We’re at midcourt, and the ball is about to go up…it’s Monday Tip-Off! Join me as I begin the week here at the NLSC with my opinions and commentary on basketball gaming topics, as well as tales of the fun I’ve been having on the virtual hardwood. This week, I’m tipping things off with some thoughts on how we might be reaching the end of the road as far as NBA 2K coming out on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Although I don’t support Next Gen Elitism any more than other forms of gatekeeping, there is a valid point when you sift through the snobbery. At some point, support does have to end for older hardware and software alike. It’s the same reason that, as much I dislike the timeframe and impact of NBA 2K’s server shutdowns, I do understand the practice. I can even relate it back to my time creating roster updates for NBA Live. As more and more gamers moved on to playing NBA 2K on PC, it was increasingly hard to justify the time and effort needed to mod games that were no longer as popular.
That’s just for mods that cost nothing to produce, and are freely available. Once the majority of gamers have moved on to the latest generation of consoles, it makes sense – technically and financially – for developers to leave the previous one behind. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the reality of the situation. With an annual release like NBA 2K, there’s always the question of how long the previous generation will still be supported. While I don’t have any official word about this – this is absolutely just me speculating – the series’ history and the handling of NBA 2K24’s preview season and post-release support subtly hint at this being the end of the road for PS4 and X1.
What makes me say that? Let’s start with the preview season. Now, thanks to NBA 2K’s virtual monopoly over the virtual hardwood, preview seasons aren’t what they used to be. They start late, they showcase less of the game in action than before, and the games are available to pre-order weeks before we hear a single thing about them. The lack of competition has even allowed for previews that have been “economical” with the truth. This also applies to the Next Gen (or New Gen) versions of NBA 2K. There’ll be a handful of developer blogs, a gameplay trailer, and other snippets, but nothing like the exciting barrage of previews that once tipped off every June/July.
Of course, once the NBA 2K24 preview season tipped off, we did get to see footage of the PlayStation 5/Xbox Series X version, and learn about what was in store. We barely heard or saw anything regarding Current/Old Gen! There were no insights into it via developer blogs, with some screenshots of The Neighborhood being pretty much the only major official preview of the PS4/X1/PC version. Naturally, a majority of the previews were going to focus on the flagship version, but up until this year, prior gen was still covered before release. With NBA 2K24, not only did we not see many previews of that version, but the fact it was coming out was scarcely acknowledged!
Once that happens, it’s not exactly wild speculation to suggest that we’re reaching the end of the road for the previous generation. The message is clear: “Yes, the game will be out on those platforms with some token changes and updates – and even cross-generation progression when it comes to MyTEAM – but it’s mostly going to be more of the same. We’re moving on, and you should really think about doing so, too.” As I said, this is understandable. Developers will rightfully focus on the latest hardware and most popular platforms, and three years into their launch, the userbase on PS5 and XSX has continued to grow. That’s where gamers are, so that’s where the focus is.
Mind you, even though it’s understandable and a sensible business practice, it doesn’t mean that gamers aren’t right to feel stung by it. Sure, expectations must be tempered if you’re sticking with prior gen, but it’s reasonable to expect pre-release previews, post-release support, and value for money. No, you won’t be getting the best version of the game, but you’re still paying for a product that a company is readily releasing for full price. You can’t expect all of the bells and whistles that Next Gen/New Gen is receiving, but it’s not unreasonable to expect a level of quality on par with previous releases. Bottom line, as a consumer, you’re allowed to have standards and criticisms.
In many respects – and despite the lack of previews leading up to its release – the prior gen version of NBA 2K24 is quite solid. It’s not comparable to the PC/PS2 version of NBA Live 08 in terms of being a sloppy afterthought. However, it continues to be neglected post-release. Oh, it’s receiving official patches, but they’re barely promoted on social media. It’s a stark contrast to last year, where the official 2K accounts still made sure to announce that a patch was coming (or out now) for the PS4, X1, and PC versions, along with separate release notes. They are still posting detailed patch notes, though they’ve missed a few prior gen updates, and again, they rarely announce them.
