There is a Kobe-Bryant feel to the rumored release date for the NBA 2K21 demo. According to an apparent leak from the PlayStation store online, that has since been removed, the demo will release on August 24 (8/24), which are the two uniform numbers Bryant wore during his illustrious career.
The late HOFer is also the cover athlete for the Mamba Forever Edition, which has been positioned as a tribute to his career and legacy.
What Fans Should Expect From the Demo
2K rarely opens up their entire game during a demo, and I wouldn’t expect this year to be much different. There will likely be some option to play around with some options for your MyPlayer, and a Play Now approach that gives fans access to two of the league’s most popular teams.
Considering the rosters won’t be much different from what we’ve seen in NBA 2K20, it would be nice to see 2K lean on some legends in the demo, and even in the retail version of the game.
While there isn’t much that can be done about the restrictions passed down to 2K from the NBA due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the developer/publisher could certainly get creative when it comes to legends and classic teams.
This would be a great time to try to ink a deal with elusive legends like Charles Barkley, Reggie Miller, Manu Ginobili, and Rasheed Wallace. Their inclusion would slap some jumper cables on the battery of this odd, but still intriguing version of the game.
On Wednesday, what appears to be the gameplay blog leaked as well. If that is legitimate information, the demo will give fans their first opportunity to take a stab at the new right-stick controls, signature defensive animations, and perhaps an opportunity to create their first big point guard.
Be on the lookout for impressions once the demo is released.
