| NBA 2K16 | |
|---|---|
 The Stephen Curry version of NBA 2K16's cover | |
| Developer(s) | Visual Concepts |
| Publisher(s) | 2K |
| Director(s) | Spike Lee |
| Composer(s) | |
| Series | NBA 2K |
| Platform(s) | Microsoft Windows PlayStation 3 PlayStation 4 Xbox 360 Xbox One Android iOS |
| Release | Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
|
| Genre(s) | Sports |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
NBA 2K16 is a 2015 basketball simulation video game developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K. It is the 17th installment in the NBA 2K franchise and the successor to NBA 2K15, while also being the predecessor of NBA 2K17. It was released on September 29, 2015, for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 3. A mobile version for Android and iOS was released on October 14, 2015. There are three different covers for the main game, one featuring Anthony Davis of the New Orleans Pelicans, another featuring Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors, and the last featuring James Harden of the Houston Rockets.[2] A special edition version of the game was also released; it features Michael Jordan on the cover.[3][4]
NBA 2K16 simulates the experience of the National Basketball Association. Players play NBA games with real or created players and teams in various game modes, such as MyCareer, MyTeam, and standard games. Players may play regular season NBA games, playoff games, Summer League games, and others. Apart from the NBA, EuroLeague teams are also featured, thus simulating the EuroLeague. Players may create their own player and take them through a basketball career with the central goal of being the greatest basketball player of all time. The game offers many customization options for the player; the player may customize the physical appearance, attributes, and skill set of any player. Players may also create, build, and customize their own teams. The soundtrack was curated by DJ Premier, DJ Mustard, and DJ Khaled. It consists of 50 different songs.
Director Spike Lee was heavily involved in the development of the game's MyCareer mode. Lee's goal was to create a more story-focused MyCareer mode than previous installments. Lee worked with real world basketball players, following them and documenting their experience in high school and college competition, in an effort to more accurately depict the lifestyle of real professional basketball players. Several improvements and new additions were made to NBA 2K16, such as full body scanning, and overall aesthetic improvements. Several versions of the game were released, such as a special edition, which includes several physical and digital extras. If players pre-ordered the game, they received it on September 25, 2015. Players were also able to download a companion app called MyNBA2K16 which allows the player to earn in-game currency among other things.
NBA 2K16 was met with widespread acclaim upon release. Many critics praised the overall presentation and gameplay, as well as the large amount of content, the new features, and the developers' ability to still introduce positive changes after many previous installments. However, some critics still experienced online technical issues, while others heavily criticized the MyCareer mode for being far too restrictive. Some critics also felt that changing the controls was unnecessary and criticized the lack of tutorials and the presence of microtransactions. NBA 2K16 shipped over 4 million copies in its first week, making it the fastest selling game in the series.
- ^ Players who pre-ordered the game received it on September 25, 2015.
- ^ Makuch, Eddie (June 5, 2015). "Don't Like Steph Curry? NBA 2K16 Comes With Swappable Covers". GameSpot. Retrieved June 6, 2015.
- ^ Sarkar, Samit (June 24, 2015). "NBA 2K16 Special Edition brings back Michael Jordan on the cover". Polygon. Retrieved June 25, 2015.
- ^ Campbell, Evan (June 24, 2015). "NBA 2K16 Special Edition Features Michael Jordan". IGN. Retrieved June 25, 2015.