Below, you’ll read:
- What made NBA 2k24 become worst reviewed game.
- Community response.
- Comparison between NBA 2k24 and NBA 2k23 and the reasons behind success of predecessor.
NBA 2K24’s Dethrones Overwatch 2 to Become Worst Reviewed Game
While console versions delivered the polished simulated basketball experience fans expected, the PC port clearly received less development attention. Rampant cheating compromised the intended competitive online matches. Most damagingly, aggressive monetization schemes locked desired content behind incremental purchases, leaving many feeling nickeled-and-dimed.
These factors ignited a firestorm of fan frustration, driving review aggregators and social spaces to vent about feeling neglected or exploited. The game broke the record of Overwatch 2 to become the worst-reviewed game on Steam. For a franchise that enjoyed strong goodwill before this installment, NBA 2K24 now faces an uphill battle in rebuilding trust in the PC and mobile gaming community.
With quality, fairness, and value all coming into question upon launch, the developers faced critiques that this title emphasizes monetization over substance for a core segment of basketball gaming fans.
Disparity Between PC and Console Versions
There’s a clear divide in quality between the PC platform’s iteration of the newest NBA 2K title compared to console editions (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S editions). The PC gaming community has voiced discontent that their version lacks some of the visual enhancements, performance optimizations, and overall feature sets offered in the console releases.
Reviews of the PC title highlight its shortcomings compared to the PS5 and XSX/S editions. Players feel the development team has not given the PC platform the same level of attention, leading to a sense that this community has been overlooked.
While the console versions boast next-generation upgrades, the PC version is viewed as a step behind, no longer keeping pace with what’s now possible on living room gaming hardware. This disparity has been a primary source of discontent for PC gamers who want parity between platforms.
Rampant Cheating and Lack of Cross-Play
The latest iteration of the popular basketball video game franchise has unfortunately been hampered by some persistent problems negatively impacting the user experience, especially for online multiplayer modes.
One widely discussed shortcoming is dishonest play, with unscrupulous opponents exploiting loopholes and flaws in the game code to gain unfair advantages over other players. This cheating has understandably bred much frustration in the community and taken away from the spirit of fun competition.
Exacerbating these concerns over fair play is the game’s lack of cross-platform compatibility. Many fans have been let down by the inability to play with friends who own the game on other consoles.
With online multiplayer being such a major component of titles like this, limiting the player pool feels restrictive and dims hopes of the game reaching its full potential. Reviews on platforms like Steam have given voice to users’ displeasure, making it clear that for NBA 2K24 to thrive, issues around cheating and cross-play support must be addressed.
Aggressive Microtransaction Model
NBA 2K24’s approach to in-game purchases has sparked criticism from players. The popular MyCareer mode essentially requires additional spending on microtransactions in order to progress at a reasonable pace and remain competitive. This monetization model locks gameplay content behind additional paywalls, despite fans already having paid the full price for the game.
Many fans feel this aggressively pushes them towards repetitive microtransactions simply to access parts of the experience they expected to be included. There is growing frustration that enjoying the latest entry in the series now comes with strings attached and extra costs tacked on.
The community backlash stems from players wanting to enjoy basketball gameplay, not wallet-draining monetization schemes layered on top. Clearly this year’s title has crossed a line for some by making competitive success contingent on opening your wallet over and over.
NBA 2K24 vs NBA 2K23: Why Was Predecessor More Successful
| Aspect | NBA 2K24 | NBA 2K23 |
| Graphics and Performance | Criticized for not improving significantly, especially on PC. | Praised for its graphics and smooth gameplay on next-gen consoles. |
| Gameplay Mechanics | Seen as lacking innovation, too similar to its predecessor. | Introduced gameplay enhancements that were well-received. |
| Microtransactions | Perceived as more aggressive and intrusive. | Included but less intrusive compared to NBA 2K24. |
| Community Feedback | Unified backlash, particularly for the PC version and microtransactions. | Mixed reviews, with positive feedback for certain features. |
| Overall Reception | Notable decline in player satisfaction, reflected in lower Steam ratings. | Managed to maintain a balance between commercial success and player satisfaction. |
Closing Thoughts and Final Verdict – 6/10
Examining all aspects of NBA 2K24’s troubled launch, it’s evident there were some noticeable missteps that impacted the game’s reception, especially with PC gamers. As a basketball gaming enthusiast, I came into this latest release with high hopes, but ended up walking away underwhelmed.
The console editions seem to mostly deliver the expected NBA 2K experience. However, the PC version lags behind in some key areas. Between the widespread cheating degrading online play, the aggressive monetization model feeling manipulative, and the lack of cross-platform features, NBA 2K24 has room for improvement when it comes to the PC platform.
As much as I enjoy virtual hoops gaming, I’d be hard-pressed to wholeheartedly recommend NBA 2K24 for PC gamers. I’d give NBA 2K24 a 6/10 on PC – a dip from the usual standards for the franchise.
There’s still a possibility 2K Games can smooth out some of these rough edges in time. But for now, NBA 2K24 falls a bit short in delivering the complete experience one expects on PC. Here’s hoping next year’s game can rebounds and regain some community goodwill.