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NBA 2K21 Sub-Community Bridging The Gap Between Current-Gen And Next-Gen?

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Expectations are high for NBA 2K21 on next-generation systems. At this point, all we have to consider in the way of visuals is the short trailer we saw featuring Zion Williamson a few months ago.

As far as gameplay, you’d have to believe the systems are being tweaked a bit, but the action should function similarly.

When it comes to presentation, and even graphics, the 2K modding community continues to deliver a different brand of the franchise that could be something of a pre-cursor into what next-gen will look and feel like.

For example, YouTuber BJeff posts tons of modded NBA 2K21 gameplay, and the quality of the re-imagined renders, as well as the redone courts and arenas are truly amazing.

Take a look at his version of the NBA Bubble, which isn’t in NBA 2K21 current-gen, and isn’t going to make it in next-gen (so I was told directly).

Everything from the virtual fans on the walls to the massive ad placements behind the scorer’s table, and socially distanced benches, it’s all in the video.

There’s also updated renders for every player on both the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers rosters.

In the video below, which is something of a revisit to Kobe Bryant’s legendary 81-point performance against the Toronto Raptors, you see a much-improved render for the late Lakers legend, and more.

There is even some ESPN integration, which we won’t see considering 2K doesn’t have license to use it. Still, it’s great for immersion in the mod.

There is no question, the look is perhaps slightly above what we see from the current-gen version of NBA 2K21, but as good as it looks, I still believe it’s beneath what the next-gen look will bring.

We’ll likely find out soon.

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