Lace Code readers, we are so back!!!

This is more of a rant because I am genuinely annoyed by the release dates of video games, but 2K in particular has really been bothering me in recent years.

The reason?

I feel like they release it way too damn early.

2K used to come out in October or late September. Now we’re getting it in early September—or honestly, August, because early access starts today.

Like, dude.

College football and the NFL haven’t even started their regular seasons yet, and we’re already getting 2K.

That just feels wrong to me.

Growing up, one of the things I really enjoyed about the sports gaming calendar was the progression of it. NCAA Football and Madden would come out, and I’d spend a couple of months playing football before 2K dropped.

Then, once 2K came out, it was time to switch gears.

Football season → 2K → basketball season.

That was the rhythm.

Now?

We’re barely getting into football season and 2K is already here.

Yes, I preordered 2K. Obviously I’m going to play it. But that doesn’t change the fact that I am annoyed about the release date.

I know there are plenty of people who basically only play 2K and are completely fine with getting the game as early as possible. And honestly, I understand that. If 2K is your main game, why wouldn’t you want it as soon as you can get it?

But that’s not really how I play.

I’m so hyped for the CFB 27 update coming with more freshmen because I want to truly start my dynasty. I want to get into that mode, build my team, play through the season and really immerse myself in college football.

And now I’m sitting here like…

2K is just going to sit there.

I don’t lose my VC or anything like that, but it almost feels like a waste of the game’s early life because I’m probably not going to be playing it nearly as much right away.

And I know why 2K does this.

The gaming landscape has changed.

Streamers, content creators, early access, online modes, MyTeam, MyCareer and everything else have created an environment where people want the game now. There are probably millions of people who are going to jump into 2K the second they can.

From a business perspective, I completely understand it.

But from a fan perspective?

I hate it.

Bring Back Late September 2K

I actually went back and looked at the release dates for 2K games going all the way back to 2K1, and it really put into perspective how much the release date has changed.

From 2K1 through 2K16, the games generally came out in October or late September.

Then 2K17 started creeping the date forward.

2K17 came out September 20th.

2K18 came out September 19th.

2K19 came out September 11th.

And ever since then, we’ve basically been living in the early-September 2K era.

I’m sure 2K has looked at the business side of it and decided that an earlier release makes more sense for them.

And again, I get it.

But why are we releasing a basketball game when the NBA hasn’t even really ramped up training camp or preseason?

It’s still football season!

Let me play my football games first!

That’s the part that bothers me the most.

I don’t necessarily want 2K to release later because I don’t want the game. I want it badly.

I just want it to feel like the right time.

Give me NCAA and Madden in the summer.

Let me play those through August and September.

Then, when we’re getting toward late September or October and basketball is starting to become the main conversation, drop 2K.

That’s when I want to be thinking about basketball.

That’s when I want to start my MyNBA rebuild.

That’s when I want to start my MyCareer.

That’s when I want to start obsessing over trades, free agency and creating ridiculous scenarios.

That’s when it feels right.

I’m Still Excited for 2K

Now, despite all of this complaining, I am still really excited for 2K.

There are some things I’ve seen that I think are genuinely dope.

One of the biggest ones for me is being able to play MyCareer across different eras.

That’s really cool.

You already know I’m an absolute sucker for anything involving NBA history and different eras, so being able to experience MyCareer in different time periods is something I’m definitely interested in trying.

But then we get to MyNBA/MyLeague, and this is where I start getting frustrated.

Because 2K has the foundation to have one of the best franchise modes in sports gaming.

And sometimes it feels like they don’t fully take advantage of it.

There are still things that need to be fixed, whether it’s contracts, free agency logic, roster management or other little things that can make the mode feel less realistic.

And those things matter to me.

I don’t need everything to be perfect, but if you’re going to give me a franchise mode where I can control an NBA team for decades, I want the league to actually function like an NBA league.

I want realistic contracts.

I want free agency to make sense.

I want teams to make logical decisions.

I want roster building to matter.

I want the league to evolve naturally.

Because when all of those things work, MyNBA is incredible.

That’s what makes it frustrating when little things take away from it.

And Can We Please Stop Playing Meta Ball?

Another thing that has started to bother me with 2K is how much people focus on the meta.

I understand wanting to win.

I understand wanting to be competitive.

But sometimes it feels like people aren’t even trying to play basketball anymore.

They’re trying to figure out what cheese move, dribble combination, jump shot or exploit is the most effective and then spam it over and over.

Bro, just play basketball.

If you’re actually good at the game, you shouldn’t need to cheese every possession.

Learn how to run an offense.

Learn how to create space.

Learn how to use screens.

Learn how to play defense.

Learn how to get your teammates involved.

Learn how to actually read what the defense is giving you.

That’s what makes basketball fun to me.

I want to play a game that feels like basketball—not a game where I’m trying to figure out which animation I can abuse for the next four quarters.

Obviously, I’m not saying people can’t play however they want. If that’s what you enjoy, go for it.

It’s just not how I want to play.

Let Me Have My Sports Gaming Calendar

At the end of the day, this is probably just me being nostalgic.

Maybe that’s all it is.

Maybe I just miss the way sports games used to fit into the calendar.

There was something special about having NCAA and Madden take over the summer, then eventually transitioning into 2K once basketball season started getting closer.

It made every game feel like it had its own moment.

Now everything feels like it’s trying to get out as early as possible.

And I understand why.

The business has changed.

Gaming has changed.

The way people consume content has changed.

But damn…

I miss late-September/October 2K.

I’m still going to play the hell out of this game.

I’m still going to start some ridiculous MyNBA franchise.

I’m still going to get way too invested in trades that will never happen.

I’m still going to play MyCareer.

And I’m absolutely going to find some way to turn the Knicks into a dynasty.

But right now?

I’m trying to play college football.

2K can wait its turn.

At least for a little bit.

– Jett Garden