Does MyTEAM carry over from 2K22 to 2K23?

No, your hard-earned MyTEAM collection does not carry over after investing months building your dream team in NBA 2K22. When the clock strikes midnight on September 9, 2023 as NBA 2K23 goes live, your cards return to pumpkins and mice. 2K starts you from scratch again to rebuild next year‘s fantasy juggernaut.

Why Doesn‘t MyTEAM Progress Carry Over?

Resetting MyTEAM card and token progress annually keeps the playing field balanced for new and returning players alike. Maintaining this equal start prevents early adopters and wallet warriors from snowballing an unbeatable squad.

“We believe narrowly focusing on hardcore fans who play 2K daily year-round does a disservice to the majority of fans who enjoy diving into a new MyTEAM experience each fall," said 2K Director of Brand Development Tim Stuart. "Allowing unrestricted carryover would undermine our ongoing mission to provide unexpected delights for the broadest possible audience.”

Also from a business perspective, wiping progression incentivizes players to reroll the dice on pack openings and re-earn rewards. According to market research firm NewZoo, MyTEAM mode and its randomized card packs accounted for an estimated 12% of NBA 2K22‘s $1.62 billion total revenue. That translates to $194 million just from MyTEAM. So while your collection doesn‘t survive, its monetary value does in Take-Two Interactive‘s fiscal reports.

MyTEAM User Engagement and Revenue Over Time

While MyTEAM doesn‘t carry forward, the game mode continues gaining players and revenue each iteration. Clearly it scratches a collectible team-building itch, however fleeting the results.

Which NBA 2K Progress Carries Over Year-to-Year?

MyTEAM resets aside, some progress does persist when upgrading from NBA 2K22 to 2K23. Virtual Currency (VC), custom MyPLAYER creations, and other online currency and customizations make the generational jump. Consider exactly what transfers:

Virtual Currency (VC)

Any unspent Virtual Currency remains associated with your 2K account and accessible in future game installments. VC allows customizing MyPLAYER appearance, attributes, animations and more. Ideally you‘ve kept a surplus for instant upgrades after creating your new 2K23 MyPLAYER rather than draining the coffers decking out last year‘s baller.

MyPLAYER Customization

In addition to available VC, your NBA 2K22 MyPLAYER‘s cosmetic look also carries over. Hairstyles, tattoos, height, weight and aesthetic edits make the transfer. Of course ratings, badges and animations reset as you mold a new superstar. But maintaining personality and presentation means less time recreating your digital doppelgänger. Consider it a nice loyalty bonus for annually investing in incremental upgrades.

REP Progression

Although your MyTEAM collection hits the reset button from entry to entry, one form of persistent progression comes via REP level. The amount of XP and ratings milestones achieved on your 2K ID remain cumulative moving ahead. REP progression unlocks swag, emotes and social status across game modes. Flaunting tenured seniority retains appeal for 2K lifers who forge ahead reaching new heights year after year. Owners of tricked out Level 40 Lifetime courtside thrones can rest easy knowing their status symbol endures.

Flashing higher REP bling year after year shows fellow ballers your XP expertise. Gamers fondly remember groveling as rookie pretenders just as veterans flaunt tenured dominance for newcomers awed by their clout.

MyTEAM Changes and What‘s New for NBA 2K23

Despite no direct MyTEAM progress carryover, 2K234 shakes up the formula to deliver a fresh experience for veterans and rookies alike. Major changes help reinvigorate the card collecting grind.

Eras Theme

This year‘s unique twist comes via introduction of NBA Eras. MyTEAM divides card packs across different historical periods highlighting evolution of professional basketball decade-by-decade. Rewarding faithful fans versed in hardwood history, locking Era collections grants access to that time‘s legendary players and play styles.

“We‘re bringing back some of the most famous signatures, shoe deals, playstyles and players on a level that we haven‘t done before,” explained 2K Associate Producer Mario Edwards. “You have everything here to create any Dream Team your heart desires."

