NBA 2K21 is one of the most highly anticipated upcoming sports video games. The series is often one of the highest-selling titles of the fall, as the basketball fanbase enjoys the simulator, and the upcoming NBA 2K21 looks to be the most realistic of the franchise and change the game for the better.
NBA 2K21 is one of the confirmed PS5 launch games, but the launch day of the next generation of consoles is not known yet. It's likely that NBA 2K21 will release on all possible consoles, both current and next-gen. However, there are a few different options as to when the game will release.
This Year is Different
For many reasons, 2020 is different than in past years for gaming. For starters, the Coronavirus has afected video games greatly, as well as sports. E3 and all physical gaming conventions were canceled. But not only were shows affected, development was as well. Nintendo's would be June Direct was postponed, but within that announcement, it was revealed that the video game progress was also altered. Developers are forced to work from home, and the timing and teamwork aren't the same in this situation. Although developers haven't hinted at NBA 2K21's development slowing thanks to COVID-19, it's possible that it has.
The NBA itself stopped games back in the Spring, and players continued the season for fun in NBA 2K20. The NBA season will pick up again soon, with the playoffs lasting all the way through October. In every situation of the modern NBA 2K games, the actual NBA season was completed by the time the game arrived in the hands of players. Player ratings, cover athletes, game features, and more could all have been based on playoff and NBA Finals action, and now the developer cannot lean on that. On one hand, it may be exciting for the devs to release the game while fans are enjoying the NBA season itself. But it is certainly different.
The Next Generation of NBA 2K21 on The Next Generation of Consoles
This year is also different in that it is the first time there will be a new generation of consoles since 2013, and it could be that the release timing of this game will be inline with the new consoles. Even with so many Xbox Series X and PS5 rumors, the release date is still not known.
NBA 2K21 will boast incredible visuals on next-gen consoles. Multiple versions of the game mean that a lot of time and effort needs to be put into development. One could ask the question as to if NBA 2k21 will release on different days for current and next-gen consoles, or if one single release day makes the most sense. Especially given the COVID-19 crisis and the extended NBA season, waiting to release the game with the launch of the PS5 and Xbox Series X could make sense.
Predicting the Release Date of NBA 2k21
The release date of the NBA 2K series has been trending closer and into the summer. Last year's NBA 2K20 released on September 6, 2019. Before that, NBA 2K19 launched on September 11, 2018, NBA 2K18 was released on September 19, 2017, NBA 2K17 got started on September 20, 2016, and NBA 2K16 tipped off on September 29, 2015. Before that, the series would routinely launch in October, with NBA 2K14 also releasing a month later in November to go alongside the PS4 and Xbox One launches.
If the trend were to continue, NBA 2k21 could release as early as late August. As far as the day of the week, the series once launched like clockwork on Tuesdays, but last year's iteration released on a Friday. So all bets are off. The NBA season will begin on July 31, 2020, though, so it could be that the team at 2K is looking to take advantage of this odd season and release the game as close to the beginning of the season as possible.
As far as competition is concerned, September (the month in which the series has released for quite some time now) feels like a solid choice. With Cyberpunk 2077 being delayed yet again, the rest of the big games of the month at this time include Marvel's Avengers and Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2. With the NBA season in a frenzy at that point, and the other video games of the month not seeming like total blockbusters just yet, September may still be the perfect release window.
It seems like the Xbox Series X and PS5 will launch in November, as this has been the traditional month to launch new consoles for quite some time. It's still possible, given the NBA's odd season and COVID-19 disrupting development, that a simultaneous current and next-gen version of NBA 2K21 will be released in November. However, it's more likely that the game releases with separate dates for current and next-gen consoles.
Microsft unveiled Xbox Smart Delivery and a multitude of games that will be a part of the program. Players will be able to purchase an Xbox One version of a game and be given a free update to the Xbox Series X version. It's possible that NBA 2K21 will release first in August or September, and then players will be able to upgrade on the newer consoles later.
Thanks to an extremely tumultuous 2020, the release date for NBA 2K21 is less known than in previous years. It could be that the trend continues with the game releasing earlier and earlier each year, and fans see the game in August within the first few weeks of the NBA season's continuation. September has also become a sweet spot for the series, and that option may be the most likely. But because of possible COVID-19 development issues, and the idea that the game would release alongside new consoles, a November release is still possible. Regardless, fans should be excited to learn about the release date sometime in the near future, along with the cover athlete for NBA 2k21.
NBA 2k21 is currently in development.