HHW Gaming
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Source: BlueTwelve Studio / Annapurna Interactive / Stray
Annapurna Interactive, the game company best known for publishing indie titles like Stray and Neon White, no longer has a staff.
According to Bloomberg, Annapurna Interactive’s entire staff quit after failing to convince Megan Ellison to let them spin off Annapurna Studio’s gaming division into a new company.
“All 25 members of the Annapurna Interactive team collectively resigned,” former president Nathan Gary and staffers said to Bloomberg. “This was one of the hardest decisions we have ever had to make, and we did not take this action lightly.”
A spokesperson for Annapurna said existing games and projects will remain under the company.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Gary along with Annapurna Interactives coheads Deborah Mars and Nathan Vellat would be leaving the company.
The website also reports the company planned to “integrate its in-house gaming operations with the rest of Annapurna’s divisions, which include film, TV and theater.”
Hector Sanchez, the former head of Epic Games’ Unreal Engine games business and a cofounder of Annapurna’s gaming division, revealed last month that he would be president of interactive and new media at Annapurna.
Annapurna is no stranger to success. After releasing award-winning films like Her, American Hustle, and Zero Dark Thirty , the company looked to duplicate that success in gaming.
The company announced in 2020 that it would begin developing its own games, launch an in-house animation division in 2022, and work on a film based on Stray.
Last month, Annapurna partnered with Remedy Entertainment to explore ways to bring popular games Control and Alan Wake to television and theaters.
As expected, the reaction to the news of Annapurna Interactive’s entire staff walking has shocked the video game community.
You can see those reactions below.
2. We had a very similar reaction the news
3. It sure does suck
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Source: PlayStation / PS5 Pro
Sony’s worst-kept secret, the PS5 Pro, is officially here, and it’s sparking a social media discussion that the PlayStation 3 missed out on when it was first revealed.
During a very brief technical presentation, PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny proudly helped unveil the mid-gen refresh, which he boasts will give players the high frame rates they have been longing for on a console.
The PS5 Pro features a much larger GPU, improved Ray Tracing, and custom hardware for PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution. The companies take on machine learning.
The technical presentation confirmed the PS5 Pro leaks design-wise. It is a taller version of the latest PS5 Slim model, but it has three stripes on both sides of the console.
Via the PlayStation Blog, Hideaki Nishino, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s Platform Business Group, broke down the console’s performance specs:
Upgraded GPU: With PS5 Pro, we are upgrading to a GPU that has 67% more Compute Units than the current PS5 console and 28% faster memory. Overall, this enables up to 45% faster rendering for gameplay, making the experience much smoother.
Advanced Ray Tracing: We’ve added even more powerful ray tracing that provides more dynamic reflection and refraction of light. This allows the rays to be cast at double, and at times triple, the speeds of the current PS5 console.
AI-Driven Upscaling: We’re also introducing PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, an AI-driven upscaling that uses a machine learning-based technology to provide super sharp image clarity by adding an extraordinary amount of detail.
The PS5 Pro is also a disc-less console and includes a 2TB SSD, a DualSense wireless controller, and a copy of Astro’s Playroom pre-installed. The vertical stand is sold separately.
Source: PlayStation / PS5 Pro
These Games Will Be Enhanced For PS5 Pro
We also what games will be getting the “PS5 Pro Enhanced” designation, and they will be Alan Wake 2, Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Demon’s Souls, Dragon’s Dogma 2, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Gran Turismo 7, Hogwarts Legacy, Horizon Forbidden West, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, The Crew Motorfest, The First Descendant, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and more.
How Much Does It Cost?
As expected, the PS5 Pro won’t be cheap; it’s going to cost you a lot of money if you want to play with improved graphics and frame rates.
How much, you ask? The PS5 Pro will cost $699.99 / £699.99 / €799.99 / ¥119,980.
Well damn.
As you can imagine, the reactions to the price have many looking at PlayStation with a “you bugging” face and asking why they priced the console so high.
