2K has revealed tons of new details for the upcoming NBA 2K26, including the cover athletes and differences between its multiple editions. An annual franchise that represents the latest and greatest in accurate, ultra-realistic basketball simulation games, the NBA 2K series has a long history of honoring what's popular and current in the professional basketball space. Part of the way that manifests itself is in its yearly choice of cover stars, who represent some of the NBA's most prominent talent and greatest historical players.
Each year's NBA 2K game can be purchased in multiple editions, usually including a wide variety of special bonuses for players who preorder or purchase the more expensive releases. Here's everything to know about this year's 2K, including who's on the cover, what's included in each edition, and what's different about each one.
NBA 2K26: Standard Edition
Price, Cover Star, & Preorder Bonuses
NBA 2K26 Cover
NBA 2K26 is available for preorder starting today. Four editions of the game are available: the Standard Edition, WNBA Edition, Superstar Edition, and Leave No Doubt Edition. First, we'll take a look at what's in the Standard Edition, and how you can get your hands on it.
The Standard Edition of 2K26 is the most modestly-priced version of the game, coming in at $69.99 on Switch 2, PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. It'll also be available on the original Switch for $59.99.
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The Standard Edition of NBA 2K26 features cover athlete Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Kia MVP, NBA Scoring Champ, and Finals MVP for the 2024-25 season, Gilgeous-Alexander's historic performance helped lead his team to victory in the 2025 NBA Finals.
As the least expensive version of NBA 2K26, the Standard Edition comes with the fewest bonuses. If you preorder it, you'll receive 10,000 units of virtual currency alongside the base game - nothing more, nothing less. This can be used to buy items and upgrades across the game's various modes. Purchasing the game after its release date won't net you any bonuses, so you'll have to preorder to claim this one.
NBA 2K26: WNBA Edition
Price, Cover Star, & Exclusivity
NBA 2K26 WNBA Cover
Up next is the WNBA Edition of NBA 2K26. Since 2K20, the series has featured both men's and women's basketball in each individual game; it's also started putting out unique WNBA-themed editions with women on the cover. This year, the cover star for the WNBA Edition is Angel Reese, Chicago Sky forward, WNBA All-Star, and member of the 2024 All-Rookie Team.
Like the Standard Edition, the WNBA Edition of 2K26 will cost $69.99 - however, it's a PS5 and Xbox Series X/S exclusive, so you can't get it on any other platform. It's also exclusively available through GameStop, and can be preordered through their official website today.
You can still play with WNBA stars and teams even if you don't purchase the WNBA edition.
Also like the Standard Edition, the WNBA Edition of 2K26 includes just one pre-order bonus: 10,000 units of virtual currency. The rest is reserved for the pricier editions.
NBA 2K26: Superstar Edition
Extras & Early Access
NBA 2K26 Superstar Edition Cover
The Superstar Edition is our next most expensive, coming in at $99.99. It'll only be available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S - previous-gen consoles and handhelds are out of luck here, unfortunately.
The Superstar Edition of 2K26 features cover athlete Carmelo Anthony, former forward for the New York Knicks (among others). A 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, three-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and part of the NBA 75th Anniversary team, Anthony is often acknowledged as one of the NBA's greatest scorers, and fits right in on the cover of the Superstar Edition.
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As for bonuses, you'll get everything that comes with the Standard Edition, along with an additional 100,000 VC. Superstar Edition preorders also come with a pack of MyCareer content that includes 25 skill boosts, 25 Gatorade boosts, a two-hour 2XP coin, and the Shai Gilgeous-Alexander jersey worn on the cover of the standard edition as a virtual player item. You'll also get a pack of MyTEAM content that includes a full Series 1 Team Selection, a Triple Threat Park Free Agent Pack, five Series 1 Packs, and another two-hour 2XP coin.
Finally, note that preorders of the Superstar Edition allow you to access the game up to one week early - as early as August 29, ahead of the game's September 5 release. While exact early access dates and times typically vary by region, it'll still give you a significant boost going into your first season.
NBA 2K26: Leave No Doubt Edition
Extras & Fan Discount
Finally, we come to the Leave No Doubt Edition of NBA 2K26 - the most expensive, but also the most inclusive. The Leave No Doubt Edition costs $149.99 across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. Its cover features all three cover athletes from the other editions: Gilgeous-Alexander, Reese, and Anthony share the space here.
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In addition to everything that comes with the Superstar Edition (including early access), the Leave No Doubt Edition includes a few additional bonuses: an additional 35,000 VC, the Season1 Pro Pass, the Summer Pass (which includes Season 7–9 Pro Passes for use in summer 2026), a virtual Puffer Jacket for MyCareer mode, and the Leave No Doubt Promo Pack for MyTeam, which includes a Galaxy Opal player card. The Promo Pack will be released in December.
The Leave No Doubt Edition is available at a 10% discount if you're buying it on the same platform where you already own NBA 2K25. However, you can only purchase it through September 7.
And that's every way to play 2K26. While the choice of editions available to you does vary somewhat by platform, the choice between them ultimately comes down to how early you want to play the game, which bonuses you care most about, and how much you want to spend. All editions will grant access to the same version of NBA 2K26 - it's just everything else that's different.
NBA 2K Poster
Video Game(s)
NBA 2K10, NBA 2K11, NBA 2K12, NBA 2K13, NBA 2K14, NBA 2K15, NBA 2K16, NBA 2K17, NBA 2K18, NBA 2K19, NBA 2K20, NBA 2K21, NBA 2K22, NBA 2K23