Again when NBA 2K16 launched, I ended up having a ton of enjoyable with it at the same time as somebody who didn’t actually watch basketball a lot. After continually listening to about mediocre sports activities video games again then, NBA 2K16 felt nice to play, and more-importantly was enjoyable. Since then, I’ve been attempting to play 2K’s NBA video games every year. NBA 2K21 on PS5 was a spotlight for me, however I used to be curious to see how the sport scaled on different platforms. I began enjoying it on Swap and no matter latest console model was out there. I had by no means really performed certainly one of these video games on PC earlier than. With NBA 2K24, I wished to cowl it on each Steam Deck and on any present console for the “next-gen” expertise. Since round launch, I’ve been enjoying NBA 2K24 on Steam Deck and Xbox Collection X. This assessment will deal with the previous, however it has been attention-grabbing and disappointing to see how completely different the sport is throughout PC and Xbox Collection X.
I not often discover a yearly sports activities recreation that justifies a full-priced buy every year. NBA 2K24 is fairly comparable in that regard, so that you is likely to be questioning why I’m reviewing it? I wished to see the way it feels on Steam Deck since I by no means performed these video games on Valve’s handheld, and in addition wished to see how that model compares to the Xbox Collection X (and PS5 model. I additionally wished to spotlight who can buy it proper now, and who ought to wait on a sale. On this NBA 2K24 Steam Deck assessment, I’m going to deal with the sport on Valve’s handheld gaming system, but additionally cowl the sport and the way I discovered it within the time I’ve performed throughout platforms.
Since NBA 2K18, each recreation within the collection has been Steam Deck Verified. Realizing that, I anticipated NBA 2K24 to work effectively, and it performs with out points on Steam Deck out of the field. I’m stunned it hasn’t gotten verified but, and my solely actual criticism with this launch barring it being primarily based on the last-gen model (which I’ll get to), is the set up dimension. NBA 2K24 at the moment occupies 146.33GB on Steam Deck. That is smaller than the 170 or so GB on Xbox Collection X, however nonetheless huge. I wouldn’t even be capable to match this into the interior SSD on my 256GB Steam Deck due to shaders and different knowledge put in on it.
I put in NBA 2K24 on my SD card, and it ran completely. I didn’t change any settings initially, however settled on tweaking most issues to medium or excessive and I turned shadows all the way down to see if I might make it look crisper on the Deck’s show by sacrificing shadows. You gained’t have to hassle with any of this, however the recreation scales very effectively. It even has shader preload choices and 16:10 assist for a lot of elements. I don’t know if NBA 2K23 provided all this, however NBA 2K24 feels and appears nice on Steam Deck. I additionally tried it with my DualSense controller.
In terms of recreation modes exterior the default play modes, the Mamba Moments problem mode right here is sort of good, however I’d have preferred to see extra of a deal with Kobe Bryant’s legendary profession on this recreation. The content material on this mode is superb, however I hoped for extra principally. One space the place NBA 2K24 does really feel like a step again, is its MyCareer mode. On PS5 and Xbox Collection X, there’s a complete set of WNBA content material that isn’t out there on prior platforms together with MyCareer content material and extra. Barring that, the lacking characteristic I’m disenchanted by essentially the most is the Eras fast play choices that replicate the TV viewing expertise with filters on Xbox Collection X. These non-obligatory filters add so much to the expertise and this appears to be absent on PC. Take a look at the screenshot from Xbox Collection X beneath:
Evaluating NBA 2K24 on Steam Deck (or PC) with the Xbox Collection X model, exterior of visuals, the massive variations are with recreation modes, motion, and general content material. The spotlight is unquestionably cross play, which is feasible with the NBA 2K24 PS5 and Xbox Collection X|S native variations. The others don’t have cross play which is a big deal in a recreation like this. NBA 2K24 is the primary time cross play has been added as effectively to an NBA 2K recreation so far as I’m conscious. Different variations embody the shortage of ProPLAY on PC. ProPLAY makes use of NBA footage translated in-game. Extra info on that’s right here. Even the sport menus really feel simply high-quality on PC whereas the Xbox Collection X model is so much nicer.
Whereas menus aren’t an enormous deal for the gameplay, it principally appears like a illustration of the general product out there on each platforms. NBA 2K24 on PC is an excellent basketball recreation that has points and is missing in comparison with the brand new consoles, however NBA 2K24 itself additionally has an excessive amount of of a push in direction of digital foreign money in its varied modes. In case you ignore all that and simply desire a recreation to play casually or with associates, NBA 2K24 on PC is nice on Steam Deck, however that’s a giant caveat.
Excited about the chances of NBA 2K25 bringing the brand new options and visuals to PC additionally may find yourself being problematic on Steam Deck. If stated potential model is predicated on new consoles, it may not run and look as effectively on Steam Deck. That is all hypothesis in fact, however the potential of NBA 2K25 doing extra on PC has me excited. If it’s the identical last-gen model although, I possible gained’t be bothering enjoying it on Steam Deck and stick to simply PS5 or Xbox Collection X. Having not performed an NBA 2K recreation on PC earlier than, I loved my time with NBA 2K24 on Steam Deck. That is positively getting Steam Deck Verified quickly with how good it seems and performs.
Whereas NBA 2K24 does have on-line play, I wished to see if it was playable through Steam’s Distant Play Collectively. I invited a pal who doesn’t personal the sport to play on my Steam Deck with me. It labored very well regardless of the space between us. One factor to notice is that I’d suggest sticking to 800p on Steam Deck as a result of 1080p with excessive and medium appears to be a bit an excessive amount of for Steam Deck to keep up a locked 60fps. If you wish to play on a 1080p show by way of the dock or one thing, think about turning extra results down.
Proper now, I’d solely suggest NBA 2K24 on Steam Deck if you happen to skipped the final 12 months or two of video games. In case you haven’t performed these video games shortly, NBA 2K24 runs and appears nice on Steam Deck, and is a enjoyable basketball recreation to play. The push to digital foreign money in particular recreation modes positively holds this again, alongside the shortage of recent modes and options on PC. Hopefully NBA 2K25 on PC will see it lastly get the complete characteristic set. Proper now, I’d suggest NBA 2K24 extra on Xbox Collection X (or PS5) than PC, however the PC model performs nice on Steam Deck if you happen to’re after an ideal transportable expertise.
NBA 2K24 Steam Deck assessment rating: 3.5/5
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