Take-Two Interactive had revealed during their May earnings call that the upcoming WWE 2K and NBA 2K games were the only major releases fans would see in 2017. While that spelled bad news for those awaiting the now belated sequel to 2010’s Red Dead Redemption, the gaming giant has been incredibly ambitious with the two upcoming simulation games. NBA 2K18 will be the first of the two to release, with its launch scheduled for September. This time around, a lot of big changes and finer tweaks are coming into the game, including a massively upgraded AI system. Now, 2K has added to the ever-growing list of NBA 2K18 features by announcing a new game mode.
Called the Neighborhood, this new mode in NBA 2K18 will let players be in command of their character as they do just about everything you want to, including taking a stroll around the world, catching up with other players, and customize their characters any which way they prefer. There are playgrounds where you can partake in practice matches, huge apparel and footwear stores, barber shops to get the coolest dos, gyms to work out in, and much more. Such an experience has never been seen in the series before, and in fact, fan forums have witnessed similar requests over the last few years.
2K says that the new Neighborhoods system ties into the MyCareer, MyPark, and Pro-Am modes, and lets the player improve the ratings of their MyPlayer. You stand the chance to level up significantly as you win badges and collect more virtual currency while you’re in the neighborhood. You can also come across some very coveted faces in the new world.
This is how 2K describes the system: “Experiences and ratings revolve around player actions, whether it’s running into Kyrie Irving while getting a shave at the barbershop, competing on the courts in The Playground, getting inked at the tattoo parlor, listening to the latest beats or showing off the latest gear to friends while strolling the block. A user’s experience is entirely shaped by how they compete, allowing them to reap the rewards of playing NBA 2K18 the way they enjoy it most.”
NBA 2K18 is releasing on September 19 for the Windows PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PS3, PS4, and Nintendo Switch.