NBA 2K22 update: Launch notes, new features & top-rated players in game

NBA 2K22 is out for release, and there’s a lot going on with the game’s launch. 

The latest installment dropped Friday for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Windows and Nintendo Switch, an exciting time for sports gaming fans. But launches have not been the smoothest for NBA 2K in the past, and this release was no different. 

According to several players, the game’s servers were down once it was made available at noon ET. Agent 00, who plays the game extensively on YouTube and has 1.73 million subscribers, was among those who did not appear to be surprised. 

Several players also noted their virtual currency — which is used to buy “MyCareer” mode player upgrades and packs for MyTeam, 2K’s ultimate team feature, among other things — was not immediately available. Those who preordered the game were supposed to receive 5,000 VC (standard edition and 25th WNBA anniversary edition) or 100,000 VC (NBA 75th anniversary edition). 

Some players found that entering “MyTeam” mode upon opening the game and restarting it would show the VC; however, players also had issues purchasing VC in-game, which is made available in increments of 5,000 ($2.99), 15,000 ($4.99), 35,000 ($9.99), 75,000 ($19.99), 200,000 ($49.99) and 450,000 ($99.99).  

The game appeared to smooth itself out after that. 2K announced it released a patch around 1:30 p.m. ET Friday to fix stability issues and audio with PA announcers. 

It also appeared that fans received their VC. (Author’s note: I received mine as of 5 p.m. ET on Friday). 

Here is a look at some of the other storylines surrounding NBA2K22’s release. 

NBA 2K22 early reviews  

NBA 2K22 released at noon ET Friday, Sept. 10, and it appears that many reviewers did not get the game in advance to offer their perspectives. 

Sporting News has compiled some of the early reviews: 

Ricky Frech, IGN (Review in Progress): “When a basketball player gets into ‘the zone,’ people say it can feel like time slows to crawl. They can see things before they happen, every little detail about their opponent stands out, and the rim seems to get bigger and more inviting. NBA 2K22 hasn’t quite managed to get me into the zone during my early time playing it so far, but the improved gameplay and breadth of content of this iteration get it closer than it’s been for the past few years. From important changes to how stamina impacts shooting to a City filled with diverse ways to improve your MyPlayer character, 2K22 feels like a breath of fresh air.” 

Franz Christian Irorita, Clutch Points (Score: 9/10): “The time we spent playing NBA 2K22 was filled with fun moments, most especially since we’re big fans of the league anyway. Seeing how this year’s entry turned out satisfies us, as there is a lot of new content and changes, especially for the next-gen versions of the game. The decision for fans now boils down to whether or not these next-gen features are worth the extra cost, as the next-gen versions cost slightly more than the current-gen ones. We think that the next-gen versions are worth the additional $10 or so.

“Of course, NBA 2K22 will largely appeal to those who are fans of the sport. For those who have no idea what the NBA is or don’t like basketball at all, this may be a hard pass. But even then, we feel that those who pick up this game, even those without any idea what the hell basketball is, will appreciate the kind of technical marvel NBA 2K22 for the PS5 has turned out to be.”

How is ‘The City’? 

NBA 2K21 introduced “The City,” a multiplayer map for its “MyCareer” mode with four boroughs, rival affiliations and quests, among other things, though the consensus was that it was not a success. 

RATINGS TRACKER: Pre-release list of top players by position

With a maximum of 100 players in a large area, reviewers like IGN’s Ben Vollmer felt the feature felt “empty” with “too much unnecessary padding.” NBA 2K22 reintroduced “The City” this year with an increased population, new quests, buildings and ways to explore, including Go-Karts and Inline Skates. 

Players will have to get more grounded with the revamped open-world component, though it appears there have been some crashing issues with Xbox Series X users. 

Agent 00 uploaded a YouTube video in which he explored features and upgrades in the game and offered a similar opinion to how people felt about “The City” in NBA2K22. 

“Even in 2K’s efforts to make this city more convenient and easier to ride around in, it’s still inconvenient to get to destinations,” he said. 

Launch giveaways and top-rated players 

In conjunction with the game’s launch, NBA 2K is releasing codes and giving away prizes on its Twitter page, including VC, hoodies and jerseys. 

Cover athletes Luka Doncic and Kevin Durant and rapper The Game, among others, have also released codes for VC. 

MORE: Complete list of 2K cover athletes

Aside from those updates, here are the top 10 rated players in NBA 2K22: 

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