NBA 2K has something big to say about Season 3 and the new soundtrack, too. First of all, the uproar from the fans regarding the music alterations was massive. The NBA 2K’s official Twitter account announced that the new season is going to be about bringing back “2K classics,” and that the artists whose tracks generated the highest excitement would be given a platform to share their thoughts. And I have to admit, the feedback has been nothing short of remarkable.
So, what is actually happening? Well, it means that 2K is willing to bring back some of the best-loved tunes from the earlier versions of the game. This is really a major step because, to be honest, the soundtrack of the game can make the difference between a good and a bad gaming experience. Music is everything when you are playing MyCareer or just relaxing on the screen. And if we go by the responses, it looks like 2K might be leaning more towards players’ preferences for a change.
The gaming community has had mixed reactions but overall it has been nice. One user has even directly requested “ALL OF THE LIGHTS” by Kanye West, a good example of a fitting song that creates the right vibe. The song would definitely be a great addition to the game. Another gamer was shouting for “365” from DJ Khaled to return to the NBA 2K soundtracks and many others were quick to echo the same thing. The idea seems to be that players want to be scoring thirty points in a match while being in the Khaled’s vibes.
In contrast, with all of the requests for songs it’s not about that alone, it is also about nostalgia. According to one player “cold next by boyinspace” from 2K21 was a classic and the user is right. The user is indeed right. 2K soundtracks during those days were awesome. The memory of a certain song coming on and the instant transport to the time of playing a particular 2K game is the magic that the company wants to relive with the new generations.
Unfortunately, there are some who are not happy at all. A player remarked that no one listens to the in-game music anymore as people just go for their Spotify instead. The user has made a good point. However, immediately after that, another person commented, “We all listening to da retro soundtrack,” so I think it really depends on the player. Some of us prefer the experience of the selected music, while for others, it is sufficient to play their playlists.
There have been some rather strange requests floating around in the comments too. For example, one user asked for Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” which is an odd but still valid choice. Another suggested “Blinding Lights” and “Get Lucky”, and their suggestion is actually very good for the game. But the strangest thing must be the poster who named like twelve different songs including “Charmander” by Aminé and “Conmackulations” by E-40. They certainly put in a lot of effort and went all out with what songs they wanted.
What really matters though is that this time around, unlike other 2K issues, people’s reactions have been really positive. One can hardly go through a tweet from the official 2K account without coming across complaints about player experience and transactions. The opposite happened this time, however; people were happy. One player even said “MUCH better 2k,” and given the source, this is praise of the highest order in the community.
In addition, the timing of it all is quite interesting as well. The third season has already started, and the inclusion of the classic songs can be seen as a clever strategy to prevent players from getting tired of the game. Especially considering that, the game can get pretty monotonous after some time. Old music (that feels new) can sustain the freshness feeling without the need for making drastic changes to the gameplay.
There are players already, however, who have started to think about the future. One comment highlighted the need for “Champions” to be added in the fourth season thus portraying that people are already asking what’s next. Another has mentioned wanting “Bandz” by Herbo and proving that this community is very selective when it comes to the soundtrack of their basketball gaming.
The most thrilling part, though, is that the fans of the artists are showing their passion for the subject. We are even talking about background music for video games but the responses do tell that these tracks are very much a part of the players. They contribute to the whole experience that people keep connecting with the games. A player hearing a song that was in 2K16 or whatever feels like he is back to that moment in his life.
Honestly, isn’t what 2K is doing right now finally giving back to fans instead of just push the new licensed tracks on them every year? That’s a win. The complaints regarding the recent player experience have been addressed in a positive way. This approach shows that PlayStation and other gaming platforms could learn from this community-driven strategy. Even the buzz around limited-edition merchandise like the Xbox Crocs shows how passionate gamers are about their favorite brands and experiences.
