NBA 2K24  is the newest installment in the annual NBA 2K franchise and it has released to multiple platforms like PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, PC, and even mobile (MyTEAM mode only). However, an important distinction has to be made between the PlayStation and Xbox platforms. The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are categorized as “old-gen” whereas the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S are considered “next-gen”. Technically, the “next-gen” consoles are already the “current-gen” consoles because it has already been four years since the release of those consoles. However, some gamers still argue that they are not exactly current-gen because there are still plenty of active users of the “old-gen” consoles. This is largely because the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, a period in which a lot of people were not financially stable and could not afford the newest consoles (even up to this day). Because of this, NBA 2K24 remains available for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One users; however, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S users, they get an upgraded “next-gen” version of NBA 2K24 that is filled with a lot of improvements and extra features.

In this article, we’ll review the “next-gen” version of NBA 2K24. We’ll take a look at what this version brings to the table compared to other versions and figure out if it’s worth it. For the sake of consistency with the game, we’ll just refer to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S as next-gen and the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One as old-gen. Additionally, it is important to note that the PC version of NBA 2K24 does not have the next-gen features so they are stuck with the old-gen version of the game.

Graphical and Performance Improvements

The most obvious differences between the next-gen and old-gen versions are the graphics and performance of the game.

The difference can be seen even just from the menu. In the next-gen version, the game renders the 3D model of a player when you are selecting them so you can immediately see what they look like in-game. However, in the old-gen version, the game only displays a picture of the player. The next-gen version has a significantly higher polygon count in the 3D player models, giving them a more realistic look. Additionally, the next-gen version also has improved lighting in that the lights react realistically to the skin of the players. No advanced lighting technology is found in the old-gen version.

NBA 2K24 on next-gen is blessed with significantly fast loading times and responsiveness because next-gen consoles now use SSD storage instead of HDD storage. Next-gen players can also enjoy a steady framerate of 60 FPS during gameplay. Xbox Series X|S players in particularly can have framerates up to 120 FPS.

Exclusive Features

Next-gen players of NBA 2K24 will enjoy a lot of features that old-gen players will miss out on.

Firstly, only next-gen players can experience crossplay, which appears for the first time in NBA 2K24. Crossplay allows you to play with other players on a different platform. This means that Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 players will be able to play with and against each other. A huge benefit of crossplay is that it improves matchmaking time because there is a much larger pool of players that you can play with or against. For old-gen players, this can become a problem as more people switch to next-gen consoles and their player pool decreases.

One of the most hyped-up features of NBA 2K24, ProPlay, is only available on next-gen consoles as well. ProPlay is a new technology that processes real-life NBA footage to create very accurate and smooth animations. With ProPlay, the game can for example “watch” how Kobe Bryant shoots and dunks and create animations that almost perfectly imitates that.

Next-gen players also have access to 2K Smart Play which simplifies play calls. For example, after you make or miss a shot an overlay appears and tells you the type of play that will be called. Then, with a press of a button you can automatically call the selected action.

24 new badges are added only in the next-gen version. Badges are very important in creating a good player in NBA 2K24 so next-gen players have way more advantage because of this. Some of the new badges are:

• Float Game – A player’s ability to make floaters and runners while attacking the basket is improved with Float Game.
• Relay Passer – A hockey assist badge, Relay Passer provides a boost to shooters in a pass-to-assist situation.
• Fast Feet – It wouldn’t be a fair game if only offensive players received speed boosts. Fast Feet can be looked at as a “quick first step” badge for defenders, allowing defensive specialists to stay in front of shifty ball-handlers.

Lastly, next-gen players gain access to two interesting game modes: The W and MyNBA. The W allows you to create a MyPLAYER and start a career in the WNBA whereas MyNBA plays like MyGM where you control NBA teams from five eras to choose from (i.e., Magic vs. Bird era, Jordan era).

The City

One of the features that old-gen users will be disappointed to miss out on is The City.

The City is a fully explorable area set in a beautiful beachfront city. Players can encounter streetball side quests and affiliations that can greatly improve their progress in MyCAREER. Players can participate in casual 3v3 street basketball in beachfront courts found all around The City and enjoy the various amenities like the Pro-AM, The REC, Ante-Up, Theater, Club 2K, and more. In The City, players can also join one of two affiliations, RISE or ELITE, which gives them access to new side objectives and prizes. 

Is It Worth It?

 NBA 2K24’s “next-gen” version has significantly more features and looks and performs better than its old-gen counterpart. To simply put, there is way too much that you miss out on by sticking to old-gen. If you already have a next-gen console or are planning to buy one, then just get the next-gen version. 

The biggest criticism of the next-gen version is the fact that a lot of these next-gen only features realistically should not be exclusive in the first place. For example, it does not make sense that the PC version is the old-gen version of NBA 2K24 because PC does not even have technological limits that consoles do. Crossplay not being available on old-gen also does not make sense because other games like Call of Duty: Warzone have crossplay even on old-gen. Overall, it is very apparent that NBA 2K24 was designed to be more of a way to get people to switch to the next-gen consoles rather than a basketball game that focuses on giving the best player experience.

Some next-gen-only features like 2K Smart Play and The City have also received criticism from the community. 2K Smart Play was found by the community to be more annoying than helpful. It is common to see forums and tutorials in the internet explaining how to turn off Smart Play because of this. Additionally, The City was also criticized to be more just a gimmick than a good addition to the NBA 2K series. Some have criticized The City as making NBA 2K24 an RPG rather than just a simple basketball game. Some have also criticized the tediousness of walking around the city to access basic features that could have been a simple menu. 

Indeed, there are flaws with the next-gen-only features but overall these shortcomings do not really outweigh the benefits you get from the next-gen version. The next-gen version feels more like a complete NBA 2K24 experience and is a must-have if you already have a next-gen console.