“The PS5 Pro has lines across the middle of the console which are a nod to the lines Sony executives were doing when they priced the thing,” one post on X, formerly Twitter, reads.
Another user on X wrote, “YOU GUYS ARE SELLING THE DISC DRIVE SEPARATELY FOR A $700 DOLLAR CONSOLE!?!? WE HAVE TO PAY OVER $800 TO GET THE FULL PS5 PRO EXPERIENCE!?! THERE’S JUST NO WAY THEY THOUGHT THIS WAS OK!!!”
Some folks are defending the console’s price.
“Dudes who spent 1500$ on a graphics card are telling you that a more compelling ps5 with better hardware is not worth 6-700$,” a post on X read.
Another post defending the console’s steep price reads, “Get yourself a PC if you got it like that. I just spent $423 on a CPU alone to fix a microcoding issue. Yet, $700 gaming console is just too bonkers for you – cmon now lol.”
Still ahead of the console’s November 7, 2024 release, the general consensus is PlayStation is bugging. You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
4. Peep this
5. Howling
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Source: PlayStation / Firewalk Studios / Concord
This news shouldn’t surprise anyone, but it’s also still shocking. Concord is going offline… for now.
In a stunning move, Sony announced Firewalk Studios’ hero shooter Concord is no longer available for purchase following a disastrous launch on PS5 and PC on August 23.
Ryan Ellis, game director at Firewalk Studio, announced the decision in a post on the PlayStation Blog. In it, he tells players that “aspects of the game and our initial launch didn’t land the way we’d intended.”
“Concord fans — we’ve been listening closely to your feedback since the launch of Concord on PlayStation 5 and PC and want to thank everyone who has joined the journey aboard the Northstar,” Ellis wrote in the post. “Your support and the passionate community that has grown around the game has meant the world to us.”
“However, while many qualities of the experience resonated with players, we also recognize that other aspects of the game and our initial launch didn’t land the way we’d intended. Therefore, at this time, we have decided to take the game offline beginning September 6, 2024, and explore options, including those that will better reach our players.”
The writing was on the wall for Concord due to its shockingly low player count at launch and poor reception. Per Polygon, less than 700 people were playing the game during launch weekend.
According to SteamDB, the number of concurrent players only went down, and as of Tuesday, only 30 people were playing the game.
Concord Players Are Getting A Rare Refund From PlayStation
The game is no longer available for purchase today, and PS5 and PC will be issued a full refund.
“If you purchased the game for PlayStation 5 from the PlayStation Store or PlayStation Direct, a refund will be issued back to your original payment method,” Ellis said in the post.
Refund instructions:
Steam Store – Steam Store will refund players who bought the game over the coming days. Steam will send confirmation of the refund once it has been processed.
Epic Games Store – Epic Games Store will refund players who bought the game over the coming days and will contact each customer directly to confirm that the refund has been processed.
Other retailer refunds – For customers who have purchased a physical copy at a retailer location outside of PlayStation directly, please refer to the refund process of the retailer you purchased it from to obtain your refund.
Per IGN, Concord sold around 25,000 copies, according to estimates.
PlayStation notes that players can no longer access the game once getting a refund.
As you can imagine, video game X is reacting to the news. Reactions range from shock to not being surprised to compassion for the team at Firewalk Studios.
Damn.
We hope Firewalk Studios can get the game in playing shape and turn this colossal mess into a success story.
Until then, you can see more reactions in the gallery below.
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Source: BeanzGotGamez / Ronnie 2K / NBA 2K25
Do you smell that? No, it’s not the return of the NFL, but it’s almost time to hit the virtual hardwood when NBA 2K25 arrives. After the game’s release, HHW Gaming got to speak with Ronnie 2K.
Since the first virtual basketball bounced in 1999’s NBA 2K on the Sega Dreamcast, the basketball video game franchise from Visual Concepts published by 2K Sports has become a behemoth that’s not by accident.
Now the premiere basketball video game after EA Sports bowed out with its NBA Live franchise, NBA 2K went on to not only be a place to take your favorite NBA franchise to championship glory but has grown to become more than just a video game where you play basketball. It is also a cultural phenomenon that literally funds streaming careers.
