NBA 2K24 has found itself in the unenviable position of being one of the worst-reviewed games on Steam due to a botched PC port. Since its launch on September 8, the game has accumulated over 3,700 user reviews on Steam, with a dismal 11% of them being positive. This has led to its placement as one of the lowest-rated games on the platform, only surpassed by Overwatch 2, which still holds the top spot with over 180,000 user reviews, 90% of which are negative. Steam 250’s Hall of Shame, which compiles data from the Steam launcher, ranks these games in the bottom 100.
The dissatisfaction among players who purchased NBA 2K24 on Steam is primarily rooted in the game’s PC port. Instead of offering a PC-specific version, the PC port is based on the PS4 and Xbox One release. Consequently, the PC version is visually inferior and lacks essential modes that are available in the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of the game, such as The W and MyNBA.
Reviews reflect the frustration of players who feel shortchanged. One user review succinctly states, “No next-gen, no MyCareer story, no MyTeam auction house.” Another review laments the recurrent theme of subpar PC releases in the NBA 2K series, saying, “It’s pretty obvious that 2K doesn’t care about PC players. Despite both generations of the game being coded and made on a PC every year, we are still given last-gen for the 4th time in a row.”
Additional complaints revolve around the lack of polish in the game, with players reporting frequent crashes on Steam. Furthermore, the fact that NBA 2K24 is based on the last-gen version means that it lacks an up-to-date anti-cheat system, leaving the PC version vulnerable to hackers and cheaters.
In light of the backlash from the gaming community, it is crucial for 2K to respond promptly and effectively to address these issues. Players are hoping for improvements and updates that will bring the PC version more in line with its current-gen counterparts. This experience highlights the importance of delivering quality PC ports and maintaining a level of consistency across platforms to avoid disappointing players and garnering negative reviews.
In the fast-paced and highly competitive world of gaming, maintaining the trust and satisfaction of the player base is paramount. Releasing subpar PC ports not only damages a game’s reputation but also alienates a segment of the gaming community. Consequently, developers and publishers must prioritize quality assurance and parity across platforms to ensure that all players can enjoy their games to the fullest extent possible.
