Why Can‘t I Pre-Download NBA 2K23?
As an avid NBA 2K gamer and content creator, I‘ve been asked by many in the community why NBA 2K23 doesn‘t have a pre-download option across all platforms. It‘s a fair question – pre-loading enables us to play new titles right at launch, rather than waiting for lengthy downloads.
Unfortunately, the ability to download NBA 2K23 ahead of release really depends on your console of choice. I‘ll break down the pre-load status for Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC to help you get the game ASAP.
Xbox Series X/S Pre-Download
The good news is Xbox Series X/S owners can pre-install NBA 2K23 now regardless of whether you pre-ordered or not.
According to Microsoft‘s support site, the pre-load went live on September 7th.
Here are the steps to pre-download on Xbox:
- Turn on your Xbox and sign-in
- Navigate to the NBA 2K23 store page
- Select ‘Pre-install‘
That‘s it! The file size clocks in around 63.51 GB so clearing hard drive space is highly recommended first.
One tip from experience – don‘t start the pre-load until you have enough storage. Otherwise you may run into errors that interrupt or pause the download.
File Size Details
Here‘s a breakdown of the NBA 2K23 Xbox pre-load size:
| Console | File Size |
|---|---|
| Xbox Series X/S | 63.51 GB |
| Xbox One | 44.16 GB |
So Xbox Series X/S owners should ensure at least 70 GB of free space to account for download overhead.
PlayStation 5/PS4 Pre-Download
For PlayStation owners eagerly awaiting NBA 2K23, I have some disappointing news…neither PS5 or PS4 allow players to pre-load the game ahead of launch on September 9th.
As covered by publications like OSGamers, Sony does not make pre-install available for NBA 2K titles.
The reasoning isn‘t totally clear, but could relate to avoiding server strain with so many downloads hitting at once on launch day. For now, PS gamers will need to wait until midnight local time on September 9th to start pulling down the 63.51 GB (PS5) or 44.52 GB (PS4) game files.
Here are a few tips to speed up that initial post-launch download:
- Close any suspended games/apps running in rest mode
- Use a wired internet connection if possible
- Change your PS5‘s power saving setting to "Off" temporarily
Every minute counts when you can‘t pre-install – so hopefully those optimizations help!
Nintendo Switch Pre-Download
Given the weaker hardware capabilities of the Nintendo Switch compared to Xbox/PlayStation, it‘s no surprise that pre-loading is not enabled there either according to the official NBA 2K23 FAQs.
However, the Switch edition does have a key advantage – it takes up the least hard drive space at just 14 GB.
So if you plan to play NBA 2K23 in handheld mode, smaller storage capacity isn‘t an issue and downloads won‘t take nearly as long.
My Take As an NBA 2K Veteran
As someone who has religiously played NBA 2K year after year, lack of pre-load access is always an annoyance as a PlayStation owner. Xbox definitely has the advantage here.
However, I‘m hopeful that eventually one universal launch time worldwide will be adopted. 2K losing sales to New Zealand trick workarounds proves gamers want to access titles simultaneously.
The reality remains file sizes aren‘t getting any smaller for franchises like NBA 2K. So building in pre-download functionality is ultimately best for consumers and publishers to distribute massive downloads without crippling infrastructure.
Maybe NBA 2K24 will finally offer pre-install across the board! One can dream as a lifelong fan.
Let me know in the comments if this NBA 2K23 download breakdown helps you get pre-loaded or at least sets expectations for launch day!