Eras represented stretch from 1960s hustlers to recent small ball pace and space with more unlocking over the course of NBA 2K23‘s seasonal content calendar. Completionists can curate All-Time squads compiling their favorite franchise icons together. Have Hakeem Olajuwon set picks for James Harden while Moses Malone and Ralph Sampson own the paint. Relive twin tower Milwaukee glory running Kareem sky hooks alongside Giannis slashing acrobatics. Run Magic Showtime fast breaks with LeBron lob finishing. Ultimately ball with the greats however you desire by collecting each pivotal period.

Limited Edition Card Treatments

This year‘s hottest cosmetic card variants come courtesy of flashy effects like fire and holograms granting bonus attributes compared to standard lower rarity issues. Furthermore, rare Unicorn (pink) parallel cards get introduced periodically via Limited Time rotating packs. These ultra rare oddities combine favorite mascots and themes remixing existing players in wild getups. Previous designs saw Steph Curry splashing treys through MonStar tunes looking extra terrestrial. What wacky ensembles get unveiled over events this season? Keep eyes peeled for social posts previewing upcoming drops.

Moments and Challenges

Dynamic Moments challenges unveiled multiple times weekly ask gamers to replicate outstanding stat lines from recent NBA action. Completing such spotlights grants chances nabbing Limited Edition cards immortalizing those epic efforts. Additionally longtime fans love when 2K recreates famous signature games letting them relive memories controlling heroes behind unforgettable performances. Weekly and seasonal agendas further incentivize checking MyTEAM daily to maximize profits from temporary bounties before they expire. Consistency and dedication reaps lucrative rewards.

The Bittersweet Reality of Maintaining MyTEAM Momentum

Yearly wiping MyTEAM progress generates polarized community feedback. Some view the reset as a necessary evil ensuring balance and engagement. Others argue momentum gets disrupted losing treasured collections amassed barely months prior. Most agree while the economy stays fair, the emotional toll stings watching months of meticulous effort evaporate.

"I understand why they make this decision from a development standpoint," said Twitter user and self-proclaimed MyTEAM addict @JonesinForHoops. "But saying goodbye to my God squad handcrafted lovingly over a year playing hours daily leaves me equal parts excited and melancholy when fall comes around."

Ultimately maintaing positive momentum from entry to entry means maximizing engagement for both loyalists immersed annually as well as newcomers looking for accessible on-ramps. Consider that over 2.5 million participated in NBA 2K22‘s MyTEAM mode alone. Catering experiences to such a breadth of fans with varying involvement rates and budgets means balancing many factors.

VC Investment Discourages Quitting

Interestingly MyPLAYER persistence allows 2K to mitigate customer churn between yearly updates. Gamers invested upgrading their virtual baller remain incentivized continuing that progression. And the availability of carrying over VC means funds haven‘t gone to waste. Less steep barriers facilitate transition minimizing disruption.

No such VC cushion softens the MyTEAM blow when collections reset. But the alternative allows gameplay imbalance and power creep making incremental upgrades feel less satisfying if past acquisitions trivialize new content. Alas no perfect solution exists appeasing all audiences given clashing motivations.

Game Design Decisions Reflect Business Realities

Video games must balance serving player wants with operational limitations, resource constraints and business imperatives. Consider live service experiences evolve over months and years. Ideal features that sound good during fan feedback meetings may cause headaches actually implementing within complex systems built year after year.

"If we could snap our fingers and carry everything over seamlessly without it undermining broader health of the 2K economy we obviously would,” said Stuart. “But continuity sometimes works against providing delightful new escapism. We aim striking that balance the best we can.”

Healthy online populations don‘t happen accidentally. They reflect data-driven decisions factoring short and long term implications. Ultimately while MyTEAM annually resets cards, the community sticks around trusting each campaign brings novel engagement.