NBA 2K25 adds the new Steph Era, bringing the 2016–17 NBA season of the Golden State Warriors to the title. This means players can now play as Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green in the special MyNBA Era.

NBA 2K25 has been criticized for being a reskin of 2K24, but there are several changes to keep fans engaged. The new game builds on the established franchise and uses the latest tech to improve realism. Many new features were added to the game in NBA 2K25, including new mechanics and modes.

10 A New Shot Meter Has Been Introduced In NBA 2K25

Visual Cues For Shots

The first new feature added to NBA 2K25 is a controversial one. The revamped Shot Meter has many fans confused, and the internet already abounds with instructions for how to turn it off. The Shot Meter is supposed to help players align their shots in a more realistic and dynamic way.

Turning off the shot meter gives players a slight boost to their shooting, rewarding players who master the timing of shot animations.

When used correctly, though, the Shot Meter is an immersive new way to experience the game. A YouTube tutorial for the shot by BR.Rider.Gaming explains that the new mechanic adds visual cues to improve aim and timing. However, it doesn't work the way players expect it to, leading to many wishing this is one feature that the game hadn't added.

9 Shot Canceling Is Used To Interrupt A Signature Move

For Signature Go-To Shots That Don't Go According To Plan

NBA 2K24 added some of the signature moves of its players, called Signature Go-To Shots. These shots allow players to transition from dribbling into taking a shot using the unique stance and style of the particular athlete they're using. NBA 2K25 expands on this system, this time giving players the opportunity to interrupt these advanced shots.

The shot interruption mechanic is intended for breaking out of Signature moves. It also makes the gameplay much more fluid, letting players move from one type of movement to another more naturally than ever before. For instance, players can now line up an advanced shot, then choose to cancel it and go for a dribble instead.

8 ProPLAY Animation Expansion Makes 2K25 More Like The Real NBA

9,000 New Animations Added

NBA 2K24 used the innovative ProPLAY technology to bring incredibly detailed animations to the game. The tech replaced traditional motion-captured animations with ones that were created directly from recordings of NBA games. The new title takes this a step further with the additional implementation of ProPLAY. This time around, NBA 2K25 has added over 9,000 new ProPLAY animations. These include fluid new animations for dribbling, signature shots, off-the-ball, and signature motion styles.

The result is more realistic and true-to-life visuals and controls. It also results in every single one of the playable athletes having a completely unique play styles, stances, and shooting animations. This is made especially apparent by Joey 2K, who posted a YouTube video breaking down and comparing the ProPLAY animations.

7 New Dribble Engine Recreates Signature Play Styles From NBA Game Footage

A More Realistic Experience Powered By ProPLAY

Thanks to ProPLAY, the dribbling animations in NBA 2K25 have gotten a complete overhaul. The new dribbling mechanic has been rebuilt completely from the one in NBA 2K24, where the movement was scripted and programmed individually from mo-cap footage. In the new game, on the other hand, the movement is recreated from real NBA footage.

As a result, dribble animations are much more realistic to look at and smoother to play. Animations also differ between characters depending on each individual's stance, as can be seen in Jerseymad93's YouTube Short of Steph Curry's true-to-life dribbling motions, helping make 2K25 the deep sports sim it is.

6 Learn 2K Mode Helps You Master NBA 2K25's Mechanics

Practice Before You Play

The newly added Learn 2K Mode lets players test their skills in a contained environment before going up against opponents. The learn mode offers a space to try out all the new features and mechanics introduced in NBA 2K25.

This mode has additional ways for players to improve their skills. YouTuber The Goods provides a breakdown of the new Learn 2K Mode, which has drills, mini-games, and practice scenarios to try out before actually heading out onto the court.

5 Pro Stick Rhythm Shooting Mimics Real-Life Shooting Motion

A New Shooting Control Method

All the different ways to shoot from NBA 2K24 are also present in the new game, but NBA 2K25 has also added a new way to control shots. Using the Pro Stick Rhythm shooting, players have to press down to start the shot, then push the stick up using the correct timing and speed.

This method of shooting is meant to match the actual motion of making a shot. The result is a more intuitive movement that mimics what the characters are doing on screen.

4 Defense Cutoff System Gives Players More Control In Protecting The Net

A Dynamic Way To Block Attacks

Defensive play in 2K25 can take many forms, as can be seen in a YouTube video shared by It's Bake. The newly added Defense Cutoff System allows players to control the direction that they defend, as offensive players could do long before.

The mechanic takes weight and direction into consideration as players direct their defensive maneuvers toward opponents for a responsive gameplay experience. The Defense Cutoff System should hopefully make 2K more competitive than it was in previous iterations, giving players better control of their team on the defensive side of the ball.

3 Shot Timing Profiles Let You Fine Tune NBA 2K25's Difficulty

To Customize Shot Difficulty

The newest entry in the NBA games franchise takes all levels of players into consideration. With the new Shot Timing Profiles, players can customize how exacting or forgiving the game is when it comes to taking shots. Fans can choose how well they need to time the shot to make it, allowing players of different skills to enjoy the game.

In some ways, the Shot Timing Profiles highlight different strategic philosophies. For instance, the Low Risk-Reward profile rewards players for making smart shots – there is more leeway in shot timing when attempting high-percentage field goals. The inverse is the High Risk-Reward profile, which narrows the shot timing, but lets players who master said timing more consistently make contested or difficult shots.

2 Redesigned MyGM Experience Adopts More RPG Elements

For An Even More Engaging Management Sim

The MyGM mode has been completely redesigned in NBA 2K25, and players can now play through a robust campaign with many customizable options. The MyGM experience was rebuilt to feel more like an RPG, with meaningful conversation trees and growth paths.

The mode has players managing an NBA team with a branching narrative where players' decisions and even their background can affect their team's career trajectory. YouTuber Dullah offers a glimpse into this mode with his video, in which he attempts to bring the Golden State Warriors back to their former glory.

1 MyGM Building Is A Brand-New Way To Engage With Managing A Franchise

A New Space To Explore

One of the biggest differences between NBA 2K25 and NBA 2K24 is a whole new physical space to explore. The MyGM Building is a space where players can freely walk around and interact with characters. The building is introduced in this title and creates a more realistic and immersive experience.

It helps the aforementioned RPG-like elements have a sense of space – players aren't just navigating menus when running a franchise, they're interracting with staff and players. All these new features make NBA 2K25 a contender for being one of the 2K franchise's best games.

Sources: BR.Rider.Gaming/YouTube, Joey 2K/YouTube, Jerseymad93/YouTube, The Goods/YouTube, It's Bake/YouTube, Dullah/YouTube