. Constantly flirting with the 50-40-90 club, the Level 10 Diamond Desmond Bane card will be a vital addition to your backcourt.
A massive presence in the paint and throwback big, Ivica Zubac is the anchor of a revamped Indiana center rotation. A powerful screener, effective finisher, and excellent playmaker out of the mid-post, Level 20 Pink Diamond Ivica Zubac is your ideal roll man on the court.
Head coach Mike Brown led the New York Knicks to a 2025-2026 NBA title with an electric pace-and-space offense, utilizing knockdown shooters and athletic wings to outscore the competition. Get to Level 28 and let Coach Brown lead your team to victory!
An elite three-level scorer with a highlight reel of clutch playoff moments, Khris Middleton sets the standard for two-way NBA wings. Over a decorated 14-year NBA career, he’s earned three All-Star nods and an NBA championship in 2021. Use the Level 30 Galaxy Opal Khris Middleton to bolster your team’s mid-range prowess.
A standout rookie for the Minnesota Lynx, Olivia Miles is a creative playmaker with unlimited three-point range. Selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft, Miles is the engine of one of the most efficient offenses in the W and a favorite for Rookie of the Year.
In just a few short years in the NBA, Derrick Rose became the youngest MVP in league history and the pride of Chicago, reigniting the Bulls’ fanbase with his explosive athleticism and magical postseason moments. A relentless finisher with blistering speed, this year’s Ultra Edition cover athlete will lead your offense to new heights.
Unlock 40 additional levels of NBA 2K27 rewards with the Season 1 Pro Pass and Hall of Fame Pass. These seasonal add-on passes are available for individual purchase and feature Automatic and Premium Rewards.
Season 1 Automatic Rewards:
Dragonfire Mask
Dragonfire Sleeveless Tee
Season 1 Pro Pass Pack (HOF Smooth Operator Badge Card, 2x Diamond Shoes, 2x Takeovers)
91 OVR Diamond Jimmy Butler
In addition to bonus, VC, XP, and Skill Boosts, the Season 1 Pro Pass features exclusive cosmetics and rewards. Show off your fandom with Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic mascot outfits for your MyPLAYER, put your personal style on display with the Alien Crown Mask and Cyber Robot Facepaint, and unleash ankle-breaking crossovers and electrifying dunks with the Level 40 Pro Pass Dark Matter Derrick Rose card, featuring special edition card art!
Season 1 Premium Rewards:
Level 1: Smooth Gold Grillz
Level 3: Cyber Robot Facepaint
Level 18: Animated Fire and Ice Power-Up Body Mod
Level 30: ‘Go the Gorilla’ - Phoenix Suns Mascot
Level 39: Ninja Suit: Assassin
Level 40: Pro Pass Dark Matter Derrick Rose
It’s time for a brand-new year of hoops in NBA 2K27. Dominate every court in The City, build your perfect roster in MyTEAM, and earn XP to unlock all-new rewards! Be sure to download the NBA 2K HQ companion app to stay connected to 2K27, and learn more about in-game events and pack drops by following NBA 2K on X, Instagram, Discord, and Twitch.
*NBA 2K27 Pro Passes and Hall of Fame passes are available for separate purchase and require base game, internet connection and NBA 2K account. Paid premium passes unlock additional rewards for the Season that are earnable through gameplay. Progress and rewards reset at the end of each Season.
GET YOUR RIG READY FOR GAMETIME It’s almost tip-off in NBA 2K27 ! To make sure you’re ready for the court, we’ve put together a roundup of everything you need to know to make sure that your PC is ready to take on the competition. Get game-ready by checking out our minimum and rec
It’s almost tip-off in NBA 2K27! To make sure you’re ready for the court, we’ve put together a roundup of everything you need to know to make sure that your PC is ready to take on the competition.
Get game-ready by checking out our minimum and recommended specs below for NBA 2K27 on PC.
Every hooper knows that greatness never rests. Keep perfecting your game on the go or from the comfort of your couch. We’re proud to share that NBA 2K27 is Steam Deck and Steam Machine verified right from Advanced Access*, meaning you’ll be able to hoop any time and anywhere.
Make the most of every moment by jumping on the court as soon as NBA 2K27 goes live, starting August 26. Release times for Advanced Access and the full launch are below.
Wellington, New Zealand - August 27, 2026 at 4:00 AM NZST
Sydney, Australia - August 27, 2026 at 2:00 AM AEST
Tokyo, Japan - August 27, 2026 at 1:00 AM JST
Singapore - August 27, 2026 at 12:00 AM SGT
London, United Kingdom - August 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM BST
New York, United States - August 26, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT
California, United States - August 26, 2026 at 9:00 AM PDT
Wellington, New Zealand - September 4, 2026 at 4:00 PM NZST
Sydney, Australia - September 4, 2026 at 2:00 PM AEST
Tokyo, Japan - September 4, 2026 at 1:00 PM JST
Singapore - September 4, 2026 at 12:00 PM SGT
London, United Kingdom - September 4, 2026 at 5:00 AM BST
New York, United States - September 4, 2026 at 12:00 AM EDT
California, United States - September 3, 2026 at 9:00 PM PDT
Season 1 in NBA 2K27 is coming soon, and you can beat everyone to the court by pre-loading the game on Steam starting on 9/2 at 10:00 AM PT. Start hooping right when the game becomes available at the official launch on 9/3 at 9:00 PM PDT.
Don’t have a 2K account? Create one early to access all online features, game modes, and synchronized content in NBA 2K27 as soon as the game is available.
Follow the steps here to get started!
Looking for some new teammates? Join the official NBA 2K Discord, where you can find Crew members, connect with fellow hoopers, and stay up to date on the latest NBA 2K27 news. You can also monitor our Issues Tracker, which allows you to check the progress of any bugs and issues.
Connect to NBA 2K anywhere with the official companion app**! From integrated social tools to the full NBA 2K27 MyPLAYER Builder, NBA 2K HQ ensures that you’re always close to the action. NBA 2K HQ launches on August 21, prior to Advanced Access* on August 26, giving you plenty of time to create and upload your MyPLAYER in early, so it’s waiting for you in 2K27.
Play beyond the whistle and lock in around the clock with NBA 2K HQ!
To learn more about NBA 2K27, check out the game reveal stream—a comprehensive overview of what’s coming to the court this year.
For even more in-depth analysis and discussion on NBA 2K27, check out the Courtside Reports! These provide an up-close look at gameplay enhancements, innovative features, and key updates across all of NBA 2K’s game modes.
*Advanced Access begins at 9:00 AM PT, August 26. Availability may vary by region and time zone. See
for full Advanced Access details.
**Loyalty Discount only available via the Platform Store through September 3, 2026. Ultra Edition is a digital version only available on PC. Discount based on 2K’s SRP. Limit 1 per Platform Account. Availability restrictions apply. See retailer site for details and terms. 2K Games is not responsible for fulfillment of Loyalty Discount.
Chase career goals, dominate the league, and cement your status as the undisputed G.O.A.T. in The W. This year, it’s all about locking in on your career progression and using new features like Team Badges and Teammate Badges to develop chemistry with your squad. With improvements
Chase career goals, dominate the league, and cement your status as the undisputed G.O.A.T. in The W.
This year, it’s all about locking in on your career progression and using new features like Team Badges and Teammate Badges to develop chemistry with your squad. With improvements to play-calling across NBA 2K27, you can grow as a leader on the court. If you want to call the shots off the court, you can build a dynasty in MyWNBA.
Begin your journey in The W by learning about this year’s mode enhancements.
The Game Attribute System has been updated so that your physical attributes directly determine your maximum attribute caps. Whether you’re a bruising center or a lightning-fast point guard, your height, weight, and wingspan are the foundation of your potential.
We’re also introducing a Build-as-You-Go progression model that gives you the freedom to remove attributes and reapply them elsewhere. Every combination of height, weight, and wingspan shares the exact same maximum specs, and with the ability to upgrade your attributes with MyPoints you have the flexibility to evolve your game and adjust your playstyle as your career unfolds.
NBA 2K27 introduces all-new Team Badges and Teammate Badges, fueled directly by your on-court chemistry.
There are five powerful Team Badges that impact your entire squad:
Three of these are in-game, event-triggered Badges that give your team a massive swing in momentum when you execute.
The other two are meta-focused Gameplan Badges that dive deep into the Xs and Os, completely altering your Offensive and Defensive Gameplan menus to dictate the flow of the game.
On a micro level, we’re introducing 12 Teammate Badges. These Badges specifically affect your direct interactions with a designated teammate. For example, if you apply the Pick-and-Roll Teammate Badge with your power forward, you’ll receive a boost when executing a pick-and-roll with her. Run that same play with a center who isn't linked to the Badge and you get nothing.
As you progress, you have two distinct upgrade paths: you can either hyper-focus the Badge to boost its power to lethal levels between you and that one specific player, or you can multiply its effects to apply to multiple teammates across the roster.
A true floor general sees the game differently. In 2K27, PlayVision is getting a massive, game-wide facelift across all modes, and The W is the perfect place to master it.
You start your career as a rookie with zero play-calling abilities. But as you progress through the season, complete in-game challenges, and earn the trust of your coaching staff, you’ll unlock the ability to dictate the offense. Progression happens gradually, unlocking quick plays first, followed by complex, player-specific sets.
To ensure you learn the ropes, the game will actively coach you on how to execute these sets. Furthermore, completing specific season-long challenges will unlock new Team Badge slots and opponent-specific game plans to help you dissect any defense.
If you want to step off the court and run the front office, MyWNBA delivers total control. This mode is designed to mirror MyNBA, meaning every feature, adjustable simulation, and franchise-altering mechanic available in MyNBA is fully integrated into MyWNBA. You have the power to make blockbuster trades, draft the next generational talent, and build a dynasty that will live in the record books forever.
The W in NBA 2K27 introduces a revamped Game Attribute System that defines your playstyle, all-new Team Badges and Teammate Badges that boost your on-court chemistry, and the tools to run a WNBA franchise in MyWNBA. Set your goals and stay focused on your progress.
In 2K27, The City is the place to experience multiplayer competition; whether you’re a male or female MyPLAYER looking to compete at the highest level. Be sure to check out The City Courtside Report to learn more about what this year has to offer.
NBA 2K27 introduces the most versatile MyPLAYER Builder in franchise history, handing you the blueprint to model your game after your favorite NBA and WNBA superstars. Shape your legacy with an all-new builder path, strategic Badge Tokens, a revamped Takeover system, and for the
NBA 2K27 introduces the most versatile MyPLAYER Builder in franchise history, handing you the blueprint to model your game after your favorite NBA and WNBA superstars.
Shape your legacy with an all-new builder path, strategic Badge Tokens, a revamped Takeover system, and for the first time ever, create female MyPLAYERs with the MyPLAYER Builder and compete in The City.
Access the MyPLAYER Builder in-game, or with the NBA 2K HQ app. Maintain a competitive edge with the ability to strategize new builds on the go; whether you're running the offense or anchoring the defense, the tools are in your hands to build a transcendent MyPLAYER. Read on to see exactly how you'll craft your build in NBA 2K27.
The addition of female MyPLAYER builds is a major milestone in NBA 2K history. We’re giving every player the opportunity to create the build that truly represents them, on and off the court.
Whether you’re creating a male or female build, every player will face elite competition and diverse matchups in the first-ever, co-ed City.
Here’s how we approached this franchise-first update: All MyPLAYERs are built on the same exact framework. That means your height, weight, wingspan, and ratings are all determined by your build, not your appearance. Once you choose a male or female build, your selection for the save file is locked.
This ensures complete gameplay and performance parity on the court. How you ball is the only thing that matters.
With a new builder path available and a vast library of NBA and WNBA player animations to build off of, there are more ways than ever to bring your playstyle to life in 2K27. Squad up with both male and female MyPLAYERs in The City and play at the highest level at The REC, The Theater, Street Kings, Park, and more!
Starting August 21, five days before Early Access on August 26*, download the NBA 2K HQ app and lock in around the clock with a host of exciting features designed to level-up your NBA 2K27 experience anytime and anywhere.
The NBA 2K HQ app gives you access to the full NBA 2K27 MyPLAYER Builder, so you can create new builds from your device and upload them directly to your home setup. Shape your game wherever you go and share them with friends via QR codes and links.
For veteran build makers, the deep customization options you’re used to are all still in NBA 2K27. Our team continues to refine the underlying attribute systems in pursuit of the most balanced and creative MyPLAYER Builder to date.
One of the first things you’ll notice is the MyPLAYER Builder now features a deeply strategic Badge-focused system for customization.
