The newest NBA 2K25 gameplay trailer dropped, and it’s clear that 2K has stepped up its game this year.
According to the Courtside Report with Gameplay Director Mike Wang, this year’s game is all about letting players experience 2K25 how they want. Additionally, a lot of new systems have been created to make the game feel – and look – more realistic than ever.
2K has updated and expanded ProPlay, adding 9,000 new animations captured and translated from NBA games. A lot of these are signature moves for nearly every player on the roster. This includes movement animations leading up to signature go-to shots.
A good chunk of the animations revolve around dribbling, which has an entirely new engine for NBA 2K25. Developers built it from the ground up, meaning that dribbling is supposed to feel more realistic than ever. Players have realistic control of the ball, simulating more natural gameplay.
Additionally, there are more opportunities to break out of combos and shots. A new shot-canceling feature lets players turn things around at any second, which is the new dribble engine that ProPlay helps facilitate. This gives more experienced players better options when it comes to reacting to their opponents.
A new rhythm feature exists for players who want to feel like they’re actually controlling a basketball. This brand-new feature lets players get in touch with the pro they’re controlling. Players have to mimic the pro’s moves with the joystick for a perfect shot. Players can toggle this on and off, giving them more ways to customize how they want to play.
Better AI creates a more realistic experience overall, the cherry on top of the NBA 2K25 changes.
The gameplay trailer shows off all of these systems in action, but a more detailed breakdown of each new system can be found at the bottom of the post.
NBA 2K25 is set to release on September 6, 2024, on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.
For more news on sports games, check out how the record launch of EA Sports College Football 25 impacted EA. Plus, see how the latest Madden 25 deep dive talks franchise overhaul.
