NBA 2K27 is taking The City to another level with its first-ever co-ed experience, bringing male and female MyPLAYERs together to compete across the hardwood and blacktop. Whether you’re a newcomer learning the game in the new Casual Corner, a Crew looking to climb the competitive ladder from your own Crew HQ, or a streetball veteran taking on bosses at legendary Rucker Park, The City has something for every type of hooper. Here’s a complete look at everything coming to The City in NBA 2K27.
INTRODUCING THE FIRST CO-ED CITY
For the first time, The City is completely co-ed, allowing players to create female MyPLAYERs and compete alongside the worldwide community of hoopers.
Male and female MyPLAYERs use the exact same gameplay framework. Your height, badges, attribute ratings, and wingspan are determined by your MyPLAYER build—not your character’s appearance. That means everyone competes on an even playing field, with your performance on the court being what matters most.
To help customize your character, NBA 2K27 is also introducing thousands of women’s apparel options. Build your look from head to toe with high-end designer fashion, streetwear, WNBA-inspired gear, and more.
Every game mode inside The City is co-ed. Female and male MyPLAYERs can compete in The REC, The Theater, Street Kings, Park, Proving Grounds, Ante-Up, Starting 5, Crew HQ, and Casual Corner. Build your Crew, chase wins, and compete throughout The City.
There is one important distinction: female MyPLAYERs are exclusive to The City. However, gameplay-enhancing rewards such as the MyPOINTS Accelerator can still be earned through The City by all MyPLAYERs.
For more information about creating female MyPLAYERs, check out the MyPLAYER Builder Courtside Report. Players looking to pursue a WNBA career can also return to The W in NBA 2K27, which features several improvements to the mode.
NEW-LOOK ENVIRONMENTS
NBA 2K27 transforms The City into a nighttime destination.
Under the night sky, The City takes on a bright neon look while maintaining its connected and easy-to-navigate layout. Despite the additional lighting and visual effects, finding your Crew and jumping into games is designed to be quicker and smoother than ever.
Community feedback also helped shape several of the new environments. The REC, The Theater, Ante-Up, and Seasonal Parks all receive completely new surroundings.
THE REC
Every REC game can now have a different look, with five environments randomly rotating from launch.
- High School Gym: Take over a high school gym, fill the stands with fans, and light up the crowd with highlight-reel dunks.
- Outdoor Court: Bring the game to a neighborhood park, draw a crowd, and become a local hero under the lights.
- Private Gym: Step away from the spotlight and focus on building chemistry with your teammates. Run your sets and get comfortable in your spots.
- Crowded Arena: Feel the pressure of a packed arena as every possession carries more weight. Feed off the crowd and make the most of the moment.
- Season-Themed Venue: This environment receives an updated court floor and jerseys every Season. Its compact design makes the crowd feel like the sixth player on the court.
THE THEATER
The Theater is taking the action outside.
The Theater moves beneath the stars and onto a dedicated city block, giving the mode a fresh open-air setting. Instead of being confined to an indoor venue, you’ll compete against the backdrop of The City’s nighttime streets.
ANTE-UP
Ante-Up takes the competition to a rooftop high above The City.
Floating above the clouds, the new Ante-Up court features a sleek infinity edge and an unobstructed view of the surrounding skyscrapers. Go to work like an All-Star while playing against a spectacular nighttime backdrop.
SEASONAL PARKS
Seasonal Parks return in NBA 2K27, with the locations changing every Season.
The mode features four brand-new locations, alongside HD remasters of three classic NBA 2K17 parks:
- Sunset Beach
- Old Town Park
- Rivet City
Season 1 begins at Lion & Vine Park, an urban proving ground located at the center of a high-traffic area.
Regardless of where you play, The City provides an always-on competitive playground, giving you places to compete around the clock.
CREW HQ
Crews introduced a new way to team up, earn rewards, and represent your squad in NBA 2K26. In NBA 2K27, the system is being expanded significantly.