The biggest game-changer is the introduction of Badge Tokens, which you'll use to equip Badges. In the Builder, you can see in real time how your selected size and position affect which Badges you qualify for and how many tokens each Badge will cost. Taller players may see a different number of tokens required than shorter ones for the same Badge, reflecting the natural tradeoffs of your physicals. The Builder provides real-time feedback, showing you the exact tokens required as you adjust your attributes.
There are 53 Badges in 2K27, including 19 brand-new Badges built to create a more balanced playing field. You’ll also notice that Legend Badges cannot be obtained at build creation, but they can still be earned—more on that later! This year, we want to push players toward their true strengths. Tailor your build to completely excel in one discipline or take a balanced approach—the choice is yours.
Here are all the Badges in NBA 2K27:
Post Fade Phenom: Improves ability to make post fades and hop shots.
Deadeye: Jump shots taken with a defender closing out receive less of a penalty from a shot contest.
Limitless Range: Extends the range from which a player can shoot 3PT shots effectively from deep.
Mini Marksman: Shorter shooters are less bothered by lengthy defenders.
Set and Fire [NEW]: Applies a shooting boost to 3-point shots when the player’s feet are completely set.
Arc Cadence [NEW]: Improves a player’s ability to knock down 3-point shots on the move, including pull-ups, hop-steps, or spin shots.
Static Middy [NEW]: Applies a shooting boost to stand-still mid-range shots.
Smooth Operator [NEW]: Improves a player’s ability to knock down mid-range shots on the move, including pull-ups, hop-steps, or spin shots.
Quick Trigger [NEW]: Improves a player's ability to make no-dip jump shots.
Aerial Wizard: Increases ability to finish an alley-oop dunk from a teammate, or an in-air putback dunk off an offensive rebound.
Float Game: Increases a player's ability to finish floaters.
Layup Mixmaster: Improves a player's ability to finish fancy or acrobatic layups.
Paint Prodigy: Improves a player's ability to quickly and effectively score while going to work in the paint.
Physical Finisher: Improves a player's ability to battle through contact and convert contact layups.
Posterizer: Increases the chances of throwing down a dunk on your defender while driving to the hoop.
Rise Up: Increases the likelihood of dunking on your opponent when standing in the painted area.
Hook Specialist: Improves ability to make post hooks.
Post Powerhouse: Strengthens a player's ability at backing down defenders and moving them with drop steps.
Post Spin Catalyst [NEW]: Attempting post spins or drives results in more effective moves and less of a chance to be stripped.
Ghost Stepper [NEW]: Increases the effectiveness of step-through layups or other close-range shots that come after a shot fake.
Bail Out: Passing out of a jump shot or layup yields fewer errant passes than normal. Additionally helps passing out of double teams.
Break Starter: After grabbing a defensive rebound, deep outlet passes made up the court are more accurate. Passes must be made quickly following the defensive rebound.
Dimer: Boosts the shot percentage for open teammates after catching a pass.
Versatile Visionary: Improves a player's ability to thread and fire tight passes, including alley-oops, quickly and on time.
Ankle Assassin: Increases the ability to break down the defender and cross them up.
Handles for Days: Allows a player to take less of an energy hit when performing consecutive dribble moves.
Lightning Launch: Speeds up launches when attacking from the perimeter.
Strong Handle: Reduces the likelihood of being bothered by defenders when dribbling.
Unpluckable: Defenders have a tougher time poking the ball free with their steal attempts.
Pace [NEW]: Raises the speed of the ball handler when sprinting.
Off-Ball Pest: Makes players more difficult to get past when playing off-ball, as they can grab and hold their matchup.
High-Flying Denier: Boosts the speed and leaping ability of a defensive player in anticipation of a chase-down block attempt.
Paint Patroller: Increases a player’s ability to block or contest shots at the rim.
Post Lockdown: Strengthens a player's ability to effectively defend moves in the post, with an increased chance of stripping the opponent.
Wall Up [NEW]: Improves shot contest effectiveness during hands-up defense when guarding the paint.
Pick Dodger: Improves a player's ability to navigate through and around screens while on defense.
Challenger: Improves the effectiveness of well-timed contests against perimeter shooters.
Immovable Enforcer: Improves a defensive player's strength when defending ball handlers and finishers coming straight at them.
Ankle Braces [NEW]: Lowers the likelihood of getting ankle-broken by opposing dribble moves.
Seatbelt [NEW]: Boost body-up defense effectiveness, making it easier to clamp opponents and disrupt their drive path.
Glove: Increases the ability to successfully steal from ball handlers or strip layup attempts.
Interceptor: The frequency of successfully tipped or intercepted passes greatly increases.
Crasher [NEW]: Boost a player’s ability to track down or grab rebounds on the offensive end.
Possession Closer [NEW]: Boost a player’s ability to grab rebounds on the defensive end.
Sync Snatcher [NEW]: Gives an additional Vertical and Rebounding boost when perfectly timing the jump.
Boxout Boss [NEW]: Improves the effectiveness of boxouts as the boxer.
Breaker [NEW]: Increases the success rate of breaking through opponent boxouts.
Slippery Off-Ball: When attempting to get open off screens, the player more effectively navigates through traffic.
Pogo Stick: Allows players to quickly go back up for another jump upon landing. This applies after a rebound, block attempt, or jump shot.
Work Horse [NEW]: Increases a player's speed and ability to get loose balls over the opponent.
Flash [NEW]: Speeds up movement without the ball while in transition on offense or defense.
Bruiser [NEW]: Drains energy from opponents when making physical contact.
Brick Wall: Increases the effectiveness of screens.
The new Badges are a deliberate move toward more specialization. Where 2K26 and 2K25 had broader Badges that covered wider categories, 2K27 splits many of those Badges into more targeted options. For example, the all-purpose Set Shot Specialist badge from 2K26 has been replaced by separate mid-range and 3PT shooting badges called Static Middy and Set and Fire.
Every single build starts with 20 Badge slots distributed across six specific disciplines: Shooting, Finishing, Playmaking, Defense, Rebounding, and Physicals. All 20 slots are immediately available the second you enter The City, but you have to earn Badge Tokens to actually fill them.
Progression to earn Badge Tokens is focused on the six discipline meters, rather than an individual meter for each Badge. Heavy finishers throwing it down at the rim will naturally see their Finishing progression rise, while high-volume shooters will quickly increase their Shooting progression. You can also work on your progression by completing Team Practice drills and Gatorade workouts.
Once your attributes meet the requirements for a Badge, it becomes available in your inventory. Use the tokens you've earned to grab the badge from the inventory and equip it in one of your available slots. You can reassign Tokens at any time, but Tokens earned through in-game events remain locked to their respective discipline. To give you maximum flexibility, you can also earn Bonus Slots and Tokens through Build Specialization, Seasons, and Crew rewards that can be applied to any discipline. The best thing about Bonus Slots and Tokens is that they’re versatile; you can earn a Bonus Slot, apply it to Finishing, then change your mind later and apply it to Defense.
And yes, the four tiers of Rebirth are back in 2K27. Once one of your builds reaches 90 OVR, Rebirth gives your new builds a massive jumpstart, starting you out at the highest OVR you previously reached. To adapt to 2K27’s new Badge system, Rebirth now immediately unlocks a percentage of your default Badge Tokens so you can equip your core Badges right away. The higher your Rebirth level, the more tokens you have unlocked from day one.
Unleash your full potential with the all-new Synergy system, the next evolution of Badges and boosts. Synergy allows you to surpass your standard Badge limitations and reach Legend tier Badges.
The system features 16 total Synergy slots. Twelve of them provide a +1 boost, and four of them provide a massive +2 boost. Synergy is broken into two parts: Fuse and Reaction.
Fuse Badges receive a permanent +1 or +2 boost for the entire game, pushing that Badge beyond its current tier to maximize its potential. As an extra bonus, placing a Badge in the Fuse slot entirely frees up the Badge Tokens you would have otherwise spent to equip it.
Reaction Badges are directly paired with Fuse Badges. The effect is triggered automatically once you’ve activated your Fuse Badge a set number of times during a game. Once triggered, the Reaction Badge receives the exact same +1 or +2 boost for the rest of the game.
Synergy is earned through Season rewards, Build Specialization, Crew progression, and REP. Synergy earned via Season rewards expires at the end of each Season. Synergy earned through Build Specialization, Crew, and REP are permanent across all save files on your account. All Synergy slots are interchangeable across disciplines, with the exception of Build Specialization slots, which are each locked to Badges in their respective discipline.
Before you step on the court, you need the right gameplan. New in 2K27, Badge Loadouts allow you to customize and save completely different Badge combinations.
Each MyPLAYER starts with one Loadout by default, and you can earn up to three more Loadouts through REP, Challenges, and Crews. Before tip-off, you can quickly swap your active Loadout to counter your matchup’s specific size or playstyle—without ever having to exit to the menu screen. Read the scouting report, make the adjustment, and impact the game.
In addition to Create Your Own MyPLAYER and Community Build templates, we’re adding Signature Blueprints as an all-new builder path in NBA 2K27.
Signature Blueprints replaces Pro-Tuned and NBA templates; however, it maintains the versatility of Pro-Tuned templates and combines it with the authentic feel of your favorite NBA and WNBA superstars.
Pick from templates that are each shaped by three player comparisons, seamlessly blending their attributes and animations to reflect their unique style. For example, choose a Bulldozer build with shades of LeBron James, Pascal Siakam, and Scottie Barnes. Draw inspiration from the greatest players in the NBA and WNBA to merge their game-changing abilities with your MyPLAYER.
If you want to make an immediate impact without sweating over the sliders, this is your path. At launch, there will be 40 Signature Blueprint templates to choose from, with additional templates added each Season.
Cap Breakers are officially back, and we've streamlined the process. You no longer have to fully create a build, enter The City, and test it to find the most optimized Cap Breaker layout.
Once you’ve created your build to a 99 OVR in the MyPLAYER Builder, the Cap Breaker preview will become available. It shows you exactly how much of a boost each attribute receives if a Cap Breaker is applied, giving you total clarity before you commit. This preview is housed in the brand-new Builder Glossary, alongside detailed information on Badges, Animations, and Takeover Abilities.
In the NBA 2K27 Gameplay Courtside Report, we detailed this year’s revamped Takeover system and the 24 Takeover Abilities.
Each MyPLAYER in 2K27 starts with five default Takeover slots loaded with standard attribute boosts. As you upgrade your build and meet the necessary attribute requirements, you'll gain access to 19 unlockable Takeover Abilities, organized across the five disciplines. Hydration Hero is a unique Takeover Ability that can be assigned to any of the five slots, preventing Adrenaline and Stamina drain when active, making it a powerful choice for any build.
Progression happens passively as you play games and fill your Takeover meters. There are 21 total rewards you can earn along the way, including the ability to modify each discipline’s Takeover Abilities and unlock 15 Takeover Perks.
You can equip one Takeover Perk per discipline, choosing from three types:
Accelerator: Fills your Takeover meter faster, getting you to those attribute boosts and Takeover Abilities quicker.
Longevity: Increases exactly how long the active Takeover Ability stays on after it triggers.
Overdrive: Significantly increases the attribute boosts granted by the Takeover Ability itself.
Incentivize your grind with the return of Build Specialization. Physicals have been added as a sixth discipline, joining Shooting, Finishing, Playmaking, Defense, and Rebounding specialization track options.
We've introduced 10 quests for each track, featuring reworked objectives that challenge you to complete specialized tasks within the track you choose. For example, the Level 5 Shooting specialization quest requires hitting corner threes. Complete these discipline-focused tasks to earn more Cap Breakers, exclusive cosmetics, and a permanent +2 Badge Synergy reward for reaching Level 10 in the reward track.
The tools are in your hands to craft the perfect MyPLAYER in NBA 2K27. Whether you're making history in The City, breaking the limits with Cap Breakers, or mastering the deepest Badge system we've ever built, it's time to build your legacy.
Remember to download the NBA 2K HQ app, so you’ll never miss an opportunity to create new builds and maintain your competitive edge.
*Early access begins at 9:00 AM PT, August 26. Availability may vary by region and time zone. See
for full early access details.
NBA 2K27 includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Online play requires an Internet connection and NBA 2K Account. Console online play requires separate paid subscription. Crossplay is only available on PS5 & XBOX Series X|S.
Gameplay in NBA 2K27 strives for the most balanced experience to date, introducing meaningful new offensive tools and reworked defensive systems to deliver a rewarding experience on both ends of the floor. Powered by ProPLAY®, the game continues to push the limits of courtside au
Gameplay in NBA 2K27 strives for the most balanced experience to date, introducing meaningful new offensive tools and reworked defensive systems to deliver a rewarding experience on both ends of the floor.
