NBA 2K21 will be released on current-generation platforms on September 4, 2020, and while it won’t arrive on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X until Holiday 2020, it is being built from the ground-up for the next-gen systems. In addition, all versions of NBA 2K21 will offer a special Mamba Forever Edition that honors the late Kobe Bryant and his “lifelong pursuit of victory and legacy in the sport of basketball.”
Furthermore, the standard PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X versions of NBA 2K21 will cost $69.99 USD, a $10 increase over the current-generation platforms and that makes NBA 2K21 the first next-gen game to commit to that price point. The UK sees a £5 increase, from £59.99 to £64.99.
NBA 2K21 will not support Xbox Smart Delivery or a similar service on PlayStation 5, meaning there will not be a free upgrade to next-gen if you purchase the game on PlayStation 4 or Xbox One. However, if players purchase the $99.99 USD Mamba Forever Edition, they will get the next-gen version when it is released at no extra cost.
The Mamba Forever Edition will include the Kobe Bryant Digital Collection that includes special MyPlayer Shoes and Jerseys, a Sapphire Kobe MyTEAM Card, and much more. We asked a NBA 2K spokesperson about Xbox Smart Delivery, and they said “It’s something we’re interested in, but NBA 2K21 will not support Xbox Smart Delivery.”
The next-gen version of NBA 2K21 will offer “unbeatable graphic fidelity, two second load speeds, new gameplay features, and expanded game modes.” In addition, NBA 2K21 will have “MyTEAM Cross-Progression and a Shared VC Wallet within the same console family.” While Kobe will grace the cover of the Mamba Forever Editions, the Portland Trail Blazers’ Damian Lillard and the New Orleans Pelicans’ Zion Williamson will be on the covers of the standard versions for current-generation and next-gen platforms, respectively.
Each of our cover athletes represent different eras of the game of basketball – Damian Lillard dominates the court today, Zion Williamson is a standard bearer for the next generation of NBA superstar and what more could be said about Kobe?,” stated Alfie Brody, Vice President of Global Marketing at NBA 2K. “Three athletes representing the current, future and storied history of the game. Today’s exciting announcement is just the first of many for NBA 2K21; it’s going to be a huge year for basketball fans and NBA 2K gamers.
NBA 2K21, which was first revealed at the PlayStation 5 reveal event, will be released on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia on September 4, 2020. It will arrive as a launch title for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X in Holiday 2020.