Crew HQ serves as your Crew’s home base in The City, functioning as the team-based counterpart to your personal MyCOURT.
Inside Crew HQ, you can communicate with teammates using built-in voice chat and practice together on 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 half courts, as well as full 3v3 and 5v5 courts.
When you’re ready to compete against other Crews, matchmaking lets you jump into competitive 3v3 and 5v5 games. You’ll be able to climb the leaderboard, earn Crew XP, and review individual statistics to see exactly how much each member is contributing.
Your Crew can also receive its own identity. Customize your uniform and logo, then display your Crew’s jerseys inside the HQ rafters. Every member’s jersey can be permanently displayed there, turning wins into lasting recognition.
RANKED GAMES & TIERS
Crew HQ features Ranked Crew Games across six tiers:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- Diamond
- Top Ranked
Ranked Crew Games pair you with Crews in the same tier whenever possible. If there isn’t a Crew available at your rank, you’ll be matched with the closest available rank.
Each day, your Crew competes on a leaderboard against 39 other Crews within your tier. You’ll have seven days to establish your position. Win enough games to move up, or lose and potentially face relegation.
During the final weekend of every Season, Crews will compete in a major divisional tournament for a championship and exclusive rewards.
When the next Season begins, every Crew drops two tiers, meaning you’ll have to climb the rankings again to defend your position.
PRIVATE GAMES & CREW LEVELS
Crew HQ isn’t limited to ranked competition.
The Squad Showdown Kiosk allows you to host private games and league-style competition. Invite players from other Crews and compete with or against them in casual games.
The system brings elements of the old Pro-Am experience directly into Crew HQ while putting a greater emphasis on team-based competition.
Based on community feedback, the Crew XP progression system has also been expanded. NBA 2K27 launches with 40 Crew levels, which is 10 more than last year.
Beginning with Season 2, five additional Crew levels will be added every Season, giving squads another reason to keep progressing.
CASUAL CORNER
NBA 2K27 is also designed to give new players a more comfortable way to learn the game before jumping into the full City experience.
That’s where Casual Corner comes in.
New players can enter this optional rookie-friendly area and compete in 3v3 and 5v5 games against opponents designed around their current skill level.
Game modes are determined by your Overall Performance tier, also known as your “plate color.” Everyone starts at the Casual level and gradually works through the tiers before being introduced to the broader City competition.
- Casual (Black): Play against easier CPU opponents while learning your build, practicing your jumpshot, testing dribble animations, and getting comfortable with the game.
- Hooper (Bronze): Your teammates become real players while the opposing team remains CPU-controlled. This gives you an opportunity to learn team play with friends or random teammates.
- Baller (Silver): Both teams now consist of human players, giving you your first real taste of competitive online play.
- Pro (Gold): The format remains the same as Baller, but the level of competition increases. At this point, you’re ready to move into the wider City.
- MVP (Purple) or Hall of Fame (Red): You’ve surpassed Casual Corner. CPU opponents return at their highest ratings and Badge levels, but VC, Season XP, REP, and Badge progression are no longer earned here. The REC, The Theater, and the rest of The City are now waiting for you.
Returning NBA 2K26 players don’t have to start from scratch. Your highest Overall Performance tier carries over on day one.
And if you’re confident in your skills, you can leave Casual Corner and enter the full City experience whenever you want.
STREET KINGS
Street Kings returns as the premier 3v3 mode for taking on CPU-controlled bosses with up to two friends.
In NBA 2K27, Street Kings features three different courts:
- The Hollows
- Claremont Court
- Rucker Park
The legendary Rucker Park in Harlem has been recreated in detail, bringing one of the most famous locations in streetball history into The City.
Rucker Park also plays an important role in this year’s MyCAREER story, Fire & Concrete. You’ll follow in the footsteps of NBA stars, deliver memorable performances, and work toward becoming a blacktop legend.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT & COURT CRASHERS
The weekly Street Kings tournament begins with a play-in round based on your seeding. From there, players enter a best-of-five bracket before everything comes down to a single-elimination championship game played to 21.