Powered by ProPLAY®, the game continues to push the limits of courtside authenticity by leveraging advanced machine learning capabilities. When you take the hardwood in 2K27, you’ll see heightened fidelity in animations and the real-time evolution of on-court adjustments. As players around the league find new ways to create separation, we’re finding new ways to innovate—giving hoopers of all skill levels the ultimate playground to prove they belong. Dive into this year's massive gameplay enhancements and see what separates the greats from the best.
Every year, NBA players expand their game with more creativity on offense. Thanks to ProPLAY®, we’re able to capture these inspired moves and add another layer of creativity to your offensive bag, giving slashers and playmakers elite tools to freeze defenders and break down coverage.
Superstars like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Anthony Edwards, and Luka Dončić have completely mastered the art of the step-through up-and-under to generate clean separation. For the first time ever, you can completely replicate their craftiness in 2K27.
Whether you're actively driving to the basket, backing down an opponent in the post, or sizing up a defender on the perimeter, you can execute a pump fake and immediately push the Pro Stick in one of five directions. This triggers an authentic step-through layup or jumper in that corresponding direction, giving you a lethal counter to catch the defender off guard. Signature movements from elite scorers like Donovan Mitchell have been captured via ProPLAY® to bring these complex sequences to life with absolute real-world fidelity.
Unleash your full bag with an unrestricted dribbling customization suite. Signature dribbling packages have been broken out into individual, decoupled movements. This allows hoopers to personalize every aspect of their attack arsenal—meaning you can seamlessly combine Stephen Curry’s behind-the-back slide with Trae Young’s shifty escape cross. Experiment with endless animation combinations to find your perfect fit.
Here is the full list of customizable dribbling animation categories in 2K27:
Triple-Threat Style
Triple-Threat Breakdown
Triple-Threat Jab-Step
Triple-Threat Stepover
Signature Size-Up
Breakdown Combos
Moving Breakdown Combos
Combo Moves
Crossover
Moving Between Legs Crossover
Behind-the-Back
Spin
Hesitation
Stepback
Hesitation Escape
Crossover Escape
Between Legs Escape
Behind-the-Back Escape
Misdirection Hesitation
Misdirection Crossover
Misdirection Behind-the-Back
Hesitation Crossover Combo
Double Crossover Combo
Behind-the-Back Launch
Stepback Crossover
Lateral Stepback
Moving Cross Spin
In-and-Out
Lateral Hesitation
In NBA 2K27, the Dynamic Layup Engine ensures that no two finishes at the rim look identical. As you slash through the paint and contort in mid-air, your player's physical movements dynamically reflect their signature style and finishing capabilities.
High-rated finishers benefit tremendously here: if an elite rim protector rotates to contest you, the engine can automatically adjust your finisher’s shooting hand in mid-air to maneuver the ball out of harm's way.
The Dynamic Layup Engine also helps the ball clear the rim cleanly, reducing instances where the ball would clip the bottom of the rim or the backboard.
Advanced layup gathers and finishes—like hop-steps, Euro Steps, and spins—are now separate components rather than preset animations. The system uses real-time logic to pair gathers and finishes based on the actual matchup and on-court situation, resulting in unique animation combinations and realistic outcomes, such as easily blowing by a weak defender or getting jammed up by an elite one.
We've added an intense layer of skill to playing above the rim: ALL dunk attempts must now be manually timed using the Dunk Meter.
In NBA 2K26, the Dunk Meter didn't always reflect what happened mid-air, even when a dunker beat a defender who was in tight coverage at takeoff for an open look at the rim. For NBA 2K27, we've made the meter fully dynamic and created more realistic outcomes in the process. It now continuously evaluates defensive positioning from the moment you take off all the way through the finish.
Blow past your man with a lightning-fast first step for an open lane, and your green window will expand logically. But if a rotation helper executes a perfect late closeout to meet you at the apex of your jump, the green window will instantly tighten, forcing you to execute flawless timing to finish the slam.
Take your game to the next level with our new Advanced Controls, designed to put unprecedented precision and authentic, dynamic playmaking right at your fingertips; whether you're chaining lethal signature combos on the move, threading no-look passes, or throwing alley-oops.
Execute lethal signature combos on the move with ProPLAY® animations. Simply hold the right trigger and flick UP on the Pro Stick while driving to initiate a player's distinct signature breakdown combo without stopping your forward momentum.
Blindside the defense by holding R1/RB and flicking the Pro Stick directly toward your intended target to dish an authentic no-look pass. The passer will dynamically look off the target using head tracking technology to sell the misdirection. The passer’s Pass Accuracy rating still determines the success rate of these passes.
Completing an alley-oop is completely streamlined. The button on the controller you must press now maps to one of four directions the pass is coming from. For example, press Square/X if it’s on the left side or press Circle/B if it’s on the right side. You can also choose to flick the Pro Stick toward the ball with good timing to flush it down.
Rhythm Shooting returns as the most authentic way to mimic a traditional shooting motion using the Pro Stick, and it received some highly anticipated upgrades for 2K27.
The Shot Meter now features a real-time visual tick mark that moves in direct sync with your physical Pro Stick movement. This serves as an instant visual guide to help you master the ideal Tempo of any given jumper. The closer you match that perfect Tempo, the wider your Timing green window becomes, making it easier to knock down Excellent releases. But stay disciplined—if you rush or drag the flick of the Pro Stick, the green window shrinks, demanding absolute pinpoint precision to hit the shot.
Based on community feedback, successfully hitting a shot with Rhythm Shooting now strictly requires greening the Timing. Reworked Shot Feedback overlays will break down your attempts, telling you if your Timing was early or late, and if your Tempo was too fast or slow. This ensures you have the data needed to master a player's true rhythm.
Additionally, Rhythm Shooting has officially expanded to the free-throw line, making the transition seamless for players who shoot with the Pro Stick.
We didn't just upgrade the offensive toolset; defense in NBA 2K27 has been redesigned to give on-ball lockdowns and interior paint protectors the physical answers needed to shut down explosive offenses.
The shot contest architecture has received significant changes.
Holding UP on the Pro Stick lets you play with maximum intensity, triggering aggressive hands-up defense to suffocate a shooter's air space. The defender will automatically contest any shot attempt, maintaining verticality against contact layups or providing a slight jump contest against jump shots.
If you find yourself plagued by foul trouble, you can hold DOWN on the right stick to engage conservative hands-up defense—allowing your player to stay firmly planted, wall up, and contest without risking an unnecessary whistle.
While the traditional Block button remains your primary tool for aggressive rejections, it heavily rewards anticipation and good timing.
The improved hands-up defense is used by AI defenders as well, who can now contest shots more effectively. Additionally, AI defenders no longer surrender position as easily to triple threat stepovers by the offensive player, addressing a frequent point of feedback within the community.
By using a color-coded, eight-tier system to detail the quality of every single shot contest, the shot coverage feedback overlay is now easier to understand.
Furthermore, any defender who actively contributes to a shot contest will illuminate the Defensive Impact Indicator beneath the shooter. This indicator illustrates the severity of the contest and the direction it came from. A weak, late contest will reflect as a small white arc, while an elite, suffocating contest will instantly flash as a large crimson arc—helping you understand the underlying logic behind every single miss.
Historically, snapping a defender's ankles was a chance-based outcome.
In NBA 2K27, Ankle Breakers are skill-based and logic-driven for the first time. The system monitors a defender’s real-time momentum to determine if they are properly reacting to a ball-handler’s sudden change of direction. If a ball-handler hits a hard cross and catches a reaching defender pulling their momentum the wrong way, the likelihood of a true ankle-breaker increases drastically.
A defender's ratings will determine how tightly they need to mirror the ball-handler, and whether or not they possess the raw agility to recover if they guess wrong.
Expanded in NBA 2K27, the defensive cutoff mechanic gives you a counter to explosive lateral dribble moves and escape combos. Designed to create intense one-on-one battles, this upgraded system empowers skilled defenders to match the offense step-for-step, clamping down and completely stonewalling even the most elusive ball handlers.
To shut down driving lanes, you now have two distinct cutoff options: flick the right stick for a quick one-step cutoff, or hold R2/RT while flicking the right stick to cover more ground with a larger, lunging step. Powered by your player's Speed and Agility ratings, successfully timing these cutoffs to force a body-up collision will drain the ball handler’s Adrenaline and potentially force a fumble or picked up dribble, making it a highly effective tool for wearing down the opposition.
We’ve refined steals and ball security with a new collision system to reward disciplined, physical defense and strategic dribbling in traffic. Upgraded steal targeting prevents defenders from making awkward, unrealistic reaches, and larger defenders with low Steal ratings can no longer rely on cheap bump steals.
Ball handlers can lose control of the ball and still recover it. The system is designed to reward defenders who play disciplined, physical defense with good positioning, and encourage dribblers to be decisive with their moves in traffic.
Last, but certainly not least, NBA 2K27 introduces a revamped Takeover system built around the five disciplines: Shooting, Finishing, Playmaking, Defense, and Rebounding. You can unlock and equip a different Takeover Ability for each of these five disciplines.
Each discipline is tracked independently throughout the course of a game via dedicated meters in your HUD. These meters will go up and down in real time based on your active performance on the floor. If you're cold from the field, your Shooting ratings will take a penalty, but if you're anchoring the paint, your Defensive meter will surge. The tiers scale across six levels:
Frozen
Cold
Neutral
Warm
Hot
Takeover
This system means you could even be hot in multiple categories simultaneously. For example, if you’re breaking ankles, dishing out assists, and getting buckets in the paint, you could have both Blur and Airspace active at the same time.
When a discipline’s meter is maxed out, its equipped Takeover Ability activates automatically. A timer displays exactly how long each active ability will last. Because each ability features a different duration, you will need to choose wisely to maximize your playstyle and completely impose your will on the competition.
Takeover games in NBA 2K27 with 24 different Takeover Abilities, allowing you to maximize your talent on either end of the floor.
Shooting
Shot Artist: Enhances ability to make Off-Dribble shots.
Calibrated: Enhances ability to make Set shots.
Zip Code: Extends ability to make shots from Deep.
Default: Considerable boost to Shooting attributes when in Takeover.
Finishing
Inside Touch: Enhances ability to make Standing layups.
Navigator: Enhances ability to make Driving and Advanced layups (euros, hops, spins).
Detonator: Enhances ability to make Standing dunks.
Airspace: Enhances ability to make Driving dunks.
Paint Surgeon: Enhances ability to make Post Hooks, Fades, and win matchups in the post.
Default: Considerable boost to Finishing attributes when in Takeover.
Playmaking
Blur: Enhances ability to blow by defenders and win body-up matchups.
Cook: Increases chances of successful ankle breakers.
Dishmaster: Increases boosts to pass recipient’s Finishing and Shooting attributes.
Default: Considerable boost to Playmaking attributes when in Takeover.
Defense
Glue: Enhances ability to force ball pickups and fumbles.
Hawk: Activates on-ball steal attempts that can cause turnovers or force fumbles.
Rim Guardian: Increases ability to win post and off-ball post situations, and activates elite shot blocking around the rim.
Default: Considerable boost to Defense attributes when in Takeover.
Rebounding
Demolition: Increases ability to set strong screens.
Muscle: Increases ability to win successful boxouts and rebounds.
Second Chance: Instantly see shot feedback on all shots, and increase ability to make successful putbacks.
See the Future: Shows you where missed shots will land ahead of time.
Default: Considerable boost to Rebounding attributes when in Takeover.
Universal
Hydration Hero: Temporarily disables losing adrenaline and energy/turbo. Hydration Hero can be equipped in any of the five Takeover Ability discipline slots.
This year, we've improved our AI logic to ensure that computer-controlled teammates and opponents operate with a realistic basketball IQ. From pushing the pace in transition to executing complex defensive rotations, the AI in NBA 2K27 is designed to read, react, and attack.
To perfectly capture the speed of the modern NBA, the AI has been designed to capitalize on early offense, rather than waiting to set up traditional plays.
Even during dead periods as the ball passes through the net, players immediately begin organizing into their spacing lanes to spark early offense thanks to new spacing lane logic. Following a made basket, both the inbounder and the ball-handler will sprint up the floor. If a rim runner is open, the AI is programmed to actively look for the slashing player.
In previous years, the AI would halt its attack if it met an even number of defenders in transition. Now, high-pace AI will continuously probe the defense for scoring opportunities. High-tempo teams will actively seek out earlier shots, sometimes pulling the trigger with 17 seconds still left on the shot clock.
