NBA 2K26 feels like a third-year NBA pro finally coming into his own. The game has slowed down for him, and he knows how to pick his spots.

In NBA 2K’s third year of ProPlay, players move more naturally, shooting is all skill, and everything looks sharper. The game itself is like a pick and pop maestro — set a solid screen, slide into open space, and let it fly with a smooth stroke. Nothing but net.

Out of Bounds

I spent most of my time in MyCareer. Spike Lee returns to direct the prelude, Out of Bounds, and it’s easily the best story mode in the last five years.

Quests are tighter this year. Side stories still branch off the court, but they finish with plays on it. None of that runway or selfie nonsense — just cleaner progression.

The prelude also has memorable characters that stay with you through your first months in the league, plus fun callbacks and cameos from players you faced early on.

I still wish we got more nicknames than just “MP.” I get the live player callouts make it tricky, but even two or three options would help. I miss the days of Freq and Prez.

NBA 2K26_20250901070603

Microtransactions are still part of the game. That won’t change anytime soon. But like in 2K25, you can build a player to around an 80–83 overall and stay competitive without dropping too much VC.

Pick and pop

Shooting is completely different from 2K25. With RNG gone, it’s all about timing. I rolled a shooting-focused build for the first time in years and had a blast.

It gets tricky with defenders closing in since your release window changes depending on their ratings. But that feels true to how basketball actually works.

Under the rim woes

Layup timing needs work. Too often, even light contests bother wide-open looks. It doesn’t match the balance shooting currently has.

Shifty operator

Movement feels looser and more reactive. If the defense reads your first move, you’re no longer locked in. Cancel out, pull up, or explode to the rim.

Certified stopper

Defense also strikes a good balance between ratings and stick skills. With decent stats, you can hold your ground and stay in front of most players.

The 2K23 to 2K24 jump felt jarring. But the progression from 2K24 to 2K25 to 2K26 is smooth, like ProPlay is maturing with the game.

Perfect form J

Presentation finally feels modern. Lighting is the biggest leap — players react to it naturally, arenas have depth, and crowds feel alive. It’s no longer just “more sweat” jokes.

Beyond the court

MyTeam now includes WNBA cards, letting you build rosters with both NBA and WNBA stars. MyNBA and MyGM don’t add much beyond small quality-of-life tweaks, like adjusting player positions.

The WNBA mode is still waiting for its breakthrough moment, but I’m keeping an eye on it. I’m thinking of doing another KPop girl group as WNBA players when I have more time on my hands. Perhaps featuring LE SSERAFIM and a couple more girl groups to complete a roster.

Replay value gets a boost from MyNBA Eras. You can revisit the 2000s and 2010s, but I wish 2K would let us jump into specific seasons. Imagine rewriting history — Kobe vs. LeBron in the 2010 Finals, Steve Nash’s Suns finally winning, or J-Kidd and Vinsanity grabbing a ring.

That means securing more rights to former players. I’ve given up on Reggie Miller and Charles Barkley, but there’s hope with recent returns like Blake Griffin.

Another wish: bring back a Hall of Fame/Legends Mode. Past years had the Jordan Challenge and Mamba Moments. Why not give Carmelo Anthony the spotlight this year, letting us relive his 62-point Garden night? Every year has legends worth celebrating.

Is NBA 2K26 your Game Match?

A quick note: we’re carrying over our playful way of saying what’s worth your time — a seal of approval of sorts — into game reviews.

• Swipe Up means it’s highly recommended.
• Swipe Right means recommended, but maybe not for everyone.
• Swipe Left means not recommended.

NBA 2K has long been my form of therapy, and 2K26 is no different. For me, it’s a Swipe Right. The gameplay improvements over the last three years are real and noticeable.

Yes, it’s still an annual release. Yes, it can feel like the same game. But NBA 2K26 continues to adapt to the way basketball is actually played today.

If you’re a casual fan, wait for a sale — that’s when 2K offers the best value. But if you’re itching for hoops, this year’s game is more polished than it’s been in a while.

NBA 2K26 doesn’t drain every shot, but when it sets the screen, pops free, and gives you that open look, the release feels smoother than it has in years — and when it clicks, it’s nothing but net.

A few days ago, a massive leak spoiled almost everything about the unannounced Lenovo Legion Go 2. As the leaked material suggests, the handheld console will present a moderate upgrade for the series, but there’s still a lot of mystery. Today, it’s time to uncover the remaining specs of the Legion Go 2.

Finally, an OLED screen

Lenovo has finally taken off the wraps of the upcoming Legion Go 2. First of all, the new console upgrades the 8.8-inch display of the previous generation. Though it’s still the same size, it’s using a crisp OLED display. It also offers a refresh rate from 30Hz to 144Hz with VRR compatibility. It still has a standard 500nits of brightness but will peak at 1000nits.

Amid these improvements, the screen does go down a bit in terms of resolution. It offers 1920 x 1200 resolution, instead of the 2560 x 1600 resolution of the current model. On the plus side, a smaller screen should make the image smoother.

Good upgrades inside

Inside, the Legion Go 2 will have an upgraded AMD Ryzen Z2, going up to a Ryzen Z2 Extreme. As such, the console can also go up to a huge 32GB of RAM.

Further, the console will now offer 1TB of storage by default. However, it can now go up to 2TB for higher trims.

Finally, the Legion Go 2 will have a much larger battery. Instead of the old one’s 49.2 Whr battery, the new one will have a 74 Whr capacity.

Because of these improvements, the console does come in a slightly bulkier frame. But it’s only a small change, so you probably won’t notice anyway. For example, it’s heavier by only half a pound.

Price, availability

Despite the moderately sized upgrades, the Legion Go 2 carries a very hefty price tag. The base model — Ryzen Z2 + 16GB RAM — goes for US$ 1,099.99. Meanwhile, the Ryzen Z2 + 32GB RAM combo goes for US$ 1,199.99. The Z2 Extreme models (which come with 32GB of RAM by default) start at US$ 1,349.99. Finally, the highest trim — Z2 Extreme + 32GB of RAM + 2TB of storage — will sell for an eye-watering US$ 1,479.99.

All models will arrive in October. Coincidentally, it’s also being released in the same month as the new ROG Ally.

Playing as a superspy or an assassin is one of the most interesting genres of gaming. Rather than pumping out action scenes, the stealthy genre prefers a slow, methodical approach. It’s a treat for those who love well-executed plans. However, despite the popularity of Splinter Cell’s Sam Fisher or Hitman’s Agent 47, the world’s most iconic superspy, James Bond, has yet to make a dent in the segment. Now, we finally have a real glimpse at what a sneaky Bond might look like in the upcoming 007 First Light.

007 First Light is, obviously, a James Bond game from IO Interactive. The studio was previously known for developing the current Hitman trilogy, now bundled as a live game called Hitman: World of Assassination. That particular trilogy reinvented the franchise as a more methodical game with a lot of available props to complete a contract.

As announced years ago, 007 First Light will give the Bond franchise the same treatment. Today, through its first official gameplay trailer, we know what that will look like. Like in Hitman, Bond will have a plethora of options to accomplish tasks. He can use a fancy watch that shoots poison darts, parkour up buildings to find points of entry, or sweet-talk guards for information.

But the game isn’t just about sneaking around. It will feature a more linear plot, complete with high stakes chases and action sequences. And, like the original movies, Bond will get licenses to kill.

007 First Light comes out on March 27, 2026. It launches on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2.

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