As the NBA season approaches its conclusion, the attention of 2K gamers will be starting to drift to the prospect of what NBA 2K22 has in store. E3 is set to commence on June 12, meaning fans are likely to receive some form of news about the game very soon. As is traditional for E3 season, a number of rumors have been circulating around the unannounced title, including some interesting leaks for the upcoming NBA 2K game.
2K Games' NBA 2K22 has a lot of mystery surrounding it. While previous 2K titles followed a similar pattern in terms of dates and reveals, this year the games industry has certainly been unusual. Much is unknown about the next installation in the 2K franchise as it ventures into the next generation of gaming, but a reveal and a release date is the first step to uncovering what the future of the franchise holds.
When Will NBA 2K22 Be Revealed?
2K titles are not traditionally revealed at E3. However, with 2K Games set to appear at Take-Two Interactive's conference this year, there is a slim possibility 2K fans could get a sneak peek here. The Take-Two Interactive E3 conference is on Monday, June 14 this year, and is rumored to play host to a number of exciting reveals. An unconfirmed XCOM Marvel game, for example, is among the titles expected to be showcased by 2K Games.
A recent leak revealed the surprising NBA 2K22 cover star, the timing of which left many fans wondering if 2K22 would make an appearance at this year's E3. Jason Schreier confirmed the validity of the leak, but could not confirm whether the information would actually be revealed at E3, although it would make sense. E3 is returning in 2021 after a year's hiatus due to the Covid pandemic, and as such, there is more anticipation for the event than there has been previously. Take-Two Interactive looks set to piggyback off of this anticipation by announcing a swathe of new titles, and could benefit from showcasing one of its premiere game series in NBA 2K22.
This is a rather bold and perhaps unlikely prediction, because as mentioned, 2K is rarely one of the games showcased at E3. The more likely alternative, is that the game will be revealed in early July, with a gameplay trailer dropping in early August closer to the start of the NBA pre-season.
NBA 2K22's Release Date
Over the years, NBA 2K games have been released in one of three months: September, October, or November. The release dates for the games have been trending towards a September release as of late, with the last six games having a September launch. Last year, despite the NBA season being heavily delayed, with Pre-season starting in December as opposed to the usual late September/early October, 2K21 still launched in the regular month of September. This suggests that the release dates of the 2K titles are independent of real-world events, with 2K Games looking to supply consistent new entries every year.
As was the case last season, the NBA playoffs will conclude later this year, in July as opposed to the regular June. However, this is unlikely to impact the start of the next NBA season, which is reportedly going to return to a regular schedule. As such, it can be safely concluded that NBA 2K22 will launch in early September, falling in line with other recent NBA 2K titles. Other questions surrounding the latest 2K title include how the series will innovate on previous entries with the step up to next-gen consoles, and whether 2K22 will retain the $69.99 price hike imposed on PS5/Xbox Series X copies. All of these questions and more will be answered closer to the July reveal.
NBA 2K22 is reportedly in development.