We’ve introduced Set AI, a new framework designed to help superstar players become the true hub of the offense—just like they are in real life.
Rather than calling random plays, the AI coordinates specific offensive actions and positions to consistently put your defense in compromising situations, keeping elite facilitators like Nikola Jokić highly involved.
Scorers can be moved to different positions within a set to play varying roles depending on the specific team and situation. Teams will selectively deploy these sets based on context, such as opening or closing a quarter, battling in tight games, or breaking out of a scoring slump.
New Set AI updates will be made in NBA 2K27 throughout the year.
When playing with AI, new play art will offer more insight into what your teammates are doing. Above your teammate’s head, you’ll notice a notification that communicates your teammate’s action or position. For example, a pop-up will appear when they’re cutting, posting up, have a mismatch, or they’re open. This offers further clarity when running play actions, like Isos or Handoffs.
While our adaptive system has always made player-level adjustments, 2K27 introduces team-level offensive gameplans. The AI tracks efficiency in real-time, allowing teams to shift toward star-focused, aggressive plans, and dynamically revert to other options if the defense shuts them down. It actively evaluates matchups from game to game, forcing touches to exploit favorable defensive liabilities.
The Pick-and-Roll is a key play in every offense, and the AI now has a massive, highly intelligent bag of tricks to dissect your coverage.
Leveraging ProPLAY®, AI effectiveness on hand-off plays received a boost, utilizing authentic pitch passes to create fluid offensive motion.
Pick-and-roll pocket passing has been improved to create better angles, use alley-oops more thoughtfully, and push the tempo off ball-screens to force defenders into split-second decisions.
Elite ball-handlers will actively hunt for perimeter isolations or mismatches in the post. If a player is in "hunt behavior," they will isolate their preferred matchup and attack instantly. Furthermore, the AI will repeatedly call for screens to target poor or smaller defenders, exploit soft hedge coverages, and engineer the exact shot they want, either through specific plays or freelance spacing.
We didn't just upgrade the AI's offensive toolset; we've enhanced our defensive rotation logic to provide more intelligent coverage on the other end of the floor.
Defenders now make complex decisions, offering fluid coverage rather than rigidly rotating to stationary spots. Rotators actively evaluate their matchups and help targets, adjusting their off-ball pressure as players move around the court.
The new rotation engine enhances the AI's spatial awareness, giving them an improved ability to read the floor and play the passing lanes.
Our previous matchup switching was limited in how it evaluated defender types. For 2K27, we have doubled the number of recognizable defender types. The system now holistically evaluates all attributes, tendencies, and badges to make the smartest possible switching and matchup selections.
Gameplay in NBA 2K27 provides more balance and versatility to deliver a fundamentally more rewarding experience on every single possession.
We’ve put the power entirely in your hands, eliminating the bailouts and rewarding pure basketball IQ. It's time to compete at the highest level and make an undeniable impact with skill-based features that were explicitly designed to separate the greats from the best.
Download the NBA 2K HQ app, fully integrated with NBA 2K27’s social features, to stay connected with your Crew and keep your head in the game.
To hear more from the Visual Concepts team, submit your questions now for the developer Q&A on the official NBA 2K Discord.
We heard your feedback loud and clear. For NBA 2K27 , our team's mission for MyNBA was simple: get back to basics and deliver the improved, core franchise experience our community deserves. This year is all about giving you the power to put your vision into action. We’ve refined
We heard your feedback loud and clear.
For NBA 2K27, our team's mission for MyNBA was simple: get back to basics and deliver the improved, core franchise experience our community deserves. This year is all about giving you the power to put your vision into action.
We’ve refined foundational elements of the mode, featuring realistic CBA contract negotiations and a brand-new GM Trust system, every decision carries real weight as you obsess over roster construction and outsmart 29 other front offices.
After cementing those features, we couldn't resist adding one more thing.
Enter MyNBA Legacy. We’ve built a massive, 100-year universe offering a new player-focused RPG experience right within MyNBA. From picking your favorite athlete and reverting them to rookie form, to leveling them up and forging an unprecedented career path, it gives you the ultimate tools to change how basketball history is remembered.
Here is how you will run the league in 2K27.
Free agency in NBA 2K27 has been improved to capture the high-stakes drama of the real-world NBA offseason.
Before free agency officially opens, you’ll sit down with marquee max-level free agents to make early pitches and lock in commitments before the free agency window opens.
Top-tier free agents will take various factors into account when they receive max offers from multiple teams. To convince a superstar to sign, you'll need to offer attractive contract perks and make binding promises during negotiations:
Roster Demands: Max players can demand general roster influence, ask you to promise to sign or retain a close friend or Dynamic Duo partner, or demand that you trade away or refuse to sign a personal rival.
Lifelong Loyalty Promises: In real life, top-tier free agents always get max contracts. New to 2K27, we’ve expanded the tools you have available to see what you can use to convince a player to join beyond just the simple dollar amount.
Performance Bonuses & Incentives: Structure contracts with performance incentives based on individual or team milestones (such as making All-NBA, winning Defensive Player of the Year, or reaching the Conference Finals). Incentives are evaluated as Guaranteed, Likely, or Unlikely, directly impacting your cap space based on real CBA guidelines.
During the free agency moratorium period, a brand-new menu acts as a scrollable depth chart showcasing the best available players at each position. This lets you quickly identify positional scarcities and monitor which top players are flying off the board, ensuring you know exactly when and where you need to strike fast.
To keep you fully informed throughout the process, we’ve also added daily recap screens that highlight major signings, provide league power rankings, track the remaining high-value talent, and deliver a final offseason summary detailing the biggest winners and losers across the league.
Building a champion requires more than raw talent; it requires credibility and locker room harmony. In 2K27, we revamped player morale and introduced GM Trust.
The morale system now actively tracks long-standing friendships, intense rivalries, and complex personality traits across the league's top players. These relationships develop naturally based on real-world factors. Friendships can organically build from a shared history—such as playing together internationally, in high school, or in college—or even just hailing from the same hometown area. Conversely, rivalries are forged in the fire of competition. A player repeatedly knocked out of the postseason by the exact same opponent will harbor a very real grudge, bringing extra fire and intensity to those matchups, especially in critical playoff elimination games.
Personality also plays a massive role in your team's success. Clashing mentalities—like trying to pair two demanding Alpha Dogs or forcing a Keep It Real player to coexist with a "Pat My Back" teammate—can create severe locker room friction and actively derail your team chemistry. Players that have personality mismatches will build chemistry more slowly, and lose it more quickly if you start to lose.
On the flip side, building strong bonds pays massive dividends. When two star players maintain a high Friendship rating (50+), they officially form a Dynamic Duo, which allows for an even bigger OVR improvement. Sharing the floor with a Duo partner grants both players dynamic attribute buffs during games. If you take it a step further and three top stars share an elite friendship, they form a true Big 3, unlocking maximum team-wide boosts as long as they stay together.
As the general manager, you’ll now maintain a dynamic Trust rating starting at 50. Your Trust rating dictates how believable your promises are during free agency negotiations and directly impacts locker room morale.
Governor Directives span all MyNBA modes; complete MyGM tasks in MyGM, secure player extensions, and re-sign your own free agents to increase your Trust. Conversely, breaking promises or trading players on multi-year contracts causes your Trust to drop. If your Trust plummets, top free agents will refuse to take your contract promises at face value, forcing you to overpay to secure talent.
We spent a significant amount of time addressing the top feedback from the MyNBA community, integrating highly requested administrative tools and roster management features. Our focus was to rebuild the core elements of MyNBA and support the evolution of the sport through these changes. Here are just 21 examples of the many exciting updates we made in 2K27:
Expand your trade negotiations up to four teams simultaneously, with the asset cap increased from six to nine assets per team.
Negotiate contract buyouts with veteran players on expiring deals and hunt for late-season additions on the dedicated Buyout Market.
Experience the realistic roster-building constraints of the CBA's Second Apron, including trade restrictions and tax penalties for high-spending teams.
Added 75 additional historic courts in MyNBA Eras.
Eurostash contracts have been on ice since NBA 2K24, but they’re returning in 2K27 after receiving some significant improvements. To give players the version they deserve, we had to go under-the-hood and rewrite the system to offer a more authentic and enjoyable experience.
MyNBA’s All-Star Weekend has been updated to reflect the NBA’s modern format.
Added the new 3-2-1 lottery system and all of the smaller, minor details included. This is also now available as a rule change, as well as a historic change if starting before the Modern Era.
Added new styles of playoff series home/away games for 5- and 7-game series. We now support straight alternating home and away, as well as 2-2-1 for best-of-5 series, and alternating, 2-2-1-1-1, and 2-3-2 for best-of-7 series.
Added players’ birthplaces and high school to their information. This is used in helping determine if players should have starting relationships with each other from being in the same region, high school, or college.
Added the ability to add in cash considerations for trades. This includes both making sure it’s an asset that can be added to the trade menu and proper evaluation by team as to how much the cash is actually worth.
Added a new setting to disable historic changes; this will prevent things like new expansion teams to be added, rule changes, or rebranding as long as disabled. Then later, if re-enabled, the new historic changes will occur from that point forward.
Changed it so heaves at the end of a quarter count for team attempts, but don’t count as a shot attempt if missed.
Added a new rule change that, if a team calls a timeout when they have none left, if they should keep or lose possession, plus the technical.
Allow for better matchup comparison when at neutral locations, such as the final NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament) game.
Added the NBA Cup to player histories, so it can now be tracked for both players and staff.
Added support for variant cities for the NBA Cup (In-Season Tournament), so we can have both the real location in Indianapolis this year, but also support having it in previous years in Las Vegas, as well as a historic change to account for the change in venue that will occur automatically.
Added a rule change for Clutch Player of the Year.
Added limited 10-day contracts to both the NBA and WNBA.
Improved the first apron’s effects so it better matches the CBA.
Fixed an error in tiebreaker rules. These are very important because any deviation between how we calculate the play-ins and playoff tiebreakers and the real-life NBA could cause Start Today to break if they come to different results.
Improved how we calculate defense when affecting shot probabilities—now there’s an inherent cap to how much they can potentially interfere. This does not impact shooting odds when playing in-game on the sticks.
League customization reaches new heights in 2K27 with the Rule Change engine.
Front offices are no longer restricted to five rule proposals per offseason. You can now explore, review, and vote on an unlimited number of pending rule proposals across broken-down categories. The updated interface provides detailed historical context, descriptions, and custom sliders for every proposed change.
To complement our 100-year franchise window, you can now create Historic Draft Playlists. Easily line up sequential historical draft classes to automatically populate your league across decades, or randomize player entries to create alternate-reality draft classes for endless replayability. There are a few ways to get the most out of your replay, and they can be mixed and matched:
Loop: If you hit the end, you’ll start from the beginning of the playlist.
Shuffle: Players are randomly dispersed from the total players pool, leading to randomized draft classes without duplicate players.
Reverse: Use classic draft classes, but go in reverse.
Continuing our commitment to making MyNBA as authentic as possible, we’ve brought back even more retro arena floors and classic uniforms. We've also taken that historical accuracy a step further behind the scenes: each era now features updated contract-length rules that better mirror the real-world Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in effect during that specific time period.
The headline addition to MyNBA in NBA 2K27 is MyNBA Legacy, a single-player, player-locked mode that bridges the gap between running the front office and dominating on the hardwood; whether you’re committed to writing the next century of NBA history, or looking for a casual sandbox experience, MyNBA Legacy has something for everyone.
When you start a MyNBA Legacy save in the Modern Era, you can pick any player to be your Legend, with the option to play with their current attributes and badges, or revert them back to their rookie form to potentially earn more XP by completing statistical milestones. From there, you play as both the general manager executing front-office operations and the locked player on the court. Because MyNBA Legacy is a single-player sandbox, there are no artificial limits: you can grow your player into an absolute stat-sheet-stuffing cheat code.
In MyNBA Legacy, progression is driven by your performance and strategic planning. Instead of standard rating increases, you earn experience by hitting per-game stat goals, securing season awards (such as MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, or Rookie of the Year), making deep playoff runs, and chasing down all-time career statistical records. Complete statistical milestones by playing, simulating games, or a combination of both.
As you continue to earn XP, eventually you’ll increase your Legend’s tier, giving two main benefits: Badge Tiers and Performance Points:
Badge Tiers: Level up your badges to unlock higher tiers. As an example, Tier 14 is the Legend tier with 1 Legend, 5 Hall of Fame, 12 Gold, 8 Silver and 8 Bronze badges. Tiering up to 15, G.O.A.T. instead gives you 3 Legend, 7 Hall of Fame, 10 Gold, 10 Silver and 10 Bronze badges. You can freely change, swap, and upgrade badges whenever you like, so feel free to experiment and see what works best.
