NBA 2K24 Release Date Window, Mamba Moments Mode, And Everything We Know So Far

NBA 2K24 is nearly here, which means it’s time to start unpacking all it will have to offer. While the 2K team has just begun sharing details on the game, which will surely wind up as one of the year’s bestsellers yet again, there’s already enough to compile for the biggest fans to dwell on as we approach the game’s presumed September launch. Here’s everything we know so far about NBA 2K24.

NBA 2K24 release date

2K and Visual Concepts have not yet revealed the official release date for NBA 2K24, but common sense points to a particular window. Historically, the game’s latest installment launches in early September, with optional early access included in some of the game’s more expensive versions sold in stores.

With that in mind, we can expect NBA 2K24 to launch sometime between Tuesday, September 5 and the following Tuesday, September 12. We’d be surprised if the final release date reveal doesn’t confirm this estimation, but in either case, we’ll update this story once we know for sure.

NBA 2K24 cover star

Kobe Bryant, the late great Lakers guard who has already been on the cover of NBA 2K three times, is back for another season. As you’ll read a bit later, there’s a direct gameplay tie-in, too.

In GameStop stores within the US and Canada exclusively, players can also grab the WNBA Edition, featuring New York Liberty guard Sabrina Ionescu on the cover.

NBA 2K24 cross-play

NBA 2K24 will join the trend (NHL, Madden, EA FC, others) of sports games adding cross-play functionality, but it does have a few wrinkles to be aware of. We’ve broken out those NBA 2K24 cross-play details into a separate story here.

What’s new?

Gameplay-wise, 2K hasn’t shared a heck of a lot yet, but of course, that will change over the weeks ahead. What we do know for now is, on the court, NBA 2K24 is meant to benefit from something called ProPlay. 2K describes this as “a groundbreaking new technology that directly translates NBA footage into gameplay and delivers animations and movements via on-court NBA action for a generational leap in authenticity.”

As is becoming increasingly common in cross-gen sports series, ProPlay is only available on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game. We don’t expect 2K to hype up the last-gen versions too much, as publishers are increasingly leaving them behind.

Mamba Moments

Maybe the most exciting early detail about NBA 2K24 is what the publisher has teased as Mamba Moments mode. With Kobe Bryant on the cover, Mamba Moments is likely his own starring version of last year’s Michael Jordan mode. Players should expect to relive several of Bryant’s best moments, perhaps even replaying a game from last year’s Jordan mode in which Jordan and Bryant played each other, only this time from Kobe’s point of view.

For basketball historians, this is likely to be a highlight of this year’s game, and we’re eager to learn and share more here soon.

NBA 2K24 preorders

This year’s game will, as always, have a few different versions for different types of fans. It even includes another edition bundled with NBA League Pass. While the standard edition, this year called the Kobe Bryant Edition, can be secured for $70, players wishing to get a bit more can opt for The Black Mamba Edition. There’s also an additional (and most expensive version) with the aforementioned League Pass and a lot more. We’re preparing a complete preorder guide to help you find the version of the game that’s best for you.