The team at Visual Concepts is well aware of the community’s importance to the success of the annual video game, and since then, it has held 2K Community Day events.
Community Day has since grown in scale as the player base of the game’s online component ballooned, becoming one of the most popular modes in the game.
HHW Gaming attended the 12th iteration of 2K Community Day, where press and 100 popular NBA 2K content creators converged on the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame to get hands-on with NBA 2K25.
We spoke with Ronnie 2K, 2K Games’ Digital Marketing Director, and NBA 2K’s social media voice about the importance of 2K Community Day, overall ratings, and more.
HHW Gaming: Okay. Why is Community Day crucial to NBA 2K’s development each year?
Ronnie 2K: Yeah, I mean the people that play our game and have lifted up with the content. I want them to be part of the process; I think that was the genesis of why we introduced Community Day. The development team wanted to hear from the people. I mean, you get it on social media, but to have those real-life interactions and really be able to, you know, separate noise from real, uh, you know, feedback. There’s no better place to do that than right here. So, we are getting these guys to dive deep, and we still have a couple of weeks to tweak if we need to. It seems like everybody’s really happy with what’s going on here. So maybe not too much tweaking, but just having the opportunity to get this group who loves our game, the opportunity to put the news out there, be part of the process, and be part of the content stream. But you know, I think that was the genesis, and it worked really well. We’ve done it for 12 years, and I don’t see an end to it.
Regarding presentation, NBA 2K is second to none. There isn’t a sports video game on the planet that comes close to this franchise. That’s also the case with the online community. How does the team determine what to bring to the MyPlayer mode, keeping it fresh while keeping the community happy?
Ronnie 2K: Again, I think it’s allowing them to be part of the process and be heard. I think we do a great job innovating, like you said, better than any other annualized sports title, but probably annualized title in general. We take that feedback seriously; we are our own competitors. We want to innovate as rapidly as we can and try to make things happen. Do we get everything right? No. But we do our absolute best to, you know, be the company of the fan, and I could say that being a fan of the brand before I started obviously working here 17 years ago, We really want our fans to feel like a community and feel part of the process and feel heard. It’s super important for us.
Overall ratings in NBA 2K have become very important. NBA 2K Ratings have taken on a life of their own to the point they are getting shown on sports networks like ESPN. Why do you think the NBA players care so much about their virtual ratings?
Ronnie 2K: I think It’s a couple of things like one. They played it their whole lives, right? This game is our 26th NBA 2K, and a lot of guys are coming into the league. They’re under 26, so they’ve played it their whole life. So it’s a badge of honor to be in the game like be drafted and make it to the game that you play all these years and aspire to be in. Not even the current generation but the past generation, which we put the legends in there and allow you to kind of live up to them. So I think that’s part of it. And then, they’re competitors, right? And like in competition, you’re gonna want to be the best, and it’s a benchmark that a lot of people take seriously fans and everybody, our community, to have against your peers. So, I know that locker room top is not maybe about the number, but it’s about how you stack up against people that play your position or similar play style or what have you. I think that’s why it’s it’s so controversial every year and fires up these guys in a way that you just wouldn’t expect
Has any player hit you up already this year with about their rating?
Ronnie 2K: I don’t think we’re gonna get a lot of that until we wrap up because I think the comparative thing, We’re up to our top 30. I believe that we still have to reveal, so I think that’s where it’s gonna get a little spicy, especially that top 10. I mean, the top 11, the top 11 guys, I think you can make a case that any of them should be top three. Like and I legitimately I really mean that. It’s it’s a tough, the upper tier of NBA player right now is at a level that We just haven’t seen before. So, it’s gonna be spicy because there’s a lot of argument about it, but that’s great for us, right?
Absolutely. The WNBA has become a staple of the game since NBA 2k20, and it’s more popular than ever this year. With the arrival of Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and their rookie class, and most recently, Team USA Women’s basketball bringing home the gold at the Paris Olympics, do you think that popularity will transfer to the game and bring in more players to the W Mode?
