Gaming

NBA 2K26 review: Pick and pop maestro

Notable improvements in shooting, aesthetics

Published

September 8, 2025

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.

Related Topics:NBA 2K NBA 2K26 Visual Concepts

Gaming

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 clip shows Losing Ground 1st look

Pre-order now for Campaign Early Access

Published

August 2, 2026

GadgetMatch

A short new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 teaser shows a quick look at the Losing Ground mission for the first time.

It is one of the big war missions from the title’s Campaign mode, following the Korean grunt squad through chaos on the ground.

The brief clip is a pre-order promotional material, wherein gamers can place pre-orders now on any platform for Campaign Early Access.

This shall allow players to dive into the full single-player campaign a week ahead of the official worldwide release date on October 16.

In the vignette, soldiers can be seen advancing through a burning urban environment while under intense enemy fire.

The squad pushes through a breached storefront into a local cafe to clear enemy strongpoints.

Laster on, out in the open on the bridge, squad members realize they are heavily exposed and call out incoming enemy air support. This was right before an explosion rocks the area.

Computers

AMD launches Radeon RX 9050 graphics card

Affordable GPU option for AAA titles

Published

July 30, 2026

GadgetMatch

AMD has launched the new AMD Radeon RX 9050 graphics card, expanding the Radeon RX 9000 series with an affordable option.

This brings AMD RDNA 4 gaming technologies to mainstream gamers with a retail price of US$ 279.

The particular GPU is designed for responsive gameplay at 1080p. That’s for esports and modern AAA titles.

Some popular titles it can run at high frame rates on a 1080p resolution include: Cyberpunk 2077, Forza Horizon 6, Pragmata, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, Valorant, and Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, to name a few.

This highly efficient, drop-in upgrade features a 92W TBP and fully supports the latest AMD FSR technologies, next-gen raytracing, and high-quality AV1 video streaming.

Key specs:

Architecture: AMD RDNA 4
Compute Units: 16
VRAM: 8GB GDDR6
Game Clock / Boost Clock: 1.92 GHz / Up to 2.60 GHz
TBP: 92W

In line with the Radeon RX 9050 launch, AMD has also released AMD Software: Adrenalin Edition 26.7.1.

This driver introduces official day-one support for Radeon RX 9050, alongside early multiplayer access for Gears of War: E-Day.

Users can download the software here.

Gaming

NBA 2K27 gameplay trailer showcases new dunk mechanics, Rucker Park, and more

First gameplay details revealed

Published

July 29, 2026

Rodneil Quiteles

NBA 2K27 is giving fans their first look at this year’s gameplay.

2K has released the official gameplay trailer for NBA 2K27, showcasing enhanced visuals and several gameplay updates ahead of the game’s September 4 launch. The trailer also features cover athletes Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose while teasing changes across Gameplay, MyCAREER, MyTEAM, MyNBA, and the MyPLAYER Builder.

The publisher also confirmed the Preseason Breakdown: NBA 2K27 Game Reveal, which streams on August 18 at 10:00 AM PT. During the presentation, 2K will reveal this year’s biggest gameplay innovations and mode updates before Early Access begins on August 28 for Deluxe Edition and Ultra Edition owners.

Smarter AI and a new Dunk Meter headline gameplay changes

NBA 2K27 introduces several gameplay refinements based on community feedback.

AI defenders now contest shots more effectively and hold their defensive positioning better, especially in online modes like The REC. The changes aim to create a more balanced experience on both ends of the floor.

The game also introduces a fully dynamic Dunk Meter. Instead of locking in the timing at takeoff, the meter continuously evaluates defensive positioning throughout the dunk attempt. Open driving lanes create a larger green window, while late defensive rotations shrink it, making each dunk attempt feel more responsive to the action on the court.

MyPLAYER Builder expands with more Badges

The MyPLAYER Builder now features 53 total Badges, up from 40 in last year’s game. Players can also experiment with 19 brand-new Badges designed to support more specialized builds.

Cap Breakers are also making a return. This time, players can preview attribute boosts directly inside the Builder before finalizing their character.

MyTEAM and MyNBA receive community-requested updates

MyTEAM introduces the franchise’s first unified Auction House across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2. The shared marketplace creates the largest pool of community-listed cards in the mode’s history. It should also make card prices more consistent across supported platforms.

Winning an auction is now faster, too. Purchased cards go straight into your collection without a verification delay.

MyNBA also receives several franchise management updates that reflect today’s NBA. These include second apron salary cap rules from the league’s latest collective bargaining agreement and the ability to offer No-Trade Clauses to free agents.

Rucker Park comes to MyCAREER

The City returns with the same centralized layout introduced last year. This time, however, it gets a new nighttime look filled with neon lights.

NBA 2K27 also recreates the legendary Rucker Park. The iconic streetball court serves as the setting for this year’s MyCAREER prelude story, Fire & Concrete, and also appears in the Street Kings mode.

NBA 2K27 launches on September 4 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who purchase the Deluxe Edition or Ultra Edition can jump in early starting August 28 through Early Access.

Watch the full trailer.