The NBA 2K26 early access will begin on August 29, a week ahead of the global launch on September 5, 2025
Nintendo Switch™ 2 will be available in next-generation versions
2K officially revealed that the three-time All-Star All-Star point guard, Shai Gilgeous Alexander, the 2024-25 season's Most Valuable Player and the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, will become the cover athlete for this year's NBA® 2K26 standard edition.Angel Reese, a member of the Chicago Sky forward, WNBA All-Star and NCAA Championship team, will add luster to the NBA®2K26 WNBA edition.Carmelo Anthony, a 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, 10-time NBA All-Star, 3-time Olympic gold medalist, and NBA top 75 member, will appear in the NBA®2K26 Superstar Edition.Gilgeous Alexander, Reese and Anthony will share the cover of NBA®2K26's peak no-repent version.
The NBA 2K26 will be available on September 5 on PlayStation®5 (PS5®), PlayStation®4 (PS4®), Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Steam PC, Switch™ and Switch 2.Early trial will begin on Friday, August 29, 2025 and is suitable for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC players who have obtained the Superstar Edition or the Peak Unregret Edition.
“We believe that SGA’s elite football maker and calm performance, combined with his slack street style and Angel’s dominance on the court, and Carmelo’s reputation as the most iconic trendsetter and powerful scorer in NBA history will make them unquestionable superstars both on the court and anywhere else,” said Zak Armitage, senior vice president and general manager of NBA 2K. “NBA 2K26 is about proving itself on the court and allowing greatness to last. These three are one of the boldest, most confident, and most fashionable people in the NBA and WNBA.”
“Every kid who grows up playing basketball dreams of seeing their own pictures on the cover of NBA 2K – it’s a dream come true, especially after becoming an NBA champion,” SGA said. “It’s an iconic moment to be on the cover, but working with 2K and Visual Concepts and participating in the settings of the player experience is really special.”
“It wasn’t just a milestone, it was a statement. It was about showing young girls the opportunity to show themselves confidently and boldly,” Angel Reese said. “It was a special honor to gain a foothold in NBA 2K history, which not only reflects my journey, but also all the WNBA players who paved the way before me, and the growing influence of the league as a whole. I’m proud to be part of this opportunity to continue to improve women’s basketball and can’t wait to show fans how NBA 2K26 can turn our game into reality in ways that have never been possible.”
“For over 20 years, 2K fans have been part of my NBA journey,” Anthony said.“It was a fantastic experience to be on the cover of NBA 2K26 and be inducted into the Hall of Fame in the same year. It was a carnival for everyone who embraced me, every team that believed in me, and everyone who joined me on this journey.”
In NBA 2K26, each mode has a good experience.With the new ProPLAY feature, next-generation players will experience unprecedented immersive technology and experience fast-paced dynamic motion capture.Fans can build a cross-age MyPLAYER, work hard to reach the pinnacle of NBA stars on the reimagined MyCAREER journey, and work with friends to fight opponent teams in a fresh, more optimized city.MyTEAM in NBA 2K26 will experience past and present legends in new single and multiplayer modes, while players can serve as general manager in MyNBA and win the championship with 30 unique storylines.More details of the NBA 2K26 will be announced in the coming weeks.
