NBA 2K25 Reveals Gameplay Changes and Early Access Plans

The development team has announced that NBA 2K25’s gameplay will undergo a significant revamp, with ProPlay playing a key role in the changes.

The release of NBA 2K25 has been confirmed for July, just a little over a month away. While there haven’t been many details revealed yet, 2K and Visual Concepts are slowly beginning to provide more information.

The development team of NBA 2K25 released the Courtside Report on August 1, which focuses on gameplay changes. The report confirms what players can expect from the upcoming updates.

As stated by the development team, the game for this year will have a noticeably different appearance and experience.

The evolution of ProPlay and dribbling

Last year, ProPlay was introduced by 2K. This feature enabled the development team to convert actual game footage into animations. It is now set to receive an upgrade for the upcoming year of 2024.

As ProPlay continues to evolve, the NBA 2K25 gameplay will feature a plethora of new animations, including more than 9,000 and 1,500 for dribbling alone, as well as a whopping 1,000 signature shots from the majority of players who were on rosters during the previous NBA season. The development team has confirmed that they have completely revamped the dribbling engine, something that hasn’t been done in 15 years.

According to Mike Wang, this updated engine will maintain a consistent experience by utilizing real-life NBA movements to generate dynamic gameplay. Additionally, it will be supported by ProPlay technology.

Wang informed the media in late July that the previous engine had been very effective. He also mentioned that the new dribble engine is even more impressive, as it dynamically creates all transitions and motions. The most advantageous aspect of this new engine is that it eliminates the possibility of human error.

The 2K team enhanced the dribble breakdowns from 2K24 by adding signature go-to shots. Pulling the right stick upwards will trigger an explosive move or series of moves that lead towards the desired shot.

In addition, shot cancelling will be implemented to avoid being stuck in a particular shot. According to Wang, players can release the right stick, perform a dribble move by flicking it, or use the left stick to drive and break out of any of these shots.

“According to Wang, the addition will truly enable players to execute impressive hesitation moves and effectively sell them, as it will lead directly to a shot.

The timing of shots has been revamped to include three new settings: low, normal, and high risk-reward. These shot timing profiles give players the ability to adjust the impact of missed shots on their risk-reward preference. According to Wang, this update will cater to players looking to personalize their shooting experience.

NBA 2K25 also introduces custom visual cues, a defensive cutoff system activated by dynamically shifting the right stick, and pro-stick rhythm shooting, enabling players to replicate the moves of real athletes.

Early Access Plans for 2K25

In addition, 2K announced the specifics of a new feature for the upcoming PS5/Xbox Series X version of the game – an early access period. Those who buy the game before September 6 will have the opportunity to play the game early, starting on September 4. This is included in 2K’s Early Access Tip-Off program.

Additionally, the plans for 2K25 were also announced. More information about MyCareer, MyTeam, and MyNBA will be disclosed later this month.