Performance Points: XP converts to Performance Points in a ratio of 1:1, but can be freely spent to make your Legend better. The main thing to buy are Training Camps that give a permanent increase to specific attribute suites like Outside Shooting, Playmaking, or Perimeter Defense. In addition, there are a ton of special Bonus Abilities you can buy to improve your Legend and also give benefits to their legacy. The full list can be found below.
The goal for any legacy is to hit Tier 30—Eternal G.O.A.T. tier where every badge is a legend badge. A tough ask for a single player, a Legend can buy Bonus Abilities to pass along to their family tree to make each player’s start bigger and better, and hit Eternal G.O.A.T. through a legacy’s hard work.
As noted above, you can spend your hard-earned Performance Points on standalone Bonus Abilities, unlocking game-changing perks like ultimate injury protection, infinite stamina, and highly favorable contract terms. Check out the full list of upgrades below:
Legacy Bonuses
Family Skills: Choose any of your badges. All of your current Legend’s future kids in the run will inherit that badge and level.
Private Lessons: All of your current Legend’s future kids will start with an additional training camp.
Legacy: Choose any other non-legacy Bonus Ability you have. All of your current Legend’s future kids will also inherit that bonus ability.
Player Health
The Long Haul: Your legend will no longer receive career-ending injuries.
Protected: An improvement of The Long Haul, instead your Legend will no longer receive major injuries that would end their season.
Immune: An improvement of Protected, instead your Legend will no longer receive any injuries of any kind.
Hyperbaric Therapy: All players in MyNBA experience regression every year after a certain age, where their physical attributes decline. In MyNBA Legacy, you can prevent this by having your player have a certain number of training camps to fight regression and keep their attributes permanently. Hyperbaric Therapy reduces the number of camps required here by 1 for each time acquired.
Limitless Stamina: Your Legend’s maximum energy doesn’t deplete over the course of the game, allowing them to play huge minutes without issue.
Player Improvement
Training Camp: The heart of MyNBA Legacy attribute progression; more detail above.
Pave the Way: Improve the potential of all of your Legend’s future kids by 5. Each new kid can purchase this again, allowing for stacking future potential. Potential determines how expensive training camps are, so having maxed potential will save a ton of Performance Points in the long run.
Legendary Skills: Immediately gain a new Legend-tier badge.
Offering: Permanently disable a specific badge for your Legend and their kids. In exchange, gain a permanent boost to XP gained from most sources.
Hardware Collector: Gain more XP from winning personal accolades like MVP.
Miscellaneous
On-Court Coach: Just like the fan-favorite badge in MyCAREER, your AI teammates will instantly listen to you when you call for the ball or command them to shoot.
Sim Baller: Improves XP earned by 20%. This bonus temporarily goes down in the season for each game you play on the sticks, resetting back to 20% next season.
Team-Friendly Deal: Your contract only costs 85% of its actual market value against the cap.
Anything for a Ring: Your contract is always locked in at the league minimum, freeing up maximum cap space to help build a superteam.
Limitless Stamina: Your stamina no longer depletes during games, keeping you perfectly fresh from tip-off to the final buzzer.
Ultimately, MyNBA Legacy is all about cementing your all-time greatness. A few of these elite Bonus Abilities are even specifically designed to let you pass your hard-earned skills down to the next generation, ensuring your impact on the league lasts long after you finally hang up your jersey.
In 2K27, we've increased the number of years players can play before retirement from 24 to 25. In addition, we’ve expanded the playable franchise length from 80 years to 100 years in MyNBA, MyGM, and MyNBA Legacy. For MyNBA Legacy, players can retire and move on to their son’s career, meaning you can play four 25-year careers, or five 20-year careers.
When your legend's career eventually comes to an end, the journey doesn't stop. You can choose to pass along your legacy to your player’s child. Through a stacking progression system, future generations inherit a portion of their parent's starting badges, training camp bonuses, and special abilities. Whether you play for one franchise or several over the course of your career, if you win championships your descendants will start their careers with massive permanent bonus points, giving them an unprecedented head start on their own path to immortality.
For elite Managers who reach Eternal G.O.A.T. status, 2K27 introduces up to 20 scaling difficulty modifiers:
Ranked: Play with ranked settings enabled.
Tougher Goals: Season Excellence goals are more difficult.
Stifled Potential: Lower your potential rating.
Injury Risk: The Long Haul bonus is no longer free and must be acquired.
Automatic Max: You’re always forced to sign a max contract.
Early Peak: Attribute regression begins at a younger age.
Inflation: The costs of training camps increase by 10%.
Gym Fees: The Limitless Stamina bonus costs three times as much.
Vocal Haters: Finals MVP voting is unfairly based only on your worst game of the series.
The Hard Road: In the offseason, you’ll be forced to go to a team low in the power rankings you haven’t won with yet.
The Long Road: More XP required to tier up, meaning slower badge progression but a higher ceiling you haven’t won with yet.
Voter Fatigue: Each MVP you have already won lowers your MVP vote share in future races.
Coach’s Orders: Head Coach knows best. Your first training camp is randomized.
Limited Trades: You can only complete 10 trades in a season.
Too Many Opps: Playoff opponents start hot in all elimination games.
The Hardest Road: In the offseason, you’ll be forced to go to the lowest team in the power rankings you haven’t won with yet.
Father Time: You’ll need an additional training camp per season to prevent the effects of regression.
Tough Critics: It’s tougher to win MVP and Defensive Player of the Year.
Few Trades: You can only complete five trades in a season.
Above and Beyond: Career legacy goal targets are increased by 25% across the board. XP awarded stays the same.
These challenging options add fun twists, such as strict trade caps, severe voter fatigue in award races, and forced worst-game weighting in Finals MVP voting to test your skills to the absolute limit.
In MyNBA Legacy, you have total creative control. You can freely edit Attributes and Badges, letting you bypass traditional progression rules to build your superstar exactly how you see fit. But if you're chasing ultimate bragging rights, step into Ranked Mode. This highly competitive arena locks you into a strict, standardized ruleset, ensuring your legacy is built on pure skill and determination.
MyNBA in NBA 2K27 isn't about sitting back and watching simulation numbers roll by, it's about taking complete control of the Association.
Whether you're carving out a century-spanning family legacy in MyNBA Legacy, navigating the tightropes of the modern CBA, or forging an iconic Big 3 to dominate the league, the power is entirely in your hands.
*NBA 2K27 includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items.
This year, we’re breaking boundaries with our first-ever co-ed City, allowing male and female MyPLAYERs to compete side-by-side on the hardwood and the blacktop. Whether you're a rookie honing your skills in the all-new Casual Corner, a dedicated squad climbing the competitive ra
This year, we’re breaking boundaries with our first-ever co-ed City, allowing male and female MyPLAYERs to compete side-by-side on the hardwood and the blacktop. Whether you're a rookie honing your skills in the all-new Casual Corner, a dedicated squad climbing the competitive ranks inside your very own Crew HQ, or a streetball legend battling bosses at the iconic Rucker Park, there is a stage for every hooper. Let's break down exactly what’s waiting for you in The City in NBA 2K27.
For the first time ever, we're introducing a co-ed City, where you can create a female MyPLAYER and compete in The City alongside our global community of hoopers.
All MyPLAYERs—male and female—are built on the exact same framework. Your height, badges, attribute ratings, and wingspan are strictly determined by the MyPLAYER build you create, not your appearance. We're keeping the playing field perfectly level because the only thing that matters is how you ball.
To help you show out, we’re dropping thousands of women’s apparel options in 2K27. Customize your ‘fit from head to toe with everything from high-end designer brands to gritty streetwear and WNBA favorites.
All game modes within The City are completely co-ed, granting you full access to The REC, The Theater, Street Kings, Park, Proving Grounds, Ante-Up, Starting Five, plus the all-new Crew HQ and Casual Corner. Form your Crew, chase the W, and make your mark across every corner of The City.
One thing to note: Female MyPLAYERs are a City-only experience. All game-enhancing rewards, like the MyPOINTS Accelerator, can be earned through The City, for all MyPLAYERs.
To learn more about the ability to create female MyPLAYERs, be sure to check out the MyPLAYER Builder Courtside Report. For those who want to play out their WNBA career, The W returns in NBA 2K27 with mode improvements, see here for more.
2K27 sets the stage for primetime action in The City—after dark.
Under the night sky, The City lights up its connected, highly accessible layout with a brilliant neon glow. Even with all of the eye-catching accent lighting, finding your Crew and getting in a game is faster and more seamless than ever.
Inspired directly by community feedback, The REC, The Theater, Ante-Up, and Seasonal Parks all feature brand-new environments.
Every single run at The REC now looks unique, rotating randomly between five different environments available right at launch.
High School Gym: Take over a high school gym, pack it with fans, and electrify the crowd with dunks worthy of a hoops mixtape.
Outdoor Court: Draw a crowd at the local park and become a neighborhood hero under the lights.
Private Gym: Take a moment away from the spotlight and build team chemistry when no one’s watching. Run your sets and get to your spots.
Crowded Arena: On this stage, you’ll feel the pressure and the weight of every possession. Feed off the crowd’s energy and own the moment.
Season-Themed Venue: Every Season this venue will feature an updated court floor and jerseys. In this compact space, the crowd will feel like they’re the sixth man on the court.
We’re taking the action outside. The Theater moves under the stars on a dedicated city block for a fresh, open-air setting.
Push your competition to the edge of the Ante-Up rooftop. Floating high above the clouds, this towering court boasts a sleek infinity edge and an undefeated view of the surrounding skyscrapers. Play like an All-Star against a stunning nighttime backdrop.
Seasonal Parks return in 2K27 and rotate every Season, featuring four brand-new locations alongside HD remasters of classic 2K17 Sunset Beach, Old Town Park, and Rivet City. Season 1 kicks off at Lion & Vine Park, an urban proving ground located at the epicenter of a high-traffic area.
Regardless of where you play, The City offers the ultimate competitive playground around the clock.
In 2K26, Crews gave you a new way to squad up, earn rewards, and show out as a unit. In NBA 2K27, we’ve completely raised the stakes.
Crew HQ is your dedicated home base in The City, acting as the team-based equivalent to your individual MyCOURT. Step inside to talk strategy with built-in voice chat and practice with your squad on 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 half courts, plus full 3v3 and 5v5 courts. When you’re ready to challenge rival Crews, hop into matchmaking for competitive 3v3 and 5v5 runs. Climb the leaderboard, earn Crew XP, and check the individual breakdowns to see exactly who’s pulling their weight.
Customize your Crew’s uniform and logo, and watch it hang proudly in the Crew HQ rafters, where every member's jersey is immortalized. Wins come and go, but a jersey in the rafters is legendary.
Crew HQ brings the heat with Ranked Crew Games across six distinct tiers: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and Top Ranked. Ranked Crew Games will match players with Crews that share the same rank, or the next closest rank if a Crew with the same rank is unavailable.
Each day, your Crew is placed on a leaderboard against 39 other Crews in your tier. You have seven days to prove you belong. Rack up the Ws to reach the next level, or take the L and risk relegation.
During the final weekend of each Season, a massive divisional tournament kicks off, inviting Crews to battle for a title and exclusive prizes. At the start of the next Season, every Crew drops two tiers and must fight their way back up to defend their turf.
Beyond ranked matchmaking, the Squad Showdown Kiosk inside your Crew HQ lets you host your own private runs and league play. Invite members from other Crews and play with or against them in casual matches. We’ve taken everything you loved about Pro-Am and integrated it directly into Crew HQ, creating a more team-focused, highly competitive environment.
We’ve also upped the Crew XP rewards track based on community feedback. 2K27 launches with 40 levels of Crew progression (10 more than last year), and starting in Season 2, we’re adding five new levels every single Season to ensure your squad always has something to chase.
We focused heavily on making 2K27 as accessible as possible. If you’re a rookie just learning the sticks, you need a space to practice your skills and face off against other players at your exact level.
Welcome to the Casual Corner. Upon entering The City, new hoopers can build confidence in this optional, rookie-friendly hub, and run 3v3 and 5v5 games before taking on the vets in the wider community. Game modes here are assigned based on your Overall Performance tier, or “plate color.” You'll start at the Casual tier and get a feel for the competition to learn the ropes, before graduating to face real players.
Casual (Black): Games are against easier CPU opponents, giving you the space to learn your build, find your jumpshot, practice your dribble animations, and get some Ws in.