Ronnie 2K: Totally. You see the growth that they’ve had in their media and watch time, and all their numbers are through the roof. We fully expect that to be translated to our game too. We were on it early, right? We’ve had female cover stars for several years, and we’ve integrated them through the W in various steps as an annualized title. We can’t do everything in one year, but being able to grow the game alongside it, I mean our wonderful partnership with the WNBA and NBPA, it’s really led to the development in the early thoughts on being able to play in the forest that you probably saw with 3v3, like kind of that Park style is super cool and like people are really excited about it. Then, you know, we’ll just continue to evolve and find out from their players what’s important to them, and we’ll continue to grow just like we do on the men’s side, it’s we’re looking for, you know, as much parity as we can offer within the capacity of what we’re doing.
Our favorite addition this year to NBA 2K25 is Learn 2K. NBA 2K has not only improved graphically over the years but technically as well. The gameplay has become a little complicated. Yeah. So why do you think, why did you have to feel now? It’s time. They introduced a more comprehensive tutorial.
Ronnie 2K: It’s not only that I was one of my favorite features is the, the risk/reward thing, right? Being able to be rewarded if you’re really good and get greens, pretty naturally, figure out shot release timing for a certain build or whatever. We need to walk that balance, like we want to reward the 100 content creators here and all the competitor players, people have blood, sweat, and tears in 2K. But we also need to be able to, you know, please people that are jumping in for the first time or are, you know, play a little bit more casually with their friends and family. And I think that is the perfect line. Like, we’ll put it in the hands of the player. Like, if you want to be competitive, go do that.
NBA 2K25 introduces Learn 2K, a revamped tutorial mode with beginner-friendly minigames 🏀
Full hands-on report: https://t.co/k5qN2wGjss pic.twitter.com/4XoNAOHoMd
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) August 27, 2024
Learn 2K can be used as a device to get you to whatever level you want, right? Like, if you want to be a dribble god, we have what you need in there. If you want to just be able to be functional, we have what you need in there. We’re allowing the user to take the power into their own hands to be as good as they want to be or be able to just play and feel like they’re involved in the community and can, you know, compete naturally. We have to think about all of our community and it’s huge now, right? I think that’s why we’re introducing it now versus past years. It’s just like we probably have this cross divide of people who played it for 26 years and then people who are coming in there for the first couple of years. It’s something we have to consider.
NBA 2K25 launches on September 6 on consoles and PC.
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Source: NurPhoto / Getty /PS5 Pro
The PS5 Pro is PlayStaion’s worst-kept secret, and now an alleged leak is giving gamers their first look at the powerful console.
It’s been four years since the PS5 hit store shelves. At the time, it was one of the most sought-after devices in the world and ridiculously hard to get due to supply chain issues and annoying resellers.
With those issues now behind us and plenty of stock for everyone, word on the video game streets is that Sony was cooking up a PS5 Pro model, following the same console lifecycle as the PS4. Now, a new alleged leak is providing specs and a look at it.
Per an article on Deallabs, reliable leaker billbil-kun reports the name of the forthcoming console will be the PlayStation 5 Pro and shuts down any rumors of a PlayStation Showcase coming to announce the console formally.
According to the report, the PS5 Pro will arrive sometime at the end of 2024, with billbil-kun getting eyes on the packaging and design for the console.
While not sharing the leaked material due to copyright issues, a sketch of the console was shared. The PS5 Pro will keep the PS5 Slim design but feature three black stripes on the shell to help differentiate it from the core PS5 Slim model.
Other rumored leaked information includes:
Reveal is expected on the 6th of September 2024
Disc and Digital variants – Disc $699.99 – Digital $599.99 –
Detachable disc drive
1 TB Storage
IGN shared details on the PS5 Pro’s CPU performance:
In March, alleged PS5 Pro specs leaked online, specs IGN understood to be legit. The headline improvements are to the CPU, which is said to be identical to the standard PS5’s CPU but with a ‘High CPU Frequency Mode. That reportedly amounts to a 10% increase to 3.85GHz. The GPU, meanwhile, is said to enable faster rendering and higher quality ray tracing powered by 33.5 teraflops. The standard PS5 offers 10.28 teraflops. However, a direct PS5 to PS5 Pro comparison would work out at around 10.28 vs 16 to 17 teraflops.
