Will NBA 2K21 be a free upgrade on the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5? The next-gen systems from Microsoft and Sony will drop later this year, and one of the games available at launch will be a next-gen version of NBA 2K21. With that being the case, players want to know if they can just buy one version of the game and carry it over or if they will have to pay for the game twice.
While you’ll technically be able to get it for free on the new consoles, it’s going to cost you more upfront.
NBA 2K21 Next-Gen Strategy
When NBA 2K21 releases on September 4, players will be able to buy one of two versions: Standard Edition and Mamba Forever Edition.
If you decide you want the game at launch and buy the game on the PS4 or Xbox One, you’ll have to shell out $99.99. Picking up the Mamba Forever Edition will give you an automatic upgrade to the next-gen systems. Buying the standard edition will force you to double-dip when the new consoles release.
If you do pick up the Mamba Forever Edition in order to get the cross-generation purchase benefit, you’ll have to get the same company’s console that you originally owned the game on. That means if you buy it originally for the PS4, you’ll need to get a PS5 to take advantage of the NBA 2K21 upgrade.
If you decide to wait until the next-gen version of the game is available to pick up NBA 2K21 you’ll still have to pay more than you’re used to. 2K Sports revealed that the standard edition will cost $69.99, making it $10 more than current-gen titles. With that revelation, 2K becomes the first company to announce a base cost increase of games for the Xbox Series X and PS5.