NBA 2K26 has been officially announced by 2K and Visual Concepts for current and last-generation consoles as well as PC. Since this is a yearly release, you know basically what you’ll get from the core experience, and there is a way to jump in early.
Here is how you can play NBA 2K26 almost a week ahead of its official release date.
Play NBA 2K26 Seven Days Early
You canplay NBA 2K26 seven days before its official releaseif you purchase theSuperstarorLeave No Doubtedition of the game.
The early access period for NBA 2K26 begins onAugust 29, 2025, giving players a week of extra time before Standard edition owners can start playing. This additional feature is the same across PC, Xbox, and PlayStation versions of the game.
At a minimum, you need to pay $100 to gain early access to NBA 2K26, which is a pretty expensive proposition. Yes, you do get a bunch of extra content here, but if you’re just looking to play the game early, I don’t think an additional $30 is worth it, even for a week. The game is already $70, which is quite a bit for a yearly sports title.
NBA 2K26 Pre-Order Bonus
If youpre-orderany edition ofNBA 2K26on PC and Xbox, you will receive10,000 Virtual Currencyat launch. However, if you pre-order NBA 2K26 on PS4 or PS5, you will receive10,000 Virtual Currency,two MyTEAM Promo Packs, and aMyPLAYER Gamerplate.
So if you’re getting NBA 2K26 on PlayStation, you’re getting a few additional items for free. This was the case for the previous releases as well.
NBA 2K26 Pricing
There is some form of regional pricing on Steam, but it’s mostly a mixed bag and you’ll likely pay full price either way.
NBA 2K26 Superstar Edition
TheSuperstaredition of NBA 2K26 includes the following additional content:
NBA 2K26Leave No DoubtEdition
TheLeave No Doubtedition of NBA 2K26 includes the following additional content:
Overall, while the early access incentive exists, I don’t think it’s worth paying that much for. This new trend in AAA releases feeds on FOMO, and it’s been normalized because people keep buying expensive editions just to play a few days early. I’m not going to stop you if you’re a superfan, but honestly, the game will be more active and popular on its official release date anyway.
Ali Hashmi
Ali has been writing about video games for the past six years and is always on the lookout for the next indie game to obsess over and recommend to everyone in sight. When he isn’t spending an unhealthy amount of time in Slay the Spire, he’s probably trying out yet another retro-shooter or playing Dark Souls for the 50th time.
