NBA 2K26 Gameplay Blog, Trailer

As promised, this week has delivered our first look at gameplay in NBA 2K26. An in-depth developer blog spotlights the biggest improvements this year, while the first official trailer has given us a glimpse of the game in action.

NBA 2K26 will feature a new motion engine that’s powered by ProPLAY. Interestingly, the blog boasts that skating has basically been removed thanks to the new tech in this year’s game. Controls have been expanded to include some new elusive moves on offense, and defensive AI has been shored up. Notably, shooting is now Green-or-Miss across all game modes, except on lower difficulty levels offline. The windows for Green Releases will also scale according to difficulty, and will be more forgiving in team-control modes (and conversely, less forgiving in competitive play).

As you’d expect, the NBA 2K26 gameplay trailer showcases the game from cinematic angles. This does make it difficult to gauge the level of improvement as obviously the chosen clips show the game in the best possible light, but as usual, it’s a well-produced trailer. Some of the jerseys that are set to debut this year are on display, along with some familiar faces in new places. The choice of “Song 2” by Blur is certainly an interesting choice of music as well.

I’ve summarised the key points of the gameplay blog below, though as always I’d recommend giving it a read for the full scoop. Dee and I will naturally have plenty to say on the NLSC Podcast, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out that summary below, along with the gameplay trailer. Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments, as well as join in the discussion in our NBA 2K26 Forum!

NBA 2K26 Gameplay Blog Summary

• A new motion engine powered by ProPLAY will debut in NBA 2K26. The blog describes it as the biggest change to player movement since NBA 2K21, with further advances to one-on-one gameplay.
• Skating has allegedly been removed thanks to the new tech, which includes “dynamic lower-body pose matching” that adjusts the positioning of players’ legs and feet.
• Rhythm Shooting is back, and is still performed via a Down-Up flick of the right stick. Shot Timing and Tempo now allows for quick and slow releases, while still properly timing them to knock down the shot.
• Green-or-Miss is now the standard approach to shooting across all games modes. However, Green Release windows will scale according to difficulty. Notably, they’re more forgiving in team-control modes like MyTEAM, and less forgiving in competitive modes like Pro-Am and Proving Ground.
• Layup timing is also permanently enabled, as part of an effort to emphasise skill-based gameplay in NBA 2K26.
• In addition to Signature Go-To Shots, NBA 2K26 will have Signature Go-To Post Shots, giving players authentic moves in the paint as well as on the perimeter. They’re performed by hold Up on the right stick in the post.
• Custom layup packages will allow mixing and matching from a selection of styles: Normal and Reverse Layups, Floaters, Quick Scoops, Euro Steps, Hop Steps, and Spins. In this way, custom signature layup packages can be created for MyPLAYERs and also for original players when editing the rosters.
• New system-driven technology generates player-to-player collisions that won’t feel as scripted as the motion-captured animations in previous games, for more freedom of movement for both the dribbler and on-ball defender.
• Interior defense has been revamped for more physicality in the paint, including stronger midair body bumps when contesting at the rim.
• A Green meter will flash at a player’s feet to indicate correct timing when jumping for a rebound. Similar to shooting, Green/perfect timing increases the chances of snaring the board.
• Gameplay has been sped up in NBA 2K26, in order to reward players for faster decision-making and reactions.
• Tapping the Left Trigger will perform a Quick Protect in order to elude steal attempts. It can also be used while driving to protect the ball and put defenders in a compromising position.
• Holding the Left Trigger when receiving a pass while standing still will allow you to square up, catch the ball high, and immediately go into your shooting motion for a quicker attempt to beat close-out defenders.
• Rocking the right stick back-and-forth and left-and-right, or repeatedly flicking it up, will perform two different Signature Size-Up combinations.
• The Left Trigger can also be held after beginning a Euro Step to decelerate for a slow-motion drag-step finish, throwing off defenders.
• Wrap passes are performed by double-tapping Circle/B, with more control to ensure they aren’t being thrown straight into the back of a defender.
• Alley-oops now have a randomised finish button on higher difficulty levels, instead of always being Square/X.
• Screeners now have more control over which way they face. Tapping the left stick slightly left or right from the direction you are currently screening turns your player 45 degrees, while tapping in the opposite direction turns your player 180 degrees.
• The AI is now more intelligent when it comes to looking for drive-and-kick opportunities, and locating pass recipients in pick and fade situations.
• Help defense dynamically adjusts to off-ball pressure settings, and where the basketball currently is in relation to the basket, allowing AI defenders to be more helpful on drives and in the paint while also recovering to get back out on shooters.
• In MyCAREER, AI teammates have improved awareness of your position on the floor, allowing for better spacing and intelligence in finding you while playing off-ball. A set of off-ball Quick Plays can also be called to alert them to your intended actions, such as posting up or coming over to set a screen for them.
• Double team logic has been enhanced to better track moving targets, identify who to double team and when, and close out more intelligently.
• AI defenders are also smarter about navigating screens.
• Playbooks now hold up to 80 plays for greater authenticity.
• Ten new variables have been added to improve the differentiation between the difficulty levels. These includes awareness of help defense rotations, speed at which help defense commits, and recognition and reactions when playing the passing lanes.
• A new Shot Timing Ability slider allows us to customise the CPU’s ability to time jumpshots and layups, without impacting their intelligence or performance in other aspects of shooting.
• An Intermediate Tutorial tutorial has been added to bridge the gap between the fundamental and advanced tutorials, providing better onboarding for the gameplay in NBA 2K26.
• The blog concludes by emphasising that gameplay in NBA 2K26 is intended to “feel smoother, faster, and more seamless than ever before”.

NBA 2K26 Gameplay Trailer

The post NBA 2K26 Gameplay Blog, Trailer appeared first on NLSC.