2K has officially announced the four editions of NBA 2K24 available for pre-order. The latest installment of the annual basketball video game franchise is due to release on September 8, 2023, and brings a number of new features to the series. Players with friends on other platforms will be delighted to learn that, for the first time ever, NBA 2K24 features crossplay between PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. 2K24 also introduces the ProPLAY mechanic, drawing player movement and animations directly from real-life NBA footage to create a more realistic, immersive experience.
2K23's Jordan Challenge, will allow players to relive Kobe's triumphant career, following his progress from a much-discussed rookie to an NBA legend. First, though, players will have to buy the game, and there are many different ways to do that.
NBA 2K24 Kobe Bryant Edition
The Kobe Bryant edition of NBA 2K24 is its most standard and modestly-priced release, featuring a high-flying Kobe on the cover. Retailing for $59.99 USD on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, it includes the game itself, with no special pre-order bonuses or extra add-ons. For players who want to experience 2K24 in the highest possible definition on next-gen consoles like PS5 and Xbox Series X/S, the Kobe Bryant Edition will cost $69.99. Other than the price tag, there's no difference between the Kobe Bryant Edition across platform generations.
2K24 WNBA Edition Featuring Sabrina Ionescu
The WNBA Edition of NBA 2K24 is a GameStop exclusive, which means it's only available for pre-order in the US and Canada. It features WNBA All-Star and New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu on the cover, but is otherwise no different from the Kobe Bryant Edition. It's possible to play as both NBA teams and WNBA teams in either edition, so players are free to choose which cover art they like best. The WNBA edition of 2K24 goes for $69.99 on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.
NBA 2K24 Black Mamba Edition
Named after Kobe Bryant's alter ego, NBA 2K24's Black Mamba Edition further honors the legendary player with a unique piece of cover art. The cover of the Black Mamba Edition features a close-up of Kobe, looking over his shoulder with beads of sweat dripping down his face. The Black Mamba Edition costs $99.99 across all platforms (PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC), but with that bigger price tag comes bigger bonuses. First, players who pre-order the Black Mamba Edition will be treated to 100,000 units of in-game virtual currency.
The Black Mamba Edition also comes with rewards for NBA 2K24's MyTEAM mode: 15,000 myTEAM points, a 2K24 Option Pack Box, and a collection of 10 MyTEAM Promo Packs to help players flesh out their rosters in the early stages of this team-building mode. Players will also receive a 24 era Sapphire Kobe Bryant Card. For further customization, a Diamond Shoe and Ruby Coach are included in this edition as well. To give the player a head start, the Black Mamba Edition also includes a two-hour Double XP Coin for some extra gains. Players will also start with 10 Gatorade Boosts and 10 MyCAREER Skill Boosts for quickly upgrading their players.
NBA 2K24's Black Mamba Edition is also bundled with bonuses for MyCAREER, including multiple cosmetics for character creation. Players can choose from four different T-shirts, a backpack, an electric skateboard, and black arm sleeves. Players who may be transitioning from one console generation to the next don't need to worry about buying a second copy of 2K24; with the Black Mamba Edition, they can transfer their copy from PS4 to PS5, or Xbox One to Xbox Series X/S.
NBA 2K24 25th Anniversary Edition
2K24 marks the 25th year of the basketball game franchise, which means this latest edition has a lot to celebrate. To that end, the 25th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K24 is its most expansive release. Its cover depicts what resembles an NBA championship ring, engraved with a logo reading "25th Anniversary Edition." At $149.99, the 25th Anniversary Edition has limited availability, and can only be purchased through September 10, 2023. It's also only available on the PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC - Switch players are out of luck. It includes a 12-month subscription to NBA League , a streaming service that allows players to watch NBA games and coverage both live and on-demand.
Players who purchase the 25th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K24 will receive the same MyTEAM rewards that come with the Black Mamba Edition, just greater in quantity. They'll begin the game with a whopping 100,000 in-game virtual currency and 50,000 MyTEAM points. In addition to the 24 era Sapphire Kobe Bryant Card, players will also get a Ruby Kobe Bryant Rookie Card with the 25th Anniversary Edition. This edition also includes the 2K24 Option Pack Box, 10 MyTEAM Promo Packs, Diamond Shoe, Ruby Coach, and two-hour Double XP Coin. In MyCAREER mode, players will get 15 each of Gatorade Boosts and Skill Boosts, along with player customization options - four T-shirts, a backpack, an electric skateboard, and arm sleeves.
The 25th Anniversary Edition of NBA 2K24 also includes a Black Mamba MyPLAYER capsule with some Kobe-related items for character customization. Those include another black arm sleeve, an oversized purple T-shirt, a yellow shirt, and a Kobe player for customizing their online identity. Pre-orders of the 25th Anniversary Edition also come with an in-game bonus to 2K23's Summer League feature, which must be redeemed before July 17, 2023.
All editions of NBA 2K24 are available for pre-order beginning in July 2023, ahead of the game's full release on September 8. More information about the game itself, including new features like ProPLAY and Mamba Moments, should become clear as the release date approaches. Whatever edition players choose to buy, the celebration of NBA 2K24's legacy, along with its massive leaps in realism and player immersion, should make it an exciting entry in the NBA 2K franchise.