Of particular interest, the PS5 Pro is said to have an upscaling/antialiasing solution called PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution Upscaling), custom machine learning architecture, and an AI accelerator.
IGN also reports that Sony hopes the PS5 Pro’s arrival will boost interest in the PS5 before the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, adding that a lot is riding on the highly anticipated game, which will arrive sometime in 2025.
Gaming X is reacting to the leaks and that eyebrow-raising price. You can see those reactions in the gallery below.
10. More rumored specs
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Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3 / Shadow
FINALLY, the first trailer for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 has arrived, and it did not disappoint in building hype for the third film in the Sonic movie trilogy.
Fans have been patiently waiting to get their first glimpse of Shadow in action after his tease at the end of Sonic The Hedgehog 2.
To get fans even more hype for the popular anti-hero, Paramount Studios revealed that Keanu Reeves would lend his signature voice to help bring Shadow The Hedgehog to the big screen.
After months of speculation, the first trailer for the film has arrived, and it does not disappoint.
In Sonic The Hedgehog 3, Team Sonic, comprised of the titular character, his trusty sidekick Tails, and new buddy Knuckles (Idris Elba), is an official task force working with the government to tackle threats they can’t handle.
Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3
The trio of color and extremely fast heroes meet their match in Shadow, who shares a story similar to his blue counterpart’s, but instead of finding a family, he only endures pain and loss.
Shadow uses those emotions, plus his impressive abilities, to gain the upper hand on Team Sonic, forcing them to enlist the help of Dr. Robotnik (Jim Carrey), who now looks like Dr. Eggman more than ever, sporting his signature mustache, big stomach, and bald head.
Source: Paramount Pictures / SEGA / Sonic The Hedgehog 3
Since Robotnik can no longer take over the world, he decides to help it, but rest assured, he will be up to some nefarious shenanigans because he meets his long-lost father.
Sonic The Hedgehog Fans Are Excited
As expected, Sonic The Hedgehog fans are losing their rings after watching the first action-packed trailer for the third highly anticipated film in what has been one of the solid video game movie franchises.
We hope we also get a Shadow spinoff series.
You can catch Keanu Reeves as Shadow in Sonic The Hedgehog 3 when it speeds into theaters on December 20.
You can see more reactions in the gallery below.
1. Sounds accurate to us
2. A moment indeed
4. Yes, yes he does
6. Let’s goooooooo
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Source: Prime Video / Blur Studio / Secret Level
Prime Video is teaming up with Blur Studio to bring your favorite video game characters to the small screen in a very unique way.
Announced during Opening Night Live at Gamescom on Tuesday, Deadpool director and Blur Studio founder Tim Miller was very emotional as he introduced Secret Level to the crowd.
Secret Level is from the mind of Miller, an avid gamer and Supervising Director Dave Wilson, and is described as a “revolutionary gaming anthology series.”
Prime Video subscribers can look forward to a new journey filled with “breathtaking animation and imaginative storytelling.”
“Secret Level weaves a tapestry of iconic games across multiple mediums to tell a series of unique and captivating stories,” said Vernon Sanders, head of television at Amazon MGM Studios.
Per Deadline, season 1 of Secret Level will feature and take viewers into the worlds of these popular video game franchises:
Armored Core
Concord
Crossfire
Dungeons & Dragons
Exodus
Honor of Kings
Mega Man
New World: Aeternum
PAC-MAN
PlayStation (Highlighting various PlayStation Studios beloved entities)
Sifu
Spelunky
The Outer Worlds
Unreal Tournament
Season 1 of the series will have 15 episodes and premiere Dec. 10 on Prime Video. Amazon MGM Studios and Blur Studio are the series’ producers.