Hooper (Bronze): Your teammates are now real players, but your opponents are still CPU. This is a good stage to start learning how to play alongside others, whether you queue with friends or hop in with randoms.
Baller (Silver): Both teams now have human players. This is where Casual Corner introduces you to real competition for the first time. Time to see what your game looks like against others.
Pro (Gold): Same format as Baller with another step up in opponent strength. You are ready for the rest of The City.
MVP (Purple) or Hall of Fame (Red): You have outgrown Casual Corner! CPU opponents are back, now at their highest possible ratings and Badges. VC, Season XP, REP, and Badge progression are no longer earned here. The REC, The Theater, and the rest of The City are waiting.
If you’re a returning 2K26 veteran, your highest Overall Performance tier carries over on day one. But when you feel ready to put your skills to the ultimate test, you can leave and skip ahead into The City at any time.
Street Kings returns as the premier 3v3 mode where you and up to two friends battle CPU bosses across the most unique courts in The City. Street Kings in NBA 2K27 features three courts: The Hollows, Claremont Court, and the legendary Rucker Park court.
Rucker Park, the storied Harlem blacktop and streetball mecca, has been faithfully recreated down to the last detail. It’s also a key point within this year’s MyCAREER story: “Fire & Concrete.” Follow in the footsteps of NBA stars, drop memorable performances, and become a blacktop legend.
The weekly Street Kings tournament kicks off with a play-in round based on your seeding, followed by a grueling best-of-five bracket. Everything culminates in a single-elimination championship game to 21. Opponents and rules refresh every week, so stay ready. Progress through 40 levels of rewards, including the wild apparel and cosmetics Street Kings is famous for.
Stay on your toes for Court Crashers. At a random point in any game, a legendary boss player can pull up and take over the court. You have to face them on the spot—bring them down and secure a massive reward. Plus, run alongside a new featured set of VIP teammates every day to earn even bigger bonuses.
Starting 5 puts your MyPLAYER on the court with four AI teammates as you compete against another human player and their AI squad. In 2K27, Starting 5 features a new board game-style progression system, with each board containing 16 game slots.
Highlight slots on the board will require you to play with a specific team. Non-highlight game slots are completely open, allowing you to pick any team you choose. Your progression and team selections will differ depending on your MyPLAYER:
NBA Teams: Male MyPLAYERs will pick a current NBA team to play alongside. Your board includes specific "highlight game" slots that lock your team selection to a required squad. Completing these highlight games is how you unlock Historic teams. As you complete full 16-game boards, you will unlock All-Time teams.
Archetype and Icon Teams: Female MyPLAYERs will pick from 40 mixed-gender rosters. These include teams built around specific archetypes (such as a three-point shooting or defensive team), as well as "Icon teams" made up of the top NBA and WNBA players who have played in cities like Chicago or Los Angeles, and completing full 16-game boards will unlock more Icon teams.
Completing a full 16-game board awards a VC bonus for both paths. Once you complete all boards and unlock every team, you will become a Starting 5 VIP, earning a special VIP icon next to your name on the Starting 5 leaderboard! Even after reaching VIP status, completing 16-game VIP boards will continue to award a VC bonus.
Brand-new to 2K27 is Daily Rivals, a nonstop battle where every single game shifts the standings.
Each day, you're grouped with 39 other players based on your skill level and play frequency, ensuring the competition is always tight and the pressure stays on. Win or lose, every game you play counts toward your spot on the board.
You earn a reward each day just for showing up, but the higher you place, the better the gear you take home. Finish in the top three and win a Rivals Ticket, earning you a chance to land some of the rarest swag in the game.
Rep your street cred with Player Medals, a new way to flex in 2K27. Earn these by completing Lifetime Challenges or reaching massive stat milestones in The City, then show them off during pre-game intros so your rivals know exactly who they're dealing with. Opponents and teammates will see your medals in pregame lineups, matchups, matchmaking lobbies, and the post-game winner's circle.
Medals are unlockable across all game modes, so you can earn them no matter where you like to hoop. Head to the Lifetime Challenge menu for a full overview of every available medal and the requirements to unlock it, including tons of new Lifetime Challenges available to complete in 2K27. There are nearly 300 unique medals to unlock across 5 tiers, from Beginner all the way up to Elite & Mastery.
Once unlocked, you can equip any medal you want. Choose how you want to be represented and which achievement you want to show off. Playing in The REC? Equip your “8K Assists in The REC” medal to show everyone you’re a team player. Switching to the Park? Equip your “50 Game Win Streak” medal to show off your dominant consistency.
We’re also doubling down on your hustle. 2K27 features 40 REP tiers at launch, doubling the amount of rewards you’ll earn in the exact same amount of time you did last year. You'll earn more rewards, more often, meaning the next unlock is always within reach.
The City has long been both a proving ground and a social hub for the NBA 2K community—and this year, we’ve completely leveled up the playing field.
From competitive co-ed gameplay to a stunning after-dark environment, this year’s City is energized with the new Crew HQ, an inviting Casual Corner where players can perfect their skills, the addition of Rucker Park’s legendary court, and much more. Show off your MyPLAYER throughout The City and compete with friends as you climb the leaderboard and dominate the Park.
To top it all off, be sure to download the NBA 2K HQ app, starting August 21, to stay connected to NBA 2K27. The app features the full MyPLAYER Builder, so you can create new builds from wherever you are, and comprehensive social features so you can chat with your Crew and make sure everyone stays locked in.
*NBA 2K27 includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Online play requires an Internet connection and NBA 2K Account. Console online play requires separate paid subscription. Crossplay is only available on PS5 & XBOX Series X|S.
The NBA 2K27 MyTEAM experience has been completely streamlined so everything you need is right at your fingertips the second you fire up the game. On its surface, MyTEAM’s simplified menu and clean aesthetic is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, this year features
The NBA 2K27 MyTEAM experience has been completely streamlined so everything you need is right at your fingertips the second you fire up the game.
On its surface, MyTEAM’s simplified menu and clean aesthetic is just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, this year features a major change to The Exchange, a new Player XP system, and more.
Let's get right into this year’s enhancements.
Building a dream MyTEAM squad takes serious strategy, and every card you pull should feel like a massive win. Instead of letting high-value cards sit on the bench, we’ve revolutionized The Exchange to deliver one of the biggest upgrades in MyTEAM history, handing you the ultimate tool to maximize your collection and dominate the competition.
For the first time ever, you can exchange any of your Player Cards (Free Agent cards excluded), even cards earned from Season level rewards, for elite rewards. We are raising the floor of utility for your entire collection, ensuring that every single card you earn, pull, or unlock is a meaningful asset toward building an unstoppable lineup. Even when you complete a Collection for a Collection Reward, cards will now become unauctionable rather than locked in, meaning they can still be used in The Exchange after being used to get a Collection Reward.
Here is exactly how the new system puts the power back in your hands:
The Premier Exchange: The Premier Exchange will feature one of the most powerful cards in MyTEAM each Season, and can be obtained by exchanging an assortment of cards from your collection.
Regular Exchange Drops: At launch, three brand-new Exchange drops will go live every Friday, making a constant flow of new powerful Player Card rewards available. If you start an Exchange, you will be able to keep making progress towards it even after the timer runs out.
Flexible Gem+ Exchanges: Exchange requirements scale with gem tiers, allowing you to use higher-tier cards to meet lower-tier requirements (like submitting a Diamond for an Amethyst+ Exchange). Any card that meets these requirements qualifies, regardless of whether you got it from a pack, the Auction House, a reward, or a Locker Code.
In NBA 2K27, every card in your inventory has power, giving you more flexibility than ever to assemble a lineup that can go head-to-head with the best.
The moment you load into MyTEAM, the first thing you’ll notice is the completely redesigned Play tab. We built this setup to ensure that the newest, freshest content is waiting for you every single day.
A Featured section sits right at the top of your screen, giving you instant access to the latest Challenges, Dominations, and highlighted ways to play. If you have go-to formats that you run every single session, you can now favorite your most-played modes to pin them directly to your Favorites row for seamless, one-click entry.
A clean menu is great, but it’s nothing without the actual run. Let’s talk about how we’re shaking up multiplayer modes.
The community has been vocal about wanting classic experiences back, and we listened. In NBA 2K27, fan-favorite ways to play like Triple Threat Online and Clutch Time Online are making their return with fresh challenges and rewards, alongside classic setups and brand-new experiences.
These limited-time multiplayer modes will rotate throughout the year, with windows ranging from a single weekend, to a special Festival, or a full Season. Even if the rewards and lineup rules change, we’re looking to keep Triple Threat and Clutch Time multiplayer formats as regular staples of Limited Time Modes; whether it is meeting Salary Cap restrictions, building specialized lineups for Limited challenges, tracking Win Streaks, and competing for elite prizes, the multiplayer landscape will stay updated all year long.
Starting in Season 1, Triple Threat Online will be available all Season, featuring a traditional ladder reward system including the opportunity to earn a mode completion reward player… which can also be used in The Exchange if they don’t fit your lineup or playstyle! With a 4-point line and 14 second shot clocks, the fast-paced Clutch Time Online will also return at launch, but with a limited window to make way for more unique rewards and ways to play in this unique format.
Getting the win is always the priority, but this year, the actual journey of upgrading your cards on the court is getting revamped.
One of the biggest updates to MyTEAM in 2K27 is the introduction of a dedicated Player XP system, giving every single Player Card in your collection the ability to level up.
You’ll earn XP simply by taking any Player Card onto the hardwood and putting in the work. If you deliver elite performances across any MyTEAM mode, you'll accelerate that progression and level up even faster.
As your cards level up, you’ll unlock powerful rewards that directly stack on top of your existing boosts from Evolutions, Dynamic Duos, and Coach Cards. These unlocks can upgrade a card's baseline abilities by:
Boosting attributes
Starting the game with Takeover right away
Earning a permanent additional turbo meter to boost your stamina
Adding an entirely extra Badge Slot
It’s not just about on-court production, either. Some levels will allow you to break Prize Basketballs whenever that player is in the lineup, or directly unlock packs and minigames. Certain levels will even put the choices in your hands, letting you choose between a 3-point shot boost and a driving dunk boost, or between a raw attribute boost and other rewards.
Best of all, Player XP is tied to your account. If you choose to auction a card off or use it in an exchange, your progress isn't wiped. The moment you re-acquire that same card later down the line, you’ll pick up exactly where you left off.
New Game Changer power-up cards have been added:
Player XP Boost: Increases a card’s Player XP.
Player XP Multiplier: Applies a multiplier for all players' Player XP in the next game.
Clean Slate: Removes all Player XP from a card so you can level up again and make different reward or boost choices.
Respec: Make different reward or boost choices, without losing your Player XP.
Speaking of tracking down cards, the Auction House is breaking boundaries across platforms.
For the first time, the Auction House is unified across PlayStation®5, XBOX Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. This cross-platform integration creates the single largest pool of community-listed cards in MyTEAM history.
For players, this means more variety on the market with a significantly higher probability of hunting down the exact cards your lineup needs at much more consistent, stable prices.
On top of the unified player pool, we’ve expedited transactions when you acquire a card. Transactions will still be closely monitored, but there will no longer be a verification delay when you win an auction on PlayStation®5, XBOX Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch 2, giving you access to your new card immediately so you can add it to your lineup right away. After a transaction is completed, sellers will go through a much shorter verification process prior to redeeming a listing’s MyTEAM Points.
Tracking down the cards you want is easier than ever: the Auction House is open to everyone right away; wishlist cards you don’t own yet in the collections menu and search for them all at once without complicated filters; you can now save searches so your most-used filters that you create are ready to go.
Once you secure those high-tier cards from the market or a fresh pack, it's time to show them off to the community.
Triple Threat Park is back, and this time we're executing a nighttime takeover of Skyline Park, surrounded by a massive, glowing city backdrop. The venue brings your favorite MyTEAM cards into a Park-style gameplay environment, featuring returning 2v2 and 3v3 co-op games alongside head-to-head team control matchups. Head over to the Showcase Spot to open packs and watch your NBA and WNBA stars walk right onto the big stage in front of everyone.
If you walk right through the MyTEAM pop-up store, you’ll find yourself in All-Star Team-Up. Triple Threat Park and All-Star Team-Up now share a single lineup of priority cards, so there’s less setup and more playing across the two modes.
This year, All-Star Team-Up games take place directly inside authentic NBA & WNBA arenas, fully backed by commentary from our esteemed broadcast crew to give your squad runs a true prime-time television feel.
