NBA 2K24 PC version once again lacks next-gen console features – News Block

Why it matters: The last three PC editions of NBA 2K have been lackluster compared to consoles, which have received graphical upgrades and new gameplay features. Next-gen updates on PC will likely need to be offered to accommodate users with lower-end systems, but FIFA on PC reached current-gen parity last year, while Madden will this year.

Visual Concepts and 2K Games have revealed details of NBA 2K24, and it will likely be yet another disappointment for PC gamers. Enhanced graphics, new gameplay elements, and crossplay will be exclusive to the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series versions. The web page highlighting this year’s content and upcoming features avoids mentioning the PC version entirely. The main addition to the game is ProPLAY, which will use actual NBA footage to provide a generational leap in game animation quality.

Although this will be the fourth entry to be released on current generation consoles, NBA 2K24 will be the first to feature cross-play between PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series across all game modes. This functionality did not make it to the PC. Also, last year’s PC port lacked some of the career mode features of current-gen consoles, and the latest version probably won’t be any different in that regard.

Whenever sports sim franchises transition between console generations, the developer typically waits another year or two to bring new features to the PC version, essentially treating them as next-gen console owners. When the update arrives, it causes a drastic increase in the minimum system requirements, which negatively affects the significant number of users who play games on modest hardware.

For the NBA 2K series, the latter occurred with 2K15, and 2K24’s requirements are very similar to its nine-year-old predecessor. The recommended spec lists decade-old chips like the Intel i5-4430 and Nvidia GeForce GTX 770. The only potentially significant hurdle is the 110GB storage requirement. The upside is that, like 2K23, this year’s entry should have no problem running on the Steam Deck or other recent portable gaming PCs.

However, delaying the PC version for four years is excessive. Even NBA 2K15 system parity with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions only a year after those consoles debuted. Most recently, EA’s FIFA 23 ended its two-year delay last year and Madden 24 will catch up this year.

NBA 2K24 launches on September 8 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox series consoles, and Nintendo Switch. The PC version is $59.99, while the PS5 and Xbox Series editions are $69.99.