A little over two years after its release, online functionality will end for NBA 2K18. On January 18, 2K will take the servers for NBA 2K18 offline, officially ending support for the game.
While two years may not seem like a long time for a game to be online, owners of NBA 2K18 are getting 18 extra days than those who played NBA 2K17 received. Support for 2K17 ended on January 1, 2019. If trends continue, those who purchase an NBA 2K game should only expect a bit over two years or support. The company has already announced that NBA 2K19 will follow the same pattern, and its online features will be disabled at the end of 2020.
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#NBA2K18 server to be discontinued 1/18/20. Players will no longer be able to play ranked games/online association. For more info-https://t.co/yClWtTeFaf
— 2K Support (@2KSupport) December 20, 2019
Certain offline functionality will remain accessible in NBA 2K18, but many features will be disabled according to the support page:
“NBA 2K18’s servers will be spinning down January 18, 2020.
Accordingly, any mode in NBA 2K18 that earns or uses VC will be affected, along with any other online function (such as the MyTEAM mode and online matches against other players). However, you can still play offline quick games, as well as the MyGM and MyCAREER modes offline. This will let you earn SP rather than VC.
If you created a MyCAREER or MyGM online save file before this, the server shutdown means the data will no longer be available for use and you’ll have to start a new game in those modes.”
Given that this series is a glaring example of planned obsolescence, it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that NBA 2K18 had a short support period. However, it still gives reason for pause when an immensely popular, full-price game arbitrarily removes features for no other reason than to force you to move to a newer title in the series.