Opponents and gameplay rules change every week, so you’ll need to adjust each time you return.
Street Kings also includes 40 reward levels, featuring the unique apparel and cosmetics the mode is known for.
Then there are Court Crashers.
At a random point during a game, a legendary boss player can suddenly show up and take over the court. You’ll have to challenge the boss immediately. Defeat them and you’ll earn a major reward.
You can also team up with a new group of featured VIP teammates each day to earn even larger bonuses.
STARTING 5
Starting 5 puts your MyPLAYER alongside four AI teammates against another human player and their four AI teammates.
For NBA 2K27, the mode introduces a new board game-style progression system, with each board containing 16 game slots.
Some slots are designated as highlight games, requiring you to play with a specific team. Regular slots give you the freedom to select whichever team you want.
Your progression path depends on your MyPLAYER.
NBA TEAMS
Male MyPLAYERs choose a current NBA team to play alongside.
Certain highlight slots require you to use a specific team. Completing those games unlocks Historic teams.
Complete an entire 16-game board and you’ll unlock All-Time teams.
ARCHETYPE & ICON TEAMS
Female MyPLAYERs can choose from 40 mixed-gender rosters.
These include teams based around specific archetypes, such as three-point shooting or defense, along with Icon teams featuring top NBA and WNBA players who have played in cities such as Chicago and Los Angeles.
Completing full 16-game boards unlocks additional Icon teams.
Finishing any complete 16-game board awards a VC bonus regardless of which progression path you’re using.
Once you’ve completed every board and unlocked every available team, you’ll become a Starting 5 VIP, receiving a special VIP icon next to your name on the Starting 5 leaderboard.
VIPs can continue completing 16-game VIP boards to earn additional VC bonuses even after reaching the top status.
DAILY RIVALS
Daily Rivals is a brand-new competitive feature coming to NBA 2K27.
Every game affects your position on the daily leaderboard.
Each day, you’ll be grouped with 39 other players based on factors such as your skill level and how frequently you play. That creates a competitive group where every game can change your standing.
You’ll receive a reward simply for participating each day, but finishing higher on the leaderboard means earning better gear.
Finish in the top three and you’ll receive a Rivals Ticket, giving you an opportunity to obtain some of the rarest rewards available in the game.
PLAYER MEDALS & REP TIERS
NBA 2K27 introduces Player Medals, a new way to display your accomplishments and show other players what you’ve achieved.
Medals are earned by completing Lifetime Challenges or reaching major statistical milestones throughout The City.
Once earned, you can display them during pre-game sequences. Other players can see your medals in pregame lineups, matchups, matchmaking lobbies, and the post-game winner’s circle.
Player Medals aren’t limited to a single game mode. They can be earned throughout The City, regardless of where you prefer to play.
The Lifetime Challenge menu provides a complete list of available medals and their unlock requirements, including a large selection of new Lifetime Challenges added for NBA 2K27.
There are nearly 300 unique medals to unlock across five tiers, ranging from Beginner through Elite & Mastery.
Once you’ve unlocked a medal, you can equip whichever one you want to represent your biggest accomplishments.
For example, when playing The REC, you could equip the “8K Assists in The REC” medal to highlight your passing ability. When heading to the Park, you could switch to the “50 Game Win Streak” medal to show off your consistency.
REP progression is also being expanded.
NBA 2K27 launches with 40 REP tiers, doubling the number of tiers available at launch compared to last year.
That means you’ll earn rewards more frequently while progressing through the same general timeframe, keeping your next unlock closer than ever.
THE BUZZER BEATER
The City has become both a competitive destination and a social hub for the NBA 2K community, and NBA 2K27 is expanding that experience even further.
The biggest changes include co-ed gameplay, a redesigned after-dark environment, Crew HQ, Casual Corner, Rucker Park, new competitive systems, and more ways to progress throughout The City.
