Can I Still Play NBA 2K21 in 2024? Answering the Server Shutdown
As an avid NBA 2K gamer and content creator since the early days, a question I‘ve been getting a lot recently is "Can I still play NBA 2K21 now that we‘re in 2024?"
It‘s a fair thing to wonder about any sports title, but especially with 2K confirming that NBA 2K21‘s servers will discontinue operations on December 31, 2022. What does that mean exactly though? Will ALL of 2K21 stop working overnight? Can diehard fans continue enjoying franchise mainstays like MyCareer and MyGM? I‘ve dug into the details to clear up any confusion around 2K21‘s fate in 2024.
Official 2K Statements on NBA 2K21 Server Shutdown
Let‘s start with exactly what 2K has said themselves about sunsetting online support for the two year old NBA 2K21.
"On 12/31/2022, we will be closing down the NBA 2K21 servers," the official support article reads. "This means that gamers will no longer have access to online features that require online connectivity."
Additionally, the public server shutdown schedule gives us a precise December 31, 2022 expiration date too. So any game mode requiring online connectivity and 2K servers will inevitably cease functioning in 2K21 as we enter 2023.
This lines up with past legacy sports titles as well – usual lifespan is around 2 years give or take before pull the online plug.
Enjoy These Playable Offline Modes Indefinitely
Now onto the positive news! Just because online play gets disabled doesn‘t mean locally-stored game modes suddenly vanish.
As long as you already own NBA 2K21 (disc copy or digitally), you‘ll have continued access to a bunch of great offline experiences including:
- MyCareer – Create your own rising NBA star and guide him through the ranks. All progress safely stores locally.
- MyGM and MyLEAGUE – Steer an NBA franchise to championship glory through trades, drafts and more.
- Play NOW – Jump right onto the court with preset rosters and current players. Great for casual games.
- MyCOURT – Hone your skills with various basketball drills and mini-games. Record your scores!
The list goes on and on. So plenty of ways to enjoy NBA 2K21 if you just feel like playing quick games or continuing old franchises.
Multiplayer & Online Modes Discontinued After Server Shutdown
However, the offline only restriction does mean several popular online-dependent modes won‘t make it past 2022 in NBA 2K21:
- MyTEAM – No use acquiring shiny new cards if there‘s no one online to play against! Sucks for my god squad.
- Play NOW Online – Lag was always horrible but will miss those sweaty competitive games.
- MyPARK/Pro-Am – Countless hours spent on the blacktop and in rec leagues…RIP.
- Limited-Time Events – No more special seasonal game types or unlockable content.
| Game Mode | Status After 12/31/2022 |
|---|---|
| MyCAREER | Playable |
| MyGM/MyLEAGUE | Playable |
| Play NOW (Offline) | Playable |
| MyTEAM | Discontinued |
| MyPARK/Pro-Am | Discontinued |
It stings losing online funcationality in a modern sports title only two years in – but that leads me to…
Why You Should Upgrade to NBA 2K23!
Look, I get it. No one likes buying a new iteration 12 months later just for some roster updates. But NBA 2K23 actually justifies a purchase by delivering meaningful gameplay innovation along with new modes!
My favorite new feature is ‘Eras Quick Play‘ – letting you transport NBA legends across time to face each other! Who wins between 2013 LeBron versus 1996 MJ???
And they‘ve finely tuned shooting, dribbling, defense and more this year. Not to mention events and content will stay fresh in 2K23 well beyond 2023.
So if you want to ball online and enjoy living, breathing NBA action… time to let NBA 2K21 ride out into the sunset and adopt NBA 2K23 as the new king!
By The Numbers: NBA 2K Remains Massively Popular
If you need any convincing that the NBA 2K series clearly resonates worldwide, just look at these mind-blowing statistics:
- Over 111 million units sold lifetime across the entire NBA 2K series! (via Statista)
- NBA 2K23 sold almost 3x more physical copies at launch than NBA Live 23 did. (via Forbes)
- NBA 2K22 was the 16th highest selling premium console title of 2021.
- The record-breaking highest Metacritic average across the core NBA 2K simulation titles is an outstanding 90%.
Simply put, NBA 2K has earned widespread appeal through striving for realism, depth and fun acting as true virtual basketball. 2K23 is the newest standard-bearer for that mission!
Additional FAQ Around NBA 2K21 in 2024
Here are answers to some other frequent questions I‘ve received around NBA 2K21‘s fate in the new year:
Q: Can I still buy NBA 2K21 in 2024?
A: No, NBA 2K games are taken off digital storefronts around 18 months post-launch. So NBA 2K21 isn‘t available for new purchases since early 2022.
Q: Will MyCareer player progress carry over from 2K21 to 2K23?
A: Unfortunately not – each new NBA 2K MyCareer mode starts you from zero. No transferring across editions.
Q: Can I play NBA 2K21 on mobile or Switch after server shutdown?
A: Nope, those portable versions were already fully dependent on online connectivity only to begin with. So they’re now entirely obsolete.
Let me know if you have any other NBA 2K21 or NBA 2K23 questions! I’m always happy to help fellow ballers.
The Bottom Line – Let NBA 2K21 Sunset With Grace
As we turn the calendar to 2023, just know offline play lives on for NBA 2K21 owners while the online community gracefully sunsets into gaming history.
Cherish the memories 2K21 provided over the years – the high flying dunks, half-court buzzer beaters, ruthless ankle breakers and more.
But also don‘t dwell too much on past virtual hardwood glory when an exciting future filled with new NBA 2K23 Jordan vs LeBron matchups await! I‘ll see you on the courts.
