Coinciding with the launch week of NBA 2K26, publisher 2K confirmed on Friday that it has a college basketball game in the works, and it might not be too far off. In a statement posted on X, the company said it’s working on a college basketball game with “more than 100 programs from across the country” and it has “big plans” for 2027.
“Yes, it’s true. We’re working on a college basketball experience that will feature more than 100 programs from across the country, from powerhouses to Cinderella stories,” 2K’s statement reads.
The news comes only a day after EA Sports seemingly aborted its attempt at making its own college basketball game. EA cited schools signing with 2K instead as a reason why it backed off its plans.
Like how EA Sports College Football pays the players it features and provides them with a copy of the game, 2K is seemingly also compensating players (and schools) in some form. “Competition fuels quality at all levels, which is why our approach with college basketball ensures our partner schools, college athletes, and our players all benefit,” 2K said in its announcement.
Of course, compensation is only possible now that NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) deals for players are allowed by the NCAA, which previously maintained a stance that college athletes were amateurs and could not be financially compensated for playing.
“You won’t have to wait long to start seeing your favorite colleges show up in game. We’ve got big plans for 2027 and beyond,” the statement reads, hinting a game may be due out in two years time. 2K also teases “a few surprises coming in early 2026,” making us wonder if college basketball might be showing up in a 2K game before a full college basketball release, perhaps as some sort of update to NBA 2K26. The company’s latest basketball sim currently eschews college basketball in its flagship MyCAREER mode by sending your created player from high school to play in Europe before getting drafted into the NBA.
NBA 2K26 is now available for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
