A new NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 Christmas update brings with it a host of new characters, vanity items, and court. The Christmas update is available now on the PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
The holiday spirit has arrived in NBA 2K Playgrounds 2, with the new “Ice-Cold Christmas Playground.” The playground also brings a bundle of festive clothing options, ranging from elf costumes to a Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer head. This update also brings 35 new players to the game, including a number of classic 1990s NBA stars. Karl Malone and Dennis Rodman were highlighted in the reveal trailer (below).
2K Games’ NBA Jam and NBA Street -inspired arcade basketball game released in October after a five-month delay. The game was delayed in May after 2K picked up publishing rights. A similar Halloween patch was released in the run-up to that holiday. Unlike the Halloween patch, the Christmas update doesn’t tweak or change anything related to gameplay or introduce bug fixes, at least according to patch notes posted on Steam.
NBA 2K Playgrounds 2 distances itself from its big brother NBA 2K19 through its arcade styling and two-on-two nature. Unlike 2K19, Playgrounds 2 is focused on quick and over the top matches. Players have powerups, and can nail massive dunks over opponents. It attempts to recapture the fun of 1993’s NBA Jam, but for most critics, it never quite gets there.
Playgrounds 2 currently sits at a 73 on Metacritic, with mixed reviews. It’s a step up from the first NBA Playgrounds, which averaged a 68. 2K picked up publishing on the game after seeing the potential in the first Playgrounds game. 2K Sports helped develop and polish the game, and also brought stars like Kobe Bryant to the playground.
Developer Saber Interactive was formed in 2001. The team developed TimeShift, assisted on Halo: Combat Evolved Anniversary, and the Master Chief Collection. Saber develops Quake Champions alongside Bethesda’s id Software.
