The main focus: NBA 2K, a popular sports video game franchise, recently announced significant upgrades for its upcoming NBA 2K25 title, including expanded features for the WNBA players in the game. This development aims to provide gamers with a more immersive experience centered around the top players in the league. Taking it to the next level.
The background: The NBA series of video games has been released annually since 1999, but it wasn’t until 2019 that a WNBA component was introduced. With the 2020 edition, users were able to create their own players and compete against the 12 teams in the league. The gameplay has continued to evolve over the years.
Candace Parker made history by being the first WNBA player to be featured on the cover of NBA 2K in 2021, and this year, A’ja Wilson will be the first global cover athlete from the WNBA. Wilson will start with a 99 OVR rating, the highest ever for a WNBA player in NBA 2K history. She’s definitely making her mark.
The enhancements: NBA 2K25 is set to be released next month and will expand on the Pursuit of Greatness WNBA story mode, allowing users to play through a narrative within the game. This time, players will be able to compete in the 2024 Rookie of the Year race against Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese. Other updates include the option to mentor other players in the game and fully-voiced WNBA press conferences.
The reasoning: Recent critiques of NBA 2K’s WNBA mode have pointed out the lack of gameplay modes and simplistic avatars compared to the NBA version. Some challenges, such as difficulties in playing WNBA games online, especially on PS5 consoles, have also been noted by gamers.
Looking at the bigger picture: The WNBA has experienced significant growth this season, and while infrastructure may struggle to keep up in real-time, modern video games can swiftly release new editions, updates, and expansion packs to keep users engaged. By featuring WNBA players like Clark and Reese in a game mode that focuses on pursuing greatness, NBA 2K reinforces the narrative that these players are the ones to watch, bringing more attention and revenue to the league. No delays here.
