NBA 2K23 Release Date, Cover Athletes and Editions
- Update (October 2026): NBA 2K23 is no longer the current game in the series.
- NBA 2K23 launched worldwide on September 9, 2022, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
- Visual Concepts developed the game and 2K published it.
Update (October 2026): NBA 2K23 is no longer the current game in the series. 2K retired its online features and services on December 31, 2024, and NBA 2K27 launched on September 4, 2026 with Victor Wembanyama, Caitlin Clark and Derrick Rose on its covers. This page remains a complete record of NBA 2K23’s launch, checked against 2K’s official announcements.
NBA 2K23 launched worldwide on September 9, 2022, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC.
Visual Concepts developed the game and 2K published it. Its covers featured Devin Booker, Michael Jordan, WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird, and rapper J. Cole.
NBA 2K23 timeline
- July 7, 2022: 2K reveals the full cover lineup and opens pre-orders for every edition.
- September 1, 2022: 2K names J. Cole as the cover star of the DREAMER Edition and details the new MyCAREER story.
- September 9, 2022: NBA 2K23 launches worldwide.
- December 31, 2024: Online features and services are retired, according to 2K’s online services status page.
Can you still play NBA 2K23?
Yes, but only offline. Since online services ended, 2K lists these modes as still working offline:
- Play Now
- MyNBA/MyLeague
- 2KU/Learn 2K
- MyWNBA
- The W
Every NBA 2K23 edition and its cover
These are 2K’s suggested US launch prices:
| Edition | Cover | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | Devin Booker | $59.99 (PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC); $69.99 (PS5, Xbox Series X|S) | Base game |
| Digital Deluxe Edition | Devin Booker | $79.99 | Cross-gen access (both console generations) within the PlayStation or Xbox family, plus MyTEAM and MyCAREER bonuses |
| Michael Jordan Edition | Michael Jordan | $99.99 | Adds 100,000 Virtual Currency (the in-game money) |
| Championship Edition | Michael Jordan | $149.99 | Includes a 12-month NBA League Pass subscription; not on Switch |
| WNBA Edition | Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird | Not listed in 2K’s release | GameStop exclusive in the US and Canada |
| DREAMER Edition | J. Cole | Not listed in 2K’s release | GameStop exclusive in the US and Canada, PS5 and Xbox Series X|S only |
Meet the cover stars
Here is who fronted each edition, and what 2K built around them.
Devin Booker
The Phoenix Suns shooting guard fronted the Standard Edition and the Digital Deluxe Edition. When 2K chose him, he was a three-time NBA All-Star and a 2021-22 All-NBA First Team pick.
“It’s a dream come true to see myself on the cover of NBA 2K,” Booker said in 2K’s announcement.
Michael Jordan
Jordan appeared on the two premium editions, and the game leaned on him heavily. NBA 2K23 brought back the Jordan Challenge with 15 of his career performances: 10 rebuilt from NBA 2K11 and five new ones.
Each one is played with period-correct presentation, arenas and announcers, so it looks and sounds like the era it comes from.
Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird
The WNBA Edition paired Phoenix Mercury’s Taurasi, then the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer, with Seattle Storm’s Bird, then the league’s all-time assists leader.
Alongside it, NBA 2K donated $100,000 to Every Kid Sports to cover registration fees for more than 550 girls in youth sports.
J. Cole
The DREAMER Edition marked the series’ crossover with music. The new MyCAREER story, the mode where you play through your own player’s career, featured J. Cole alongside Dreamville musicians Bas and Elite.
2K called it the largest and most involved storyline in franchise history on new-generation consoles.
NBA 2K23 vs. NBA 2K27: what changed
The series has changed a lot since 2022. 2K revealed the NBA 2K27 covers in July 2026 and launched the game on September 4, 2026.
| Detail | NBA 2K23 | NBA 2K27 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch date | September 9, 2022 | September 4, 2026 |
| Platforms at launch | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, PC | PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam, Nintendo Switch 2 |
| Standard Edition cover | Devin Booker | Victor Wembanyama ($69.99) |
| Other covers | Michael Jordan; Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird; J. Cole | Caitlin Clark (Deluxe, $99.99); Derrick Rose (Ultra, $149.99, sold for a limited time through September 6) |
| WNBA cover | GameStop exclusive in the US and Canada | Caitlin Clark on the Deluxe Edition (PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC) |
The WNBA change stands out. NBA 2K23’s Taurasi and Bird cover was a GameStop exclusive in the US and Canada. Clark described her Deluxe Edition as the first time a WNBA player has had “her own global cover.”
Rose also has history with the series. He fronted NBA 2K13, a link he pointed to when 2K announced his NBA 2K27 edition.
Older consoles have dropped off, too. 2K’s NBA 2K27 launch announcement lists PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch 2, with no PS4, Xbox One or original Switch version.
