NBA 2K18 released on September 15, and the game's fifth patch is nearing release. Some may say that's a negative; others will see it as an example of 2K's commitment to improving its product.
In reality, it's probably a little bit of both. In any case, the update is 5.382 GB on PS4 and should be a similar size for XB1. We're awaiting more details on the PC and Switch versions. It's available now for PS4 and forthcoming for the other platforms.
Here are the notes:
General
- Native 4K resolution at 60fps support added for the launch of the new Xbox One X console.
- Player action photos have been updated to include the players in their new uniforms.
- Custom created shoes are now a much higher resolution when viewed on players in-game.
- Authenticity improvements to Clippers, Spurs, and Magic 2017-18 uniforms.
- Authenticity improvements have been made to the ’07-’08 New Orleans Hornets uniforms.
- Fixed an issue on XB1 where GameDVR was not working for some users.
- Improvements to the audio ‘pops’ reported by Switch users.
- Fixed an issue on the Switch where armpit hair was showing as white/grey on players that have it.
- Addressed an issue in Play Now Online where the incorrect trophy was unlocking when advancing tiers.
With the release of the Xbox One X, enabling the 4K support was imperative. Most of the other details in this section are relatively minor.
Gameplay
- Fixed an issue where the Coach’s Clipboard would show the incorrect matchup for an opponent.
- Fixed an issue that allowed players to break out of a dunk and re-jump into another dunk after performing a drop step move.
- Adjusted shooting foul frequency, especially for well positioned and high rated blockers.
- Fixed several layups that would tend to hit the bottom of the backboard when performed by tall players
- Fixed an issue with the shot clock on the broadcast scoreboard where there would still be a very small amount of time after it reached 0.
- All of the player icons should now be visible when reviewing the 3-2 Zone defensive set during a timeout.
The adjustment to the shooting foul frequency was a must, but we still haven't seen any major changes to ball security and the amount of missed, uncontested or lightly contested layups from users.
MyCAREER
- The user’s suggested lineup will no longer revert after reaching a 90 overall and setting it in the My Minutes menu.
- Fixed an issue where the VC balance shown at the end of NBA games wasn’t displaying the correct value (though you were actually credited with the correct amount to your account).
- Fixed a hang that would occur when attempting to leave the MyCOURT closet with a custom-created shirt equipped.
- Addressed an issue where the user was unable to equip the skateboard onto their MyPLAYER.
- Addressed an issue where the user was unable to equip custom-created shoes onto their MyPLAYER.
- The MyPLAYER’s headband will now properly colorize along with his teammates.
- Fixed a case where the user would be unable to enter a Team Practice when they had previously decided to switch to a different shoe company after shooting their shoe commercial.
- Fixed a rare hang where the game would fail to advance at the conclusion of the 3PT contest during All-Star Weekend.
- The MyPLAYER’s headphones should no longer unequip unexpectedly when performing various actions in the Neighborhood.
- The MyPLAYER’s accessories will no longer be seen unequipped during postgame interviews following played NBA games.
- Fixed an issue where an incorrect Defensive FG% of 0.0% would occasionally be shown during halftime, causing your head coach to give inaccurate advice.
- Addressed a case where the game could hang after the opposing team wins the Conference Championship in MyCAREER.
- Fixed a number of issues surrounding the starting and ending of MyCOURT games involving other human users.
These are mostly more auxiliary changes to MyCareer. Obviously, the ones that address system stability are major fixes.
The Neighborhood
- Corrected an issue where Bryan stopped texting the user regarding the picking up of earned endorsement checks.
- Users of the Switch version of the game can now join other friends in the Neighborhood by using the Friends app on your in-game telephone.
- Improvements to the T-Shirt Voting interface as well as the T-Shirt Purchasing interface.
- Fixed a bug where some users weren’t able to complete the Gatorade endorsement after winning 5 games on the Playground.
- Fixed an issue where thumbnails would fail to appear if the user moves between the T-Shirt Store and T-Shirt Voting pages too quickly.
- Fixed an issue where the 2K Cam would fail to flip in Playground games when previously playing a King of the Court game.
- Stability and performance improvements to the Dew NBA 3X event.
- Addressed an issue where the timer wouldn’t always count down as expected during the Dew NBA 3X event.
- Lineup improvements during Ruffles 4-Pointer Challenge games to ensure that similar positions guard each other where possible.
- Fix a case where some users were unable to join a friend’s Playground due to their name being flagged as inappropriate.
Slowly, but surely, the Neighborhood is becoming what it was meant to be. It's functioning much better now and should be able to deliver the kind of experience 2K raved about when the game launched.
Pro-Am
- A number of improvements to the Pro-Am Walk-On/Team experience.
- The correct VC earnings and balance will now be shown at the end of Pro-Am games.
- Teams can now wear alternate jerseys in Pro-Am Team when they reach the Elite status.
- Users who foul out in Pro-Am games are now able to spectate the remainder of the game.
- Fixed an issue where users who had their commentary language set to Spanish were experiencing problems playing in Pro-Am games.
- The end of game stats overlay will now appear with the correct stats for users who foul out of a Pro-Am Team game.
- The 2K Card will now show the correct Pro-Am Walk-On stats.
Pro-Am was going through some under-the-radar issues with walk-ons and other areas. It's great to see social media accounts like 2K Pro-Am Insider working with 2K to help communicate these problems and ushering in the fixes.
MyTEAM
- Fixed an issue where players were being removed from online MyTEAM games for committing too many fouls when they had only committed a small handful.
- Users can now apply any brand of shoes to historic players.
- Setting up your lineups is now easier as player positions are now shown in the Edit Lineup interface.
- The Total Points tally at the end of a MyTEAM game will now always display the correct amount.
- Shoe boosts and added badges will no longer be incorrectly applied while in Pack and Playoffs.
MyTeam saw the fewest amount of changes, but the first one is key. Being booted from a game for no reason is the quickest way to insense an online gamer.
- Fixed an issue that caused premiere players to wait until the end of free agency before signing a near-minimum level contract.
- Tuned the quality of draft classes at the default level to bring down some of the higher end prospects being generated. Ongoing work is taking place to improve this further and better balance the classes as a whole.
- A number of improvements to the editing of contracts, including that users can now properly edit contracts of players who have signed a contract extension while still on their previous contract.
- Fixed an issue where a valid Advanced Rotation would fail to load within the Rotation Timeline menu.
- The System Proficiency and Player Training menus will now list players in their proper lineup ordering.
- Fixed an issue where the portrait for the currently selected staff member would fail to draw after advancing days during the Staff Signing period of the offseason.
Tuning the quality of draft classes is a big deal for MyLeaguers who use the system-generated classes. It's a tough task to have the system generate balance classes with storylines that aren't all the same across the board.
Stay tuned for more post-release coverage of NBA 2K18.
