NBA 2K26 has officially been released, and the first wave of impressions is already from the Operation Sports community is already rolling in. And, it’s a pretty mixed bag, to say the absolute least. From the rip, it should be said that the game definitely makes strides in certain areas. In others, however, it seems that NBA 2K26 has either stayed the course or even regressed. Especially when it comes to playing offline.
So, what are the early first impressions of NBA 2K26? We took a look at feedback from the Operation Sports community, and this seems to be the consensus.
Smoother Gameplay And Sharper Presentation
The most consistent praise for NBA 2K26 seems to revolve around the feel of its gameplay, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. For years, despite criticism for its predatory microtransactions, the 2K series has always boasted some of the smoothest and most realistic gameplay in the sports genre. And this year is no different, with many in the OpSports community giving the game high marks for the actual minute-to-minute action.
For one, player movement feels better than ever, especially when it comes to acceleration and deceleration. Gone are some of the “ice skating” issues in past games, replaced with more grounded foot planting and defensive responsiveness. As OS user EccentricMeat points out, “the movement and animations are pretty damn great. Players move like elite athletes[.]”
Presentation is another highlight. Visuals have been refined, with improved lighting, sharper player models, and more lifelike crowds. Even smaller touches, like the new scoreboard and overlays, have been praised and give the game a fresh broadcast feel.
The Shooting Overhaul Is Disastrous
Before we get into this section, I’d like to say that our very own Chase Becotte has a way more in-depth story on shooting this year in our latest Not Another Roster Update newsletter. So if you’re looking for a complete autopsy of NBA 2K26‘s shooting mechanic, that’s the place to go. Also, our NBA 2K26 review is currently in the works, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
OK, where was I? Oh yeah, the shooting in NBA 2K26 is horrid.
Whereas past iterations have relied upon customizable shot profiles, 2K26 introduces “Green-or-Miss”, which has proven divisive if I’m being charitable. While this kind of system might prove to be rewarding for online players, its effect on offline players who value realism has been awful.
“I don’t play online, so them giving a big F-U to the offline player and making shooting green or nothing is just a baffling decision,” OS user Gosens6 said of the new system. “Playing on superstar or hall of fame, if the CPU breathes in your direction, your timing window is SO small it’s not even worth shooting the ball.” According to user Cch99, this really only applies to harder difficulties. However, this is extremely limiting for offline players who want a challenge, but also don’t want to be beholden to this new system that punishes you every time you shoot when guarded.
NBA 2K26 Is Catering To Online Players
Overall, the impressions of NBA 2K26 seem to indicate that this is a title that is made for the online crowd. And look, I get it — as I’ve pointed out a million times before, online play is where the true margins are for sports video games. And because a vast majority of gamers flock to online modes such as The City, the developers over at 2K are beholden to it.
Predictably, this leaves offline players who enjoy modes such as MyNBA completely in the cold. This is because the powers-that-be over at 2K are unwilling to allocate the resources towards separating the offline experience from the online one, similar to what EA Sports is doing with EA FC 26 by dividing gameplay into two distinct styles: Authentic and Competitive. At the time of writing this, EA FC 26 isn’t out yet, so we’ll see how things actually shake out once people have their hands on the product. But even in paper, that kind of separation between church and state, for lack of a better phrase, is a massive gesture of goodwill towards its community.
Granted, yearly sports games are always evolving on a month-to-month basis. Features are advertised, experimented with, and then changed following community feedback all the time. Maybe that will be the case with some of the more divisive features in 2K26, but consider how far the 2K community skews towards online play, who knows?
If you’re interested in seeing the feedback for yourself, we’ve linked it in the comments.
