'NBA 2K21' PS5 preview shows us next-gen sweat
And Zion Williamson dunking.
The first next-gene NBA game made a brief debut during Sony’s PlayStation 5 showcase event, and so far so good for NBA 2K21. The teaser trailer was unfortunately socially-distanced with Zion Williamson dribbling, shooting and dunking in an empty gym, but the conveniently-close up camera angles showed a remarkable level of detail in rendering at least one NBA athlete at a time, complete with running sweat.
According to 2K, load speeds for the game will be “unrecognizable,” with game action appearing in less than two seconds. Visual Concepts co-founder Greg Thomas said in a statement that “With 2K21, we’ve got something that merges incredible graphic capabilities with new in-game opportunities to reset the sports sim standard.”
We’ll have to wait to see more players on the court and filled up arenas — they’ll probably show up in-game before they do in real life — but right now the power of next-gen systems is getting a workout. Even if you already saw it on the stream, check it out here again — while the showcase topped out at 1080p this clip is playable in 4K.
If you’re looking for the difference between current and next-gen systems, it’s not just the sweat, it’s the skin and the small details that help make his eyes look alive. An easy way to compare is with a solo-focused trailer 2K Sports made using NBA 2K20 when they announced Zion as a partner athlete last summer.