Tim Miller created and executive produced Secret Level, and Dave Wilson serves as executive producer and supervising director.
You can peep the exciting teaser trailer below.
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Source: Atari / Plaion Games / Atari 7800 Plus
Atari is not done banking on nostalgia. The iconic video game company is again teaming up with Plaion Games to release another backward-compatible console.
If you are sitting on a treasure trove of Atari 2600 game cartridges, blow the dust off them because the new Atari 7800 Plus retro console can put them to good use again.
Atari is partnering with publisher, developer, and distributor Plaion Games to launch the 7800 Plus. This console features an HDMI port to connect with modern televisions and, like the original console, supports Atari 2600 and 7800 game cartridges.
According to a press release, the Atari 7800 Plus is now available for preorder at $129.99 and will be available this “winter 2024.”
Source: Atari / Plaion Games / Atari 7800 Plus
The Atari 7800 Plus’ Specs
Aside from being a smaller version, the Atari 7800 Plus looks exactly like the original console and will allow players to play games in widescreen mode or a 4:3 aspect ratio for retro gamers who want an authentic retro gaming experience.
The console will feature two new wireless controllers, the CX78 Plus Wireless Gamepad, which perfectly recreates the console’s original controller.
The CX78 Plus Wireless Gamepad is available as part of a bundle or sold separately for $34.99. The controller works with last year’s Atari 2600 Plus or can be connected to a PC using a USB-C adapter.
For the Atari purists, a $34.99 CX40 Plus Wireless Joystick will be available for purchase separately.
Source: Atari / Plaion Games / Atari 7800 Plus
The console will come with one game, Crystal Castles’ sequel Bentley Bear’s Crystal Quest. Still, if you want to bolster your collection with 10 additional titles, they will be available separately for $29.99.
The Atari 7800 Plus follows the release of 2023’s Atari 2600+ Mini and the long-delayed Atari VCS.
If you want to get your hands on one, head here to preorder.
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Source: Warner Bros. Games/ NetherRealm Studios / Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns / Cyrax
Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns is the first major update coming to MK1, and some gamers are BIG MAD that two popular characters have been gender-swapped, and of them are Black.
In Mortal Kombat 1, thanks to the efforts of Fire God Lui Kang, the sacred timeline was reset, ushering in a new era of peace and making some changes to the characters we know from previous games.
In the latest trailer delivered by NetherRealm Studios, we see those specifically with the two popular cyber ninjas, Cyrax and Sektor.
The first trailer since the expansion’s announcement at San Diego Comic-Con follows Cyrax, one of the six new playable characters joining the already expansive roster of fighters.
This version of Cyrax is a Black woman. She is a young Lin Kuei warrior from the Zaki clan whose skills are second to none, earning her the honor of donning a cyber suit. She also has the honor of serving directly under Sektor, who has been gender-swapped this time.
Unlike Sektor, Cyrax serves Lin Kuei and her grandmaster, Sub-Zero, on her own terms, which doesn’t sit well with her mentor.
While giving us her backstory, the trailer also shows off Cyrax’s impressive moveset, fatality, and animality and should be received as just another trailer to get us excited for the Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reign’s expansion, right?
Wrong.
Of course, some folks are losing their sh*t at the fact that both Cyrax and Sektor are no longer men. One person in particular hopped on X, formerly Twitter, to complain about Cyrax showing her face and being Black.
This Is Not The First Time Cyrax Was Black
Hilariously, folks, we’re quick to remind him that another version of Cyrax took the mask off, revealing himself as a Black man GASP.
There is even a website calling the decision a “woke disaster” and alleging that the Montreal-based consultation studio Sweet Baby Inc. was behind the decision to change Cyrax and Sektor in Mortal Kombat 1.
These people seriously need to go outside and touch grass.
Social media has been clowning the folks who are mad about Cyrax and Sektor’s changes; you can see those reactions in the gallery below.
2. Exactly
3. Lol, bingo
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Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25 / A’ja Wilson
2K reveals that A’ja Wilson is the highest-rated WNBA player and what players can expect from The W in NBA 2K25.
