2K has dropped the Courtside Report for NBA 2K26's presentation enhancements and improvements. The game will launch on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 and PC and will bring heightened player fidelity and increased arena atmosphere to the look of the game. Improved lighting, floor shading, crowd interactions, dynamic banner and more will bring arenas to life more than before. Visual Concepts wants to bring authenticity to the forefront of the game with a focus of returning to the best-in-class looking sports game on the market. Comparison shots and videos can be seen on the PlayStation blog here for the visual updates.
“We want to blur the line between reality and gameplay as much as possible, and NBA 2K26 portrays that lifelike presentation like never before,” said Erick Boenisch, VP of NBA Development at Visual Concepts. “Each detail, big and small, captures the essence of what it feels like to be in your favorite team’s arena – the championship banners hanging from the rafters, iconic broadcast voices, and fans cheering and heckling in the stands are fully brought to life.”
Putting the Focus Back on Television Quality
The NBA 2K series used to be the one sports franchise that pushed the bar of a television presentation properly. The competition has caught up. 2K and Visual Concepts want to raise the bar again. New shaders will power the look of player's actual skin in NBA 2K26. This also brings a focus on a more vivid look and highlighted elements. You see the lighting that is in the arenas on tv and that has created a new look on television in recent years. There will be tons of little touches on players.
2K and Visual Concepts want to raise the bar again.
Redesigned lighting will benefit both the arena and the player models, in general. Floor shaders will bring a more realistic and glossy look to the court. Fans in the crowd will get more body types, heads and age groups. There will be a lot of small upgrades to pull everything back up to a level of fidelity that is seen on television in 2025. All 30 arenas will closely match their real-world counterparts and will include the likes of the Clippers' towering "Wall or the Pistons courtside lounge. Tim Legler will also join the broad cast booth among the others that are returning. There will also be new PA announcers. A full overview of the improvements are below.
NBA 2K26 Presentation Additions and Improvements
Player Fidelity: In NBA 2K26, the evolution of player fidelity is more noticeable thanks to a new shader that brings out the subtleties of each player’s skin. This latest shading technology makes every detail of the game more vivid and dynamic - highlighting elements like the curvature of embroidered names on the backs of jerseys, ultra-fine stitching, and even improved muscle definition after a thunderous dunk.
Arena Visuals: In addition to the new skin shader, lighting has been redesigned to improve light intensity and color correction ensuring players shine and reflect under the bright lights of basketball’s biggest stage. New floor shaders have also been introduced to add more life and sheen to every court, representing even the distinct contrast in wood grain color.
Arena Atmosphere: Crowd variety has been significantly expanded, featuring twice as many unique character models - including a wider range of body types, heads, and age groups - to better represent the NBA’s diverse fanbase. Fans in the crowd have also been given rally towels, foam fingers and even rubber chickens to show their team spirit in key moments of special games. In certain arenas, fans will also wear an arena provided LED wristband that’s used to create light shows for player introductions, after big plays, and more.
Team-Specific Features: From the shape of each arena’s overhead spotlights to the Clippers’ towering “Wall,” or the Pistons’ courtside lounge, all 30 arenas in NBA 2K26 have been designed to closely match their real-world counterparts. Authenticity extends to pre-game rituals across the league down to the specific patterns of light shows, how they illuminate the court with team colors, and even capturing the thin haze that fills the arena after pyrotechnics.
Broadcast Voices & Late-Game Commentary: Tim Legler joins the broadcast booth this year, accompanied by 2K vets Kevin Harlan, Greg Anthony, Stan Van Gundy, Shams Charania, and more.NBA 2K26 will also feature new PA announcers and international correspondents. Additionally, when the clock ticks down and the game is on the line, there will be a noticeable shift in tone from the commentators to match the intensity in the arena.
Big NBA Moments: Capture the magnitude of NBA awards and moments, including a full integration of the NBA Cup. Now all seven NBA regular season trophies from MVP to Rookie of the Year will be presented to players at their first home game after winning the award. Adding to the pageantry, as players win titles, banners will be raised in the rafters to celebrate their achievements and championships. Throughout their career, these dynamic banners will update to reflect and commemorate their legacy and place in NBA history.