Combined with the lack of attention during the preview season, it doesn’t bode well for the future of NBA 2K on PS4 and X1. Glancing back at the transition from PS3 and 360 to PS4 and X1, the series continued to see prior gen releases up until NBA 2K18. That’s four PS3/360 releases following the launch of a new generation, and for comparison, NBA 2K24 marks the third year of “legacy support” in the PS5/XSX era. To that point, if NBA 2K24 isn’t the end of the road for PS4 and X1, there’s a very good chance that NBA 2K25 will be. It’s just business, but it can still feel personal, especially when prior gen is seemingly being phased out rather unceremoniously.
The end of the road for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One also feels different to previous generational transitions. The jump from the eighth generation to the ninth doesn’t feel as big or impressive as the one from seventh to eighth, or the leaps we saw between earlier generations. The PS4 and X1 don’t feel as outdated as older consoles when they were superseded, which I’d suggest creates a feeling of throwing out something that’s still working. It’s understandable that not everyone has been in a rush to get the latest consoles, especially if they’ve mostly been satisfied with prior gen games. It’s not the same as being stuck with a 16-bit NBA Live back when the PS1 was new!
There’s also the matter of the PC version, particularly in our community. Despite many PC games being the equivalent of their PS5/XSX versions – or indeed, superior to them – NBA 2K24 was yet another PS4/X1 port. It’s a contentious issue among PC basketball gamers, especially since other sports titles on the platform are now ports of a PS5/XSX release, including WWE 2K. It’s also concerning, as the end of the road for PS4 and X1 raises the question of what will happen to the series on PC. Ideally, it means an overdue shift to a ninth gen port, but it may well instead mean the end of PC releases, at least in the short term. We saw that happen with NBA Live, after all.
For the record, I don’t place any stock in there being sinister motivations here. I’m not saying that companies are above anti-consumer practices – just look at my various articles criticising microtransactions – but I don’t believe there’s a nefarious plot to push people towards the new generation of consoles. By and large, gamers have always moved on (eventually), and as far as basketball games are concerned, most of the audience is already on console anyway. We’re just seeing another generational transition, where the older consoles continue to see releases for a few years after their successors are launched, until the numbers and trends see companies moving on.
As much as I hate to give the Next Gen Elitists credit, this is an area where they have a point; they’re just being snobby about it, because they’ve made their preferences and hobbies far too much of their personalities (such as they are). They’re right in so much as the shift in focus, and keeping expectations low for platforms that are beginning to be phased out. However, they were wrong to sneer at prior gen gamers for daring to expect any sort of pre-release previews, post-release support, and a good product. As long as NBA 2K continues to be released for the previous generation of consoles, gamers have every right to buy that version, as well as expect good quality and value.
I’m not even going to get into the comments on Reddit claiming that the PC port doesn’t matter because sports games “don’t belong” on the platform. That’s the same level of ignorance that some PC gamers display when they claim that gamepads are a “console thing” (seriously, gamers on all platforms: know your history!). The future of NBA 2K on PC is definitely a concern as we seemingly approach the end of the road for the game on PS4 and X1, though. I wasn’t surprised when NBA 2K21 PC wasn’t Next Gen, as it was released before the new consoles launched. NBA 2K22 was more of a surprise, and after 2K23 and 2K24, I’ll admit it’s becoming worrisome.
It’s impossible not to consider that prospect as all signs point to NBA 2K24 or NBA 2K25 potentially being the final game in the series for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Hopefully it’ll be the catalyst to finally getting a PS5/XSX port on PC, but even so, it’ll be a shame for gamers who still enjoy the 2K series on the eighth generation consoles. It’s unfortunate that that version is seemingly already being phased out with no fanfare, barely getting mentioned before or after release. There’s more effort going into NBA 2K24 prior gen than the legacy releases back on PS3 and 360, or a game like NBA Live 08 PC/PS2, ironically meaning that it’s actually worth hyping up!
Then again, that doesn’t gel with wrapping up releases on the generation in the near future, so it’s not surprising. There’s a melancholy feel to it though, especially given the abrupt change from NBA 2K23. In the space of a year, we’ve gone from the prior gen version at least getting mentioned in previews and announcements to basically being ignored. Not to mix metaphors here, but the writing on the wall undoubtedly suggests that this is the end of the road for PS4 and X1, or at least the final leg. It remains to be seen when 2K will pull the plug on the eighth gen consoles and what will happen with PC, but I suggest we brace ourselves for an announcement to come.
The post Monday Tip-Off: End of the Road for PS4 & X1 appeared first on NLSC.