When a game loads, a new matchup screen displays each player's MyTEAM card alongside their top attributes and Badges, giving you a quick scouting report on who you are running with and playing against before the opening tip. On the court, your players now wear team-specific uniforms in both All-Star Team-Up and Triple Threat Park Co-Op for a more classic experience. For example, the Jaylen Brown Series 1 card will wear his new Philadelphia 76ers uniform.
In All-Star Team-Up we’ve also reduced the number of wins from five to three to earn Squad Win rewards, and we've added individual Daily Win Streak rewards, similar to Triple Threat Park, so you can stack prizes every single day.
Invite your friends to private matches at the new Squad vs. Squad kiosk in the All-Star Team-Up lobby. Connect with up to nine other players and get into a game together using your favorite MyTEAM cards.
If you prefer a structured single-player gauntlet to test your collection's depth, our signature board game modes are ready for expansion.
Breakout is expanding in 2K27 with a new progression system that literally grows your game board every time you warp. As you advance in an ‘All Modes’ run, each board will drop new free spots, dishing out more rewards and choices when you reach the edge of the larger boards. Starting a brand-new run? Your previously unlocked warp corners will already be revealed, allowing you to map out your strategic path straight to the largest boards and the highest-tier rewards quicker.
Gauntlet returns and now it’s infinite with a seasonal leaderboard celebrating those who can get the most wins in a run. In NBA 2K26, Gauntlet sent you down a 100-game straight path where each card could only be used once per run. In NBA 2K27, as long as you have eligible, playable Player Cards remaining in your deeper collection, you can keep your run alive and earn even more rewards.
Gauntlet lineups now have Player Cards that are pre-selected for each game: one for Triple Threat, two for Clutch Time, and three for Full Lineups. This is a fun twist to strategize against and keeps each run unique.
Along your Gauntlet journey, special shops will pop up, allowing you to trade remaining card uses from your collection in exchange for high-value rewards. Or, will you choose to skip the shop and earn some card uses back to extend your run? Build up your asset pool, protect your roster, and climb the seasonal leaderboard to see exactly how your skills stack up against the rest of the global NBA 2K community.
Of course, climbing the ranks means running into powerful squads. If an opponent cooks you with a card you've never seen before, we’ve added a tool to help you strike back.
We’ve all faced an unstoppable card, leaving you wondering how to get that exact weapon into your own arsenal. Now, you can track them down instantly.
A brand-new Scouting Report section within the Collections menu displays the recent Player Cards you’ve played against. Spot the card you’re interested in, wishlist it, or open the View Player menu and we will show you exactly how to acquire it; whether it’s currently available in the Pack Market, searchable on the unified Auction House, or directly earnable as a specific game mode reward.
You can also use the Collection Search for Player Cards you do not own yet. Look up any player by name or minimum attribute threshold to see every available version of that card and how each one can be acquired.
Even during games, the Pause and Coach menus now display the MyTEAM card for each player when making substitutions or checking the box score, so you always know exactly who you are up against.
Once you know where to find them, you'll also want to look out for rare visual variants of those same top-tier players.
2K27 is opening up the baseline card library with striking new aesthetics via new Gem Tiers and Player Card Parallels.
In past years, Player cards between 90 and 99 OVR were grouped into just five categories: Amethyst, Diamond, Pink Diamond, Galaxy Opal, and Dark Matter. In 2K27, every single overall rating above 90 now gets its own exclusive gem tier and distinct visual design. We’ll be launching MyTEAM with our familiar gems, but stay tuned for the new tiers to debut throughout the year!
Parallels act as alternate versions of a base Player Card, spanning across distinct Holo, Glass, Gem, and On Fire Parallels, and many more. Traditional Player Cards in NBA 2K27 can feature alternate Parallel versions of itself, giving collectors a massive new avenue to showcase entirely unique lineup combinations. If you pull duplicate Parallels or find one on the unified Auction House, you can seamlessly merge them right into your existing base Player Card. Rather than forcing you to discard a card or choose one over the other, merging allows you to simply add new Parallels directly to your favorites. This process is purely visual, so it won’t affect your card's accumulated XP, active Badges, or equipped Shoes.
You can freely alternate between your unlocked visual Parallels at any time from the menus to flex your collection's depth. Furthermore, adding multiple Parallels to a card may increase its overall value on the Auction House, and gives you more options when completing Exchanges or Challenges.
The Daily Login system has a new three-tier structure in NBA 2K27 to reward you in new ways:
Each day you login in, you will earn a reward, just like previous versions of MyTEAM.
Earn additional rewards at login streak milestones for consecutive days, including three, five, and seven days in a row. Complete seven-day streaks and your streak rewards for the following days will be permanently upgraded. The more streaks you go on during the year, the better your next login streak rewards get.
Lifetime rewards are based on your total MyTEAM login days across all of NBA 2K27, regardless of whether those days were consecutive.
Have a high-rated MyTEAM card that’s currently riding the bench or doesn't quite fit your primary scheme? Don't let them gather dust. Send them away on an Exhibition mission, and they’ll return with useful rewards for your club.
This year, we’re giving you more power to choose which Player Cards you send out. Just keep the risk in mind: if you try to send a lower-tier card, your overall probability of mission success drops. For example, you can send a Gold card when a mission calls for a Ruby, but you will risk your players returning empty-handed.
Successfully completing Exhibition missions will help you rise up the Exhibition Win Streak ladder, with a repeatable top reward if you can maintain your win streak. If you lose your win streak, you reset from the bottom of the ladder, but you can earn everything again.
Looking to get your cards back early? Some missions can be ended early by completing games in other modes.
Take your time and deploy a card that perfectly fits the Exhibition requirements, and secure your guaranteed reward.
Getting started with the Welcome to MyTEAM games will have you build a lineup around NBA 2K27 cover athlete Victor Wembanyama. Upgrade from your starter kit with 10 cards and start your journey with a boost to your collection and power on the court.
New to MyTEAM or need a refresher? A new set of intermediate Tutorial challenges walks you through features like Coach Development, Evolutions (for your annual Starter Evolution cards!), Dynamic Duos, and Collection Complete rewards.
Domination returns with new sets of varying lengths throughout the year. Sets can now be shorter or longer than 33 total games. Get started at launch facing a traditional 33-game Domination against the NBA’s current lineups, and an 18-game Domination against the WNBA’s.
Showdown brings back popular elements from past competitive modes. Once you reach Tier 1, you must go undefeated to claim the Showdown Championship, and if you can do it your team celebrates together with a ring ceremony. Winning the championship adds the coveted title to your MyTEAM Arena, and a Seasonal reward which can be earned multiple times.
Salary Cap Online joins the rotating slate of Limited Time Modes and, for the first time in MyTEAM, may show up as an extra lineup requirement for Triple Threat Online and Clutch Time Online. Salary Cap lineup rules may also appear in single-player Challenges, offering new ways to play with that lineup-building format year-round.
MyTEAM’s Full Lineups are expanding from 13 players to 15. All five positions now include three lineup slots, giving you more depth and flexibility when building and managing your team. Lineups are easier to view, so you can make roster decisions with quick substitution options that deliver a consistent bench preset.
Coaching now appears as a new option under the Manage tab, separated from lineups for convenience and to make it easier to start Coach Training Challenges, which can unlock new Badges for your cards. Coach Points have been removed, meaning Training Challenges are now unlocked directly based on your coach’s skill level in the different disciplines for a more streamlined experience.
Shoe tiers are tied to NBA 2K27’s new Takeover system and determine how many Takeover Abilities you can assign to a Player Card across Shooting, Finishing, Playmaking, Defense, and Rebounding disciplines.
Festival events are returning in NBA 2K27 and converting Event Cards in The Exchange can now be done with a single button press, replacing the previous process of upgrading and downgrading them one tier at a time.
A long-standing community wishlist item, multi-select has been expanded in Collections. You can now send these selections directly to your Auction House, or to be quicksold for MyTEAM Points. This can be done either through specific collections or even through Search results.
The MyTEAM Arena returns as your starting stadium, with a new set of 2K26’s Top 10 REP names adorning your court. The MyTEAM Arena is refreshed with a new hardwood aesthetic, new bleachers bringing the fans closer to the action, and even more banners and trophies to display while competing against the community.
MyTEAM REP rewards return with a mysterious MyTEAM G.O.A.T. available as the highlight Dark Matter REP tier reward. Along the way, unlock LED Floors to wow your opponents and more exclusive rewards.
Triple Threat and Clutch Time have moved out of the ‘House of Clutch’ to new environments. Triple Threat on a lively city street corner features swappable court floors for the first time in MyTEAM, earned through MyTEAM REP (including a version of the LED Floor). Clutch Time goes to the rooftops with a breathtaking roofed court featuring your favorite NBA, WNBA, or custom floors with a digital 4-point line added to your lineup’s court.
MyTEAM in NBA 2K27 is streamlined, direct, and built entirely around one core philosophy: every single card matters.
While we are thrilled to deliver the highly anticipated return of classic multiplayer modes, introduce the game-changing Player XP system, and roll out stunning new Parallels, the true foundation of this year's experience lies within The Exchange.
We've revolutionized how you build and manage your squad to ensure no card is ever left gathering dust. The Exchange isn't just a feature in NBA 2K27, it's your ultimate strategic advantage. It is the engine that will drive your progression, maximize the value of your entire collection, and keep your lineup deadly from Season 1 to the final buzzer.
*NBA 2K27 includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Online play requires an Internet connection and NBA 2K Account. Console online play requires separate paid subscription. Crossplay is only available on PS5 & XBOX Series X|S.
Basketball isn’t just a game, it’s a lifestyle. MyCAREER is where hoopers can achieve their NBA dreams and build the perfect MyPLAYER to dominate the pros. In NBA 2K27 , we’re giving you unprecedented control over your journey to the top. Whether you want to go toe-to-toe with th
Basketball isn’t just a game, it’s a lifestyle. MyCAREER is where hoopers can achieve their NBA dreams and build the perfect MyPLAYER to dominate the pros.
In NBA 2K27, we’re giving you unprecedented control over your journey to the top. Whether you want to go toe-to-toe with the legends of the past, battle through our most expansive cinematic storyline to date, or team up with a friend in our first-ever co-op experience, the stage is yours.
Rise from a promising prospect to an NBA legend, and prove you have what it takes to be the greatest of all time.
For the first time in MyCAREER, you can choose to step outside the modern NBA and build your career in one of five historical eras. We took the foundation of MyNBA Eras and brought it directly into MyCAREER, allowing you to insert your MyPLAYER into the exact moments that defined basketball history.
Each era is a specific window of time with its own rosters, rules, and presentation. The league structure, the players on each team, and the physical gameplay have all been meticulously calibrated to that specific period. You can start your journey in one of five iconic eras:
The Magic vs. Bird Era: Begins in 1984, placing you in the league right at the moment Michael Jordan enters as a rookie on the Chicago Bulls.
The Jordan Era: Begins in 1991, at the dawn of the Bulls' legendary first three-peat.
The Kobe Era: Begins in 2003, intersecting with one of the greatest draft classes in history as LeBron James enters the league.
The LeBron Era: Begins in 2010, shifting the balance of power as superteams take center stage.
The Steph Era: Begins in 2016, where the 3-point revolution completely changes how the game is played.
Rosters are locked to historical accuracy. Rookies enter the league on the right teams, historical trades play out exactly as they did, and star players stay where they belong. If you want to play alongside Kobe Bryant on the Los Angeles Lakers, he will be there for the full run of his era until he retires. The goal is for the league to behave exactly how it unfolded, letting you be an active participant in NBA history.
Each era features its own unique visual identity. You’ll experience era-specific locker rooms reflecting each period—with the oldest eras featuring wood lockers, metal chairs, and CRT televisions. Step onto the hardwood, and you'll immediately notice era-specific HUDs, score bugs, stat overlays, and on-screen filters that match the authentic broadcast feel of that decade.
Progression in MyCAREER Eras is built around Eras Moments. These objectives challenge you to capture what defined each period, from breaking historic scoring titles and achieving massive win streaks, to recreating the exact achievements that shocked the world during that slice of NBA history. Completing these objectives advances you through a 40-level reward track packed with exclusive cosmetics, while providing rich historical context for every milestone.
If you choose the modern path, you’ll experience "Fire & Concrete," a cinematic story that spans 11 chapters and is over double the length of NBA 2K26’s story. It follows your MyPLAYER from high school, through the G League, and straight into the NBA.
The story starts with you as a top high school prospect committed to Duke, until a serious car accident puts your entire future in doubt. Your journey picks up two years later in New York City, where the legendary Rucker Park—newly recreated in 2K27—serves as your first proving ground. Your cousin Cam, voiced and mocapped by Vince Staples, is by your side from the streets of New York all the way to the NBA, acting as a central figure in your off-court life. Meet new characters and encounter familiar faces from past MyCAREER stories in NBA 2K27.
Eventually, you will reach the NBA Draft. In 2K27, your draft position is not fixed. Depending entirely on how you perform, you can climb the draft board and actually earn the No. 1 overall pick; whether you choose to play through the prelude or skip straight to your rookie season, you will always have the option to manually select your team.
However, putting in the work during the prelude to secure that No. 1 spot gives you ultimate control. You can choose to be drafted by the team that holds the top pick—like the Washington Wizards—or override the board and take your talents straight to your favorite franchise.
After the prelude concludes, the “Fire & Concrete” narrative transitions into the new NBA story. The main storyline continues during your rookie year; after finishing this epic first-year story, you’ll unlock Key Games in your second season.
Once available, MyCAREER introduces eight brand-new Key Game sets. Each set spans roughly half a season across six games, featuring rich, full-arc narrative content woven in before and after tip-off. Dominate these games to earn stars and climb the 40-level MyCAREER rewards track.
We're bringing a massive community request to life: for the first time ever, you can invite a friend with NBA 2K27 to play co-op multiplayer directly in your MyCAREER.
This is made possible by your Running Mate, Trace Miller—a custom teammate you meet in the G League who stays with you all the way through your NBA career. The story centers heavily on you and Trace grinding together, fighting for a spot in the starting lineup, and elevating your off-court brands as a duo.
When Trace is introduced, you are in complete control of his potential. You choose one of nine build templates that feature shades of the following NBA superstars:
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Cade Cunningham
Stephen Curry
Luka Dončić
Kevin Durant
Anthony Edwards
Donovan Mitchell
Nikola Jokić
Kawhi Leonard
Trace’s physicals are determined by the template you select, but you earn points through gameplay to upgrade his attributes, Badges, and playstyle. Build him to perfectly complement your own game, and brand-new Running Mate play calls to unleash lethal new ways to attack the defense.
Once Trace joins the squad, you can invite a friend into your MyCAREER. Your co-op partner takes control of Trace exactly as you’ve built him. The system is flexible, meaning co-op can be activated or skipped on a game-by-game basis. When playing together, you can even experience all of the MyCAREER story cutscenes together. If your friend logs off, Trace is simply controlled by the AI.
Both you and your co-op partner earn your own separate, full amounts of VC and Season XP. Utilize your teamwork, rack up the stats, and finish with strong teammate grades to maximize your payouts.
Co-op is an optional feature in NBA 2K27. If you don’t have a friend online to experience MyCAREER with, Trace acts as any other MyCAREER teammate, only built to your exact specifications, helping you unlock your full potential on the court. In other words, he’s the ultimate Running Mate.
Turn back the clock in MyCAREER Eras and see how your MyPLAYER stacks up against NBA legends in their prime. Overcome obstacles and reignite your competitive fire in MyCAREER’s immersive story “Fire & Concrete,” and experience it with a friend in MyCAREER Co-Op. What moments will define your NBA career? Get on the court and leave your mark on history.
*NBA 2K27 includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Online play requires an Internet connection and NBA 2K Account. Console online play requires separate paid subscription. Crossplay is only available on PS5 & XBOX Series X|S.
IT’S ALMOST GAMETIME In case you missed it, watch the full NBA 2K27 game reveal right here, where we provide in-depth overviews of everything new this year. Get the full scoop on brand-new content coming to The City, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and more, in addition to every update to NBA
In case you missed it, watch the full NBA 2K27 game reveal right here, where we provide in-depth overviews of everything new this year. Get the full scoop on brand-new content coming to The City, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, and more, in addition to every update to NBA 2K’s core gameplay and features.
For even more in-depth analysis and discussion on NBA 2K27, check out the Courtside Reports! These provide an up-close look at gameplay enhancements, innovative features, and key updates across all of NBA 2K’s game modes.
Want to stay locked in around the clock? Starting August 21, download the NBA 2K HQ app, the official companion app for NBA 2K, to access integrated social features, the full MyPLAYER Builder, and daily rewards.
Now, it’s time to lace up and experience the all-new NBA 2K27 for yourself.
Gain an edge with up to 9 days of Early Access* starting August 26. Pre-purchase NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition to start your season early and set the tone on the court.
Your hoops journey starts now!
Earn up to 10,000 VC when you pre-purchase NBA 2K27. Returning NBA 2K26 players will also receive a 10% Loyalty Discount** when pre-purchasing NBA 2K27 Ultra Edition. Continue your NBA career and save on NBA 2K27 before September 3
Want to connect even more with the NBA 2K community? Join the official NBA 2K Discord, where you can stay up to date on NBA 2K news, find teammates, share feedback on the game, and monitor our Issues Tracker, which allows you to check the progress of any bugs and issues.
*Early access begins at 9:00 AM PT, August 26. Availability may vary by region and time zone. See nba.2k.com/2k27/faq/ for full early access details.
**Loyalty Discount only available via the Platform Store through September 3, 2026. Ultra Edition is a digital version only available on PC. Discount based on 2K’s SRP. Limit 1 per Platform Account. Availability restrictions apply. See retailer site for details and terms. 2K Games is not responsible for fulfillment of Loyalty Discount.
The NBA 2K community has never been stronger. We are fresh off our biggest year in franchise history, and it's your passion and energy on the court that has helped shape what’s coming next. To celebrate, we’re doing something we’ve never done before. Because our community has gro
The NBA 2K community has never been stronger. We are fresh off our biggest year in franchise history, and it's your passion and energy on the court that has helped shape what’s coming next.
To celebrate, we’re doing something we’ve never done before. Because our community has grown together, we want you to experience what's next together.
We’re dropping all NBA 2K27 game news in a single day. Tune in as we breakdown this year’s most anticipated innovations and features, and dive into all things NBA 2K27.
The countdown starts now. See it all during the NBA 2K27 Preseason Breakdown: Game Reveal stream on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT.
Until then, we’re excited to give the community an early scouting report with details about gameplay, the MyPLAYER Builder, The City, and more—let’s get into it.
In basketball’s biggest moments, the hardwood has a heartbeat—and you can feel its rhythm in every dribble, crossover, and swish. In NBA 2K27 , we’ve built a soundtrack that captures that energy, keeping your game locked in 24/7. While you clutch up on the court, you’ll hear arti
In basketball’s biggest moments, the hardwood has a heartbeat—and you can feel its rhythm in every dribble, crossover, and swish.
In NBA 2K27, we’ve built a soundtrack that captures that energy, keeping your game locked in 24/7. While you clutch up on the court, you’ll hear artists from across genres and generations, from J. Cole to The Killers and everything in-between.
And that’s not all. We’re also keeping things fresh year-round with new updates every Season, expertly curated by hoopers, musicians, and producers who live and breathe basketball.
Season 1 tips off with a celebration of New York’s vibrant hip-hop scene, featuring iconic tracks from Mos Def, Mary J. Blige, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.
Bring the noise every time you hit the court and look forward to new tunes as we add to an already stacked lineup.
Stream the official NBA 2K27 soundtrack on Spotify or Apple Music and let this mix fuel your hustle.
It's gametime in NBA 2K27. Play as the best NBA and WNBA stars and create your own clutch moments. The wait is almost over. Get ready for NBA 2K27 tip-off with a glimpse at what’s ahead. Community feedback plays an important role in the evolution of NBA 2K and how our team at Vis
The wait is almost over. Get ready for NBA 2K27 tip-off with a glimpse at what’s ahead.
Community feedback plays an important role in the evolution of NBA 2K and how our team at Visual Concepts continues to push the limits of authenticity, competition, and innovation—both on and off the court. This year, we’ve listened closely to your input, and we’ve made enhancements to several popular features—but you’ll have to tune into the Preseason Breakdown on August 18 for the full reveal.
The NBA 2K community has never been stronger. We are fresh off our biggest year in franchise history, and it's your passion and energy on the court that has helped shape what’s coming next.
To celebrate, we’re doing something we’ve never done before. Because our community has grown together, we want you to experience what's next together.
We’re dropping all NBA 2K27 game news in a single day. Tune in as we breakdown this year’s most anticipated innovations and features, and dive into all things NBA 2K27.
The countdown starts now. See it all during the NBA 2K27 Preseason Breakdown: Game Reveal stream on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT, live on Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and X.
Until then, we’re excited to give the community an early scouting report with details about gameplay, the MyPLAYER Builder, The City, and more—let’s get into it.
This year, we focused on creating a more balanced, more rewarding gameplay experience with enhancements on both ends of the court. To achieve this fully, we needed to make AI defenders feel more impactful, especially on defense.
AI defenders in 2K27 will now contest shots more effectively, addressing a frequent point of feedback within the community. We recognized that AI defenders could be frustrating teammates in modes like The REC, often surrendering their position easily. Now, they’ll do a better job of contesting shots and won’t be as affected by Triple-Threat Stepovers.
This year, we’re adding a new layer of skill to finishing at the rim: all dunk attempts must now be timed using the Dunk Meter.
In NBA 2K26, the Dunk Meter remained static regardless of what happened mid-air. For NBA 2K27, we've made the meter fully dynamic and created more realistic outcomes in the process. It now continuously evaluates defensive positioning from the moment you take off all the way through the finish.
For example, slashers who beat their defender with a quick first step and attack an open paint will see their green window expand. However, if a defender manages a late closeout after a clean takeoff, that green window will shrink—making the dunk tougher to complete.
Stay tuned for the full gameplay reveal coming on August 18!
NBA 2K27 features 53 total Badges, an increase from the 40 total badges in NBA 2K26. We removed six Badges from last year—but added 19 new Badges and made updates to the returning Badges to ensure a balanced experience. This year, we want to push players toward their strengths and experiment with new Badges to craft builds that are more unique.
Here is a sneak peek at three of the new Badges:
Pace - Increases the overall sprint speed of the ball handler in all offensive situations.
Wall-Up - Decreases the opponent’s shot chance when playing hands-up defense.
Flash - Improves overall movement during transition offense (without the ball) and defense.
Cap Breakers are returning in NBA 2K27, and based on community feedback, players can now see a preview of the attribute boosts directly in the Builder. Gone are the days of creating builds and entering The City repeatedly just to find the most optimized Cap Breaker layout. Enjoy a more streamlined experience and spend more time competing in The City.
We’re eager to see how the community puts these 19 new Badges and Cap Breakers to use—along with a host of other new additions to the MyPLAYER Builder.
For the first time, the Auction House is now unified across PlayStation®5, XBOX Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2, representing the largest pool of community-listed cards in MyTEAM history.
This opens the door to more variety in the Auction House and a higher chance of finding cards you’re looking for at more consistent prices.
We’ve also made transactions faster when purchasing cards in the Auction House. In 2K27, there will no longer be a verification delay when you win an auction on PlayStation®5, XBOX Series X|S, or Nintendo Switch 2. This means, when you buy a card it will be available immediately—so you can test your new-look lineup right away.
For NBA 2K27, one of our goals for MyNBA was improving the core franchise experience by taking a grassroots approach. We prioritized community requests, such as including the effects of the second apron in the new CBA and adding the ability to offer No-Trade Clauses to free agents, among many other feature requests and new additions. We strive for authenticity in every facet of NBA 2K, which is why it was important to create a MyNBA experience that reflects today’s league.
We heard from the community that The City’s accessible and centralized layout from NBA 2K26 connected players to games faster, so we’ve decided to run it back—but with a new nighttime, neon aesthetic.
Our team focused its attention on key points of interest around The City, where players will notice multiple attention-grabbing new designs in The REC, Street Kings, Park, and more, each with its own distinct look.
The mecca of street basketball is coming to NBA 2K27. Rucker Park, the legendary New York City court has been recreated in-game, bringing the iconic culture, history, and swagger to Street Kings and this year’s packed MyCAREER prelude story: “Fire & Concrete.” Become a neighborhood hero and knock off Street Kings bosses on this special proving ground.
These exciting updates will be on full display—along with more, important additions—when we take the community on a full tour of The City during the Preseason Breakdown on August 18.
Tune in to our Game Reveal on August 18 to learn more about the most anticipated innovations and features in NBA 2K27. Grab your Crew and hit the courts in The City early by pre-ordering NBA 2K27 Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition to receive up to 7 days of Early Access*, starting August 28.
*Early access begins at 9:00 AM PT, August 28. Availability may vary by region and time zone. See nba.2k.com/2k27/faq/ for full early access details.