Unsurprisingly, Las Vegas Aces superstar, gold medal-winning athlete, WNBA champion/MVP, and NBA 2K25 cover athlete A’ja Wilson can now add another accomplishment to her still-growing list.
Thanks to her 99 overall rating in NBA 2K25, Wilson is now the highest-rated WNBA player in NBA 2K history.
Wilson’s rating was one of the many promised announcements, with 2K sharing details about the new features coming to The W game mode. These features will allow players to take their created superstar to WNBA greatness.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
Broken down by Felicia Steenhouse, Senior Producer at Visual Concepts, in the latest developer diary, players can now look forward to starting their journey and competing for the title of 2024 Rookie of The Year against Angel Reese and Caitlin Clarke.
The W in NBA 2K25 will also feature fully-voiced press conferences, a new Mentorship feature, and other improvements to The W Online.
“This WNBA season has been electric, showcasing incredible talent, especially from the dynamic rookies making their mark to the legends. We wanted NBA 2K25 to reflect this action-packed season and show how The W is about chasing the win,” said Steenhouse.” This year, we’ve deepened the immersion and opportunities for players to leave their mark in the WNBA, as we’ve worked with the league to scan more WNBA players, making it as true-to-life as possible. We even re-worked our engine to ensure smaller details, such as eyelashes and an increased library of hairstyles would be properly represented.”
A Full Breakdown of The W’s New Features:
Pursuit of Greatness: Players vie to climb the all-time ranks in the new Pursuit of Greatness story as they build a legacy to eclipse the best players in WNBA history and attempt career-defining moments throughout the journey. As the overarching narrative of their first season, players will be dropped into the captivating 2024 WNBA Rookie of the Year race as they compete against players like Angel Reese, Caitlin Clark, and Kamilla Cardoso. As players bolster their resume with on-court accomplishments like championships and awards, their progress will be visualized on detailed graphs that illustrate where they are in their career and how they stack up against the next player on the GOAT list that they’re chasing.
Press Conferences: For the first time, press conferences are coming to The W, allowing players to shape the narrative of their career and the league as a whole. Press conferences will happen after key moments and games like breaking a record, winning an award like Rookie of the Year or crossing a career milestone. When competing against someone on the GOAT list, like NBA 2K25 cover athlete A’ja Wilson, the questions asked could vary depending on a player’s performance, be it good or bad.
The W Online. The W Online has moved to a stunning new outdoor court in a forest grove, and players can join 3v3 multiplayer games amidst a gorgeous backdrop of redwood trees. Additionally, Weekly Community Goals are back in NBA 2K25 and require a collective effort from all players to accomplish them. These goals now track new stats, like the number of excellent green shot releases and teammate grades.
Game Changers Mentorship: The W Online in NBA 2K25 builds on the Game Changer status—earned by contributing to the weekly Community Goals—with a new feature called
More Ratings
Along with Wilson becoming the highest-rated player in the WNBA, we also learned who will be right behind her on that list. Right behind her is the Liberty’s Breanna Stewart at 97, Minnesota Lynx’s Napheesa Collier at 95, Connecticut Sun’s Alyssa Thomas also a 95, and the Phoenix Mercury’s Brittney Griner at 94.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
The ratings for this year’s crop of WNBA rookies were also revealed. Angel Reese and Caitlin Clark are tied for the top spot, earning a 90 overall rating.
Angel Reese’s Chicago Sky teammate Kamilla Cardoso, the Los Angeles Sparks’ Rickea Jackson, and Cameron Brink round out the list with an 80 rating, which could change as the WNBA season kicks off its second half.
Source: Visual Concepts / 2K / NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 season is quickly approaching, and the latest game in the long-running basketball video game franchise will be on September 6.
2K also shared more screenshots of other WNBA superstars in the game.
You can check those out in the gallery below.
1. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
2. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
3. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
NBA 2K25 2k,nba 2k25
4. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
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5. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
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6. NBA 2K25
Source:NBA 2K25
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