The introduction of cross-platform play, or crossplay, has been a game-changer for the NBA 2K series, and NBA 2K26 continues this trend by breaking down barriers between gaming communities. This feature is essential for connecting with friends and competing against a massive, unified player base. However, understanding its limitations and setup is key to a seamless experience.
This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about crossplay in NBA 2K26, including platform compatibility, the crucial difference between crossplay and cross-progression, and simple step-by-step instructions to activate it.
Understanding NBA 2K26 Crossplay Compatibility
Before diving in, it's vital to know which platforms can play together.
NBA 2K26 supports crossplay between the latest generation of consoles: the PlayStation 5 (PS5) and the Xbox Series X|S. This means players on these systems can seamlessly match up in online game modes.
Important Note: PC (via Steam) is notably excluded from the crossplay pool. This is a common design decision often made to preserve competitive balance, as the PC platform can have different performance metrics and potential input advantages. Unfortunately, this also means that players on last-generation consoles (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One) cannot participate in crossplay with PS5 or Xbox Series X|S users.
Crossplay vs. Cross-Progression: What’s the Difference?
It's easy to confuse these two features, but they serve different purposes:
- Crossplay (Cross-Platform Play): The ability to play an online game with people on different video game platforms.
- Cross-Progression (Cross-Gen Progression): The ability to carry your saved data, progress, and in-game items between different console generations within the same family.
NBA 2K26 offers robust cross-progression for the MyTeam mode and Virtual Currency (VC). This means:
- Your entire MyTeam collection, including points, cards, and challengesprogress, can be transferred between PS4 and PS5, or between Xbox Oneand Xbox Series X|S.
- Any VC you earn or purchase is shared across generations within your console ecosystem (PlayStation or Xbox).
- You cannot transfer progress or VC between different platform families (e.g., from a PlayStation to an Xbox or to PC).
How to Enable Crossplay in NBA 2K26: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough
Activating crossplay is a straightforward process found within the game's settings. Follow these steps to get started:
Once enabled, the matchmaking system will automatically search for opponents on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, expanding your competitionpool and making it easier to find games.
Conclusion: A Connected, But Limited, Experience
NBA 2K26's crossplay functionality is a powerful tool for uniting thenext-gen console community, offering a larger and more dynamic onlineenvironment. While the exclusion of PC and last-gen consoles isdisappointing for some, the feature significantly enhances theexperience for PS5 and Xbox Series X|S owners. By combining this withstrong cross-progression support for MyTeam, 2K has ensured that yourinvestment of time and money is protected as you upgrade your console.Now that you know how to activate it, you're ready to hit the court with a whole new world of competition.
Launch NBA 2K26 and navigate to the main menu.Select the 'Options/Features' tab on the right-hand side.Within this menu, click on 'Settings'.You will be presented with several setting categories. On this main Settings page, look toward the bottom of the list.You will find the 'Crossplay' option situated just below 'NBA Email Notifications'.Click on the 'Crossplay' option to toggle it from 'Off' to 'On'. Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, PlayStation 5 PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
Developer(s): Visual Concepts
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
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