2K has unveiled the cover athletes for NBA 2K27 and announced that the first gameplay trailer for the next installment in its basketball simulation franchise will premiere on Tuesday, July 28, ahead of the game’s worldwide release on Sept. 4.
Developed by Visual Concepts and published by 2K, NBA 2K27 will launch for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch 2. Players who purchase the Deluxe or Ultra editions will receive Early Access beginning Aug. 28 at 9 a.m. PDT, up to one week before the global release.
Victor Wembanyama, center for the San Antonio Spurs and the NBA’s first unanimous Defensive Player of the Year, headlines the Standard Edition. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark appears on the Deluxe Edition, becoming the first WNBA player to receive her own standalone global cover in the franchise. Chicago Bulls legend Derrick Rose is featured on the limited-time Ultra Edition.
The official gameplay trailer, scheduled for July 28, will provide fans with their first look at gameplay ahead of launch.
“Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark, and Derrick Rose each come from different worlds, but they share the same obsession that has altered the trajectory of the game,” said Zak Armitage, senior vice president and general manager of NBA 2K.
“Wembanyama has broken the mold for what a big man can be and keeps breaking it. Clark is pulling up from the logo, not just redefining what range looks like, but the women’s game entirely. And Rose changed what it meant to be a point guard—explosive, physical, unstoppable—and when faced with setbacks, his hunger for the game is what brought him back. None of them have an off switch, and that same relentless drive is what defines NBA 2K27.”
Wembanyama called appearing on the cover “a dream come true.”
“When you’re truly obsessed with basketball, the game doesn’t stop when you leave the arena,” he said. “NBA 2K is the court that never locks up, it’s always open whether you’re in Paris or San Antonio. It’s how you study the game, sharpen your IQ, and live basketball 24/7.”
Clark said the cover recognizes the growth of women’s basketball on a global stage.
“Being on the cover of NBA 2K27 is special because this game reaches fans all over the world,” she said. “To be the first WNBA player on her own global cover means women’s basketball gets to show up on that stage too, and I am proud to be part of that.”
Rose reflected on returning to the franchise’s cover after previously sharing the cover of NBA 2K13.
“It’s crazy looking back at being on the NBA 2K13 cover to now having my own edition for NBA 2K27,” Rose said. “During my journey there have been coaches who believed in me, teammates who made me better, and fans who showed up louder than I ever expected. So, this is a chance to inspire young athletes to stay obsessed with the game.”
Preorders are now available through the official NBA 2K website for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, while Nintendo Switch 2 owners can add the game to their wish list.
The Standard Edition is priced at $69.99 and includes the base game featuring Wembanyama on the cover. The $99.99 Deluxe Edition, headlined by Clark, adds 100,000 VC, MyCAREER and MyTEAM bonus content, and early access.
The $149.99 Ultra Edition, available through Sept. 6, includes all Deluxe Edition content, an additional 35,000 VC, a Season 1 Pro Pass, the Summer Season Pass Pro Pass Bundle, exclusive MyCAREER items, premium MyTEAM player cards, and Early Access. Players who own NBA 2K26 and preorder the Ultra Edition on the same platform will receive a 10% discount. The Deluxe and Ultra editions will not be available in Brazil.
NBA 2K27 is rated E for Everyone by the Entertainment Software Rating Board. Watch the trailer for NBA 2K27 below.
