NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 has officially released on Playstation 4, Xbox One and Microsoft Windows, with a Nintendo Switch release coming November 9. And if you’re thinking the title sounds a little different to its predecessor, that’s because it is in a big way. As the title suggests the follow up to last years arcade basketball game by indie developers Saber Interactive has found a new publisher, 2K Sports.
To those unfamiliar with NBA Playgrounds it’s an arcade style basketball game featuring both solo and multiplayer 2-on-2 basketball matches. Don’t go in expecting it be like the other NBA2K games, this is street basketball with an aesthetic that’s similar to NBA Jam. The 2010 version that is, not the game from 1993.
Not only has 2K Sports taken over the publishing reigns once held by Mad Dog Games but they even helped assist in the development. According to Saber Interactive CEO Matthew March who told Polygon, “I would say 20 percent of the improvements to the game have taken place over the last four to five months of development with those guys (2K Sports).”
From what I’ve heard so far 2K Sports have done a promising job in helping improve the franchise, with NBA Playgrounds receiving average to above average scores from critics. There’s some new game modes and dedicated servers for multiplayer as well as changes to the progression system which was one of the main complaints about the first game. And with 2K on board this means there’s a bunch more players to choose from that were previously unavailable due to 2K’s licencing rights. There’s over 400 new additions to the roster, including your boy, Michael Jordan.
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 has also been distributed both digitally and physically unlike the first game which was a digital exclusive.
Stay tuned for my full review coming very soon.