Whether you’re trying to dominate the Park, build a competitive Crew, learn the game as a newcomer, chase Street Kings rewards, or simply show off your MyPLAYER, there are more ways than ever to compete and earn rewards.
You can also download the NBA 2K HQ app starting August 21 to stay connected with NBA 2K27. The app includes the complete MyPLAYER Builder, allowing you to create builds away from your console, along with social features that let you communicate with your Crew and keep everyone connected.
NBA 2K27 includes optional in-game purchases and paid random items. Online play requires an Internet connection and NBA 2K Account. Console online play requires a separate paid subscription. Crossplay is available only on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S.
Check out the full ‘City’ courtside report here.
FAQs
What is Crew HQ in NBA 2K27 and what can I do there?
A: Crew HQ is your dedicated home base in The City, acting as the team-based equivalent to your individual MyCOURT. Step inside to talk strategy with built-in voice chat and practice with your squad on 1v1, 2v2, and 3v3 half courts, plus full 3v3 and 5v5 courts. When you’re ready to challenge rival Crews, hop into matchmaking for competitive 3v3 and 5v5 runs.
What is Casual Corner and who is it designed for in NBA 2K27?
A: Welcome to the Casual Corner. Upon entering The City, new hoopers can build confidence in this optional, rookie-friendly hub, and run 3v3 and 5v5 games before taking on the vets in the wider community. Game modes here are assigned based on your Overall Performance tier, or “plate color.”
What are Player Medals and how do I earn them in NBA 2K27?
A: Rep your street cred with Player Medals, a new way to flex in 2K27. Earn these by completing Lifetime Challenges or reaching massive stat milestones in The City, then show them off during pre-game intros so your rivals know exactly who they’re dealing with. Opponents and teammates will see your medals in pregame lineups, matchups, matchmaking lobbies, and the post-game winner’s circle.
What is Rucker Park in NBA 2K27 and how does it appear in the game?
A: Rucker Park, the storied Harlem blacktop and streetball mecca, has been faithfully recreated down to the last detail. It’s also a key point within this year’s MyCAREER story: “Fire & Concrete.” Follow in the footsteps of NBA stars, drop memorable performances, and become a blacktop legend.
What type of app is NBA 2K HQ?
A: Lock in around the clock with the new NBA 2K companion app: NBA 2K HQ! Access the full NBA 2K27 MyPLAYER Builder directly in-app and upload custom builds straight to your home console. Manage your Crew roster and chat with your squad 24/7. Claim mobile-exclusive daily rewards and track your rank on real-time leaderboards. Plus, put yourself directly in the game with the faster, high-fidelity Face Scan.
What platforms am I able to download NBA 2K HQ on?
A: NBA 2K HQ is available for download on iOS and Android mobile devices.
What are the device and OS compatibility requirements?
A: Requires a persistent internet connection and an Apple device compatible with iOS 18 or later, or Android 11.0 or above (Minimum API level 30); please visit the Google Play Store or the App Store page on your device for the most accurate compatibility check.
What are the new parental approval permissions?
A: NBA 2K HQ will be implementing the same parental approval for child accounts as NBA 2K27.
I have already set up parent/guardian controls on my console/PC account. Do I need to set them here?
A: If you are connecting an account that has already gone through the parental permissions on console/PC, then you do not need to do this again.
How many builds can I create in the NBA 2K HQ app?
A: With full access to the MyPLAYER Builder, you can create up to 15 builds in the NBA 2K HQ app. Once you create your build, you don’t have to click anything within the app to upload it to your console. This extra step comes on the console side, where you can import builds to your account.
What happened to the old companion app, MyNBA 2K?
A: MyNBA 2K companion app is being sunset from Friday, August 21, 2026—when we launch our brand new app, NBA 2K HQ. MyNBA 2K companion app is being delisted from app stores on Tuesday, August 18, 2026.
