NBA 2K has revealed all the new gameplay updates coming to NBA 2K25, including more than 9,000 new animations based on a refined ProPLAY system. It will build smoother animations and transitions in-game based on moves from your favourite players in real-life. There’s a new risk/reward shot-timing system that will give casual players a chance to make shots based on ‘real player%’ (no timing), while the new defensive system will work similarly to dribbling in the current game, utilising the right stick for cut-offs. We’re detailing all this and more below, so let’s check it out!
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More Animations, Powered by ProPLAY
- 9,000+ new ProPLAY animations
- 1,500 dribbling animations
- 1,300 off-ball animations, 150 new signature motion styles
- 1,000 signature shots captured from most rostered players from the 2023-2024 season
- 1,100 lay-up animations
- 1,000 passes
- 800 rebounding animations
- 400 dunks
While it was introduced last year in 2K24, ProPLAY is back with more animations. It “translates NBA footage into NBA 2K25 gameplay, enhancing authenticity and immersion.” Simply put, more than 9,000 new animations are coming to NBA 2K25, and we’re detailing some of the new gameplay features below.
New Dribble Engine, First in 15 Years
- Creates the dynamic motion by itself, with no more human error
- Feels like one motion, smoother and more accurate to real-life players
- Powered by ProPLAY
First, there’s an exciting all-new dribbling system for the first time in 15 years. This system will be powered by ProPLAY technology, which is exciting because it will smooth out transitions between moves, add accuracy, and thus create a consistency that 2K has struggled with previously.
Instead of manually prescripting all the animations and managing the transitions between them, the system can evaluate (without fault) thousands of animations at once and smooth out these transitions between dribble moves. This works in conjunction with the new Go-To Shots system, which we’ve detailed below.
Go-To Shots, Shooting Refined
- Evolution of the breakdown move, moving the right stick up
- It gives you access to NBA Players’ signature shooting styles that feature dribble-into-shot combos
- You can breakdown the defender and dribble straight into the shot in one fluid motion
- Powered by ProPLAY, it is an easy way to put these players’ signature moves into the game
This new go-to shots system will come with a ‘Shot Canceling’ feature, which lets you break out of these lengthy and drawn-out animations and back into other moves by releasing the right stick, flicking it to make another dribble move or driving out with the left stick. Because of this, you can be more creative as an offensive player, as this ‘Shot Canceling’ feature can be used with other offensive moves like step-backs, hop-steps, and other advanced moves. It’s shaping up to be a powerful move for shot-creators and dribblers.
Shot Timing has also been refined and is more customisable than ever, with special ‘Shot Timing Profiles’ that can be adjusted in the Controller Settings. These include:
- New shot timing:
- Real Player% (shot timing doesn’t matter at all)
- Low Risk-Reward (timing impact has a small effect but won’t be a primary driver of makes/ misses)
- Normal Risk-Reward
- High Risk-Reward (closest to NBA 2K24, very small window, but will make the shot)
- Revised shot meter that doesn’t freeze, no more lag in the shot meter online, same as offline
This system has been introduced to reduce the skill gap between casual and pro players who find it difficult to shoot using the NBA 2K24 system.
Pro-Stick Rhythm Shooting is a new feature that lets you recreate shots from your favourite players. Hold the pro stick in a direction, then as soon as the player hits their set point, push the stick in rhythm with how you want the ball to leave the player’s hands (up-down motion). It’s an in-depth mechanic with a higher risk-reward, and you can increase your shooting percentage because of it.
The Jump Shot Creator has a new slider that lets you manually set a visual cue. Three new shot meters have also been added, and they’ve stopped the shot meter from freezing. Instead, you’ll have a feedback overlay that tells you if your shot is excellent, early or late. With rhythm shooting, it tells you if your tempo is too slow or too fast. This also means that you can use the meters online, and there won’t be lag or delay in the shot meter, which is now entirely lag-free.
Brand New Defensive Movement System, Similar to Dribbling
- New defensive cut-off system
- You can change direction dynamically to quickly slide laterally and cut off an offensive player
- The new shot contest system comes with a dynamic weighting system
- The defensive impact is judged throughout the shot
Like dribbling, while holding down the left trigger, you can use the right stick to put your player in animations that cut off the offensive player laterally through slides and jumps. This can be used to cause a collision with the ball handler or to jump back and cut them off from driving to the basket, giving them space to shoot.
The contest system has also been revised, with every contest animation you see on screen translating more accurately into a registered contest through the system. This system now considers stat ratings more heavily, as well as the defender’s height, which is more accurate than before, with more emphasis on height deltas.
Of Course, There’s More AI Gameplay Features
- More space, a new spacing system with over 20 locations for AI to stand
- Constantly feeding the AI information of where to be, how to maintain space
- Defensive help pursuit angles, wholly redesigned
- Mirrors real-life more accurately
- This is reflected in the game-play difficulties, too, from rookie to hall-of-fame
Finally, more changes are coming to the AI players, which are now more intelligent than before. Maybe the biggest change is the scalable difficulty settings don’t rely entirely on makes or misses but adjust how the AI moves around the court on both offense and defense.
NBA 2K25 will be available worldwide on September 6th, 2024, on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam for PC. It’s available for pre-order right now at most major game retailers, with prices starting at $99.99 AUD.
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