Is there crossplay in NBA 2K23? That's the big question on the minds of players eager to dive into the latest entry in the annual basketball series. With more players than ever getting a hold of next-generation consoles, it's more important than ever to be able to play with friends on other platforms.
In this NBA 2K23 guide, we'll explain whether there is crossplay in the new game. Alongside details on how cross-progression works in certain game modes, we'll explain everything you need to know about this mechanic in the new NBA 2K game.
Elsewhere, feel free to read up on the latest FIFA game. We've got our predicted player ratings for the year, on top of details on when the web app is expected to launch. The beta is currently live now, giving you a chance to play the game early.
Is there crossplay in NBA 2K23?
Unfortunately, there is no crossplay in NBA 2K23. As such, you won't be able to play with friends on different platforms, regardless of whether you're on the same family of consoles or not.
The bad news was confirmed on the NBA 2K23 website, with a definitive answer to the query. "There will not be crossplay between different platforms," it says. This also suggests that there won't be a future update to add this sort of capability down the line.
This could well start becoming par for the course with new releases. The previous FIFA game also lacked crossplay, meaning you could also only play with people on the exact same console as you. As such, even if you're on a PlayStation 4 but have friends on PlayStation 5, you can't play together.
The only workaround is if next-gen owners purchase the previous-gen version of a game to accommodate friends on older systems. For example, if all of your team bought the PS4 version of NBA 2K23, you'd be able to play with other PS4 owners despite being on a PS5. It's confusing, but the only solution when there isn't native crossplay.
NBA 2K23 cross-progression explained
However, there is a slight cross-progression mechanic that allows you to carry over save data and currency in a select few game modes.
This function primarily works in MyTEAM mode. Across console families, you can transfer MyTEAM Points, tokens, cards, and overall progress. As such, if you start the game on Xbox One and later upgrade to Xbox Series X|S, you'll be able to retain your data. However, it only works across a family of consoles, and not across the Sony-Microsoft divide.
Equally, you can also pass over your VC Wallet contents across console generations. The chances are that'll be a one-time thing, and you won't be able to divert them to and from generations of consoles.
Therefore, NBA 2K23 crossplay doesn't work exactly how many players would hope for. You can technically transfer data across consoles, but it doesn't have the same cross-platform capabilities as other multiplayer games.
For even more on NBA 2K23, you're in the right place! Read up on whether you can get early access to the game, as well as the range of pre order packages and their individual bonuses.