“NBA 2K25”: PC version at console level for the first time

For sports game developers, PC gamers are often second-class customers. 2K Games has been serving PC gamers for years with the last-gen version of the basketball simulation “NBA 2K” developed for PS4 and Xbox One, now with “NBA 2K25” there is a change of strategy: for the first time since the launch of Xbox Series X/S and Playstation 5, the PC version is technically on the same level as the new generation consoles.

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Publisher 2K announced it in a Steam post. It also suggests that the PC version was optimized for Steam Deck. This is surprisingly good news for basketball fans on PC, who were more or less resigned to getting a worse product than current consoles. For four years, starting with “NBA 2K20,” the best technology and new modes were only available on the Xbox Series X/S and PS5 — even though high-end PC games are significantly more powerful than consoles.

The current generation versions of “NBA 2K” not only offer better graphics and animations than the previous generation version for Xbox One, PS4 and so far PC. New game modes were available exclusively for the new generation consoles, including the women’s career mode “The W” in “NBA 2K24” and the men’s career mode “MyNBA”, with which you can also relive the NBA’s past.

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EA ignores PC too

The PC version of “NBA 2K25” has been almost completely raised to the level of Series X/S and PS5 in terms of technology and scope. However, PC gamers still have a disadvantage: crossplay is only possible between the two consoles. Why 2K does not let PC players compete against console owners is not clear from the FAQ for the PC version. The suspicion is that 2K wants to avoid contact between console players and cheaters on PC. “NBA 2K25” will be released on September 6.

2K is not the only sports game developer that harms the PC platform. EA has often maintained a two-tier society with its “FIFA” games in the past to the detriment of PC owners. After all, EA only needed two years after the launch of the new generation of consoles to restore parity: since “FIFA 23”, the PC version has been back on par with the next generation consoles. On the other hand, it’s annoying for PC gamers: the upcoming “College Football 25”, which brings back college football in a completely redesigned form after a ten-year break, is not even being released for PC.

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