Why is Charles Barkley Not in NBA 2K?

"They make a lot of money off that game." That was retired Hall of Famer Charles Barkley‘s blunt response when asked why he has not appeared in the NBA 2K series for several years now. According to Sir Charles himself, he will not sign any licensing deal or contract to be included in 2K‘s critically acclaimed video game simulation unless he receives direct compensation.

As one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history and a larger-than-life personality on TNT‘s Inside the NBA studio show, the exclusion of a legend like Barkley is glaring for basketball fans. Especially as 2K has sought to include teams, players, and broadcast talent spanning the league‘s entire 75 year history in recent iterations.

So why has one of the game‘s immortal figures steadfastly refused to reach an agreement with 2K for the right to feature his look, name and highlight reels? As Chuck has reiterated on several occasions publicly, it all comes down to wanting a piece of the pie…

Barkley Wants His "Cut" as 2K Revenue Skyrockets

According to market research firm Newzoo, NBA 2K games have generated over $7 billion in lifetime revenue as of 2022. They estimate roughly $1 billion was earned just in 2021 off the NBA 2K franchise. As Barkley indignantly asks, why shouldn‘t retired athletes get a "cut" of these staggering sums when their names and legacies help sell copies year after year?

Other NBA legends have echoed Sir Charles‘ sentiments in recent years. Players like Reggie Miller have actively spoken out in solidarity about refusing to sign any 2K deal without getting paid. As Miller told TMZ at one point:

"We want to be compensated accordingly, because they‘re making boatloads of cash of these players. We know the contracts are around $1.1 billion… So how about hooking some of the older guys up if you want to use their likeness?"

The profits accumulated from annual 2K releases only continue ballooning over time. And runtime royalties or residuals simply aren‘t a norm when it comes to licensing agreements in the sports gaming space currently. Retired athletes clearly feel slighted knowing how much money gets made off their "work" posthumously as video game companies exploit both nostalgia and the competitive scene each year at the same time.

Estimated Licensing Costs to Feature Legends

We can safely presume that 2K could afford hefty fees to license NBA legends. Critics may wonder if Barkley‘s demands are unreasonable given how many parties (teams, current players, coaches etc.) also require payment in any sports title.

After crunching the numbers, here‘s a back-of-the-envelope breakdown of what it reasonably might cost:

• ~75 iconic retired players demanded licensing fees (at Barkley‘s behest)
• If each were paid ~$50,000 for a 5-year licensing deal, that would amount to $18.75 million
• Across a 5-year span, that would equate to $3.75 million per year
• For context, NBA 2K23 has already grossed over $83 million in Q3‘FY23 revenue alone

At roughly 4% of 2K‘s quarterly earnings, an added $3.75 million yearly expense seems fairly reasonable to honor some of the all-time greats who headline each new iteration and help drive strong engagement year-round. While not much publicly, behind the scenes 2K likely could‘ve secured rights to names like Barkley and Miller at that level of spend.

Who Else is Missing? The Ongoing Exclusion of Legends

Alongside Charles Barkley, here is a visual overview of some other prominent NBA legends missing in recent editions:

The same pattern persists of players retiring, not reaching any contract extension or renewal with 2K, and eventually getting removed from the game altogether.

Recent omissions include the legendary power forward Chris Webber after years of appearing consistently. As autotrader.ca reported recently:

"Webber last appeared in NBA 2K21 as a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary team. However, the former five-time All-Star was not included in 2K22 or 2K23 – indicating that his agreement with the NBA and NBPA has likely expired."

Once again, could 2K have extended or negotiated a new contract for C-Webb‘s rights? Perhaps – but without offering something financially enticing, it seems many retired athletes just let these deals lapse. And as a end result, gamers lose more access to their childhood hardwood heroes each year.

Contrasting Current Stars vs. Missing Legends in NBA 2K

To see the immense gap between active talent versus retired greats absent from 2K, here‘s a snapshot of the top overall rated players in the latest edition (2K23) by category:

<td Rudy Gobert, 97

Imagine if NBA 2K23 contained the likes of Barkley, Malone, Stockton or Miller in their primes. It‘d give the full gamut of NBA lore for hoops heads to dive into. Alas, perhaps someday if profits keep ballooning then publishers like 2K will allocate more resources to feature deceased, inactive or retired athletes via licensing agreements.

Final Takeaways on Why Charles Barkley is Not in NBA 2K Titles

In summary, as both Barkley‘s public remarks and straightforward reasoning alludes to: this comes down to one thing – show me the money!Sir Charles likely would have reached an agreement years ago if appropriate financial compensation was on the table from 2K Games for his likeness rights.

Other emeritus athletes have echoed similar stances. And with NBA 2K profits only climbing exponentially in recent years, there is a growing expectation that video game publishers should "give back" to help struggling retired players. Or at least cut them in on a slice of the sales they help to generate.

Alas, the legal guidelines used in the past around publicity waivers and personality rights means video game developers are not obligated to pay. And unless broader industry practices change, hardliners like Charles Barkley will probably never reach a compromise. Much to the detriment of avid virtual basketball fans across the globe.

But at least nowbasketball enthusiasts or video game audiences understand exactly why noticeable names like Sir Charles continue missing from ever single new NBA 2K entry. Because Chuck said it best himself:

They make a lot of money off that game

Until he and other legends start seeing cash compensation checks coming in from annual 2K profits too, it remains totally unrealistic to expect them smiling on the virtual hardwood or in digital trading cards for the foreseeable future unfortunately.