In another rather unfortunate development in the lead-up to the release of NBA 2K25 on September 6, fans are tired of the sneaky advertisement that greets them every time they open up NBA 2K24.
It's no secret that advertisements are a huge part of modern gaming, especially live-service games. Whether it's cross-promotional products being displayed or constant reminders about what the latest battle pass offers, ads can, at times, feel inescapable. And that's exactly where NBA 2K25 comes in.
That's because at the start screen for 2K24, the current iteration of the basketball sports video game, there is a sneaky ad pushing players to preorder next month's release. On the surface, it sounds pretty harmful and in line with other ads, but it's actually fairly predatory, and fans are at their wits' end with it.
Don't Click That Button… Seriously, Don't!
Taking to Reddit, a fan showcased just how sneaky the ad really is. If you happen to click the "A" button on Xbox or the "X" button on PlayStation, you'll be taken to the game's digital preorder page, where you'll be prompted to complete your preorder. Not just any ordinary preorder, but the Hall of Fame Edition, which costs $149.99.
"Predatory behavior. They really should be sued for this. Many times I have accidentally pressed them," one commenter lamented. Another added a suggestion that likely won't be implemented, "After a few times, it shouldn't pop up anymore. We've already said, no, let us hoop in peace!"
This would be the second bit of negative development in regard to 2K25. Last week, we reported how fans are of the opinion that the graphics of 2K25 look worse than what was part of 2K21, a game that was released in 2020. Those fans shared varying screenshots to illustrate their point, and they weren't necessarily wrong.
The unfortunate part about all of this is that the negative attention is almost unlikely to impact sales or create any sort of positive action. To date, the NBA 2K series has sold over 118 million units worldwide, meaning there are a lot more buyers than the vocal minority would suggest. Still, it's an egregious tactic in a game series that is chock-full of similar predatory